KEIR RADNEDGE in ATLANTA —- Argentina captain Leo Mess’s first appearance against England ended in triumph as the World Cup holders struck back from a goal down to reach their second successive Final.

A 2-1 win in world football’s intercontinental clasico sent Messi and his team-mates into a New Jersey Sunday showdown against European champions Spain.

A tawdry first half ended goalless under the riskily lax control of American referee Ismail Elfath before the second half sprung into decisive life. Anthony Gordon opened the scoring to set England fans dreaming only for Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez to inflict a nightmare.

Argentina deserved it. They responded magnificently after falling behind, created more chances and twice struck the posts. England could not be said to have commanded any single phase of play and created nothing apart from their goal. As in Italy in 1990 and in Russia in 2018 they are left with the bitter pill of a third place playoff, in this case against an equally distraught France.

England came into the latest collision between two of footballs greatest powers leading the World Cup rubber 3-2 but that bare statistic said nothing about the passion and controversy delivered ever since the long-forotten first meeting in 1962 [a 3-1 group win for England in Chile].

Later came the sending-off of Argentina’s giant captain Antonio Rattin in 1966,  the two dramatically contrasting goals by Diego Maradona in 1986 and the sending-off of a young David Beckham in the 1998 second-round skirmish. He had his revenge four years later in Japan, the last meeting until Atlanta.

Impossible, of course, to ignore how the 1982 war over the Falklands/Malvinas islands as cast a cloud over the football but for now the focus dwelt on the personal duel between Leo Messi and Jude Bellingham – the old hero against the latest young challenger, wisdom and achievement against youthful exuberance and ambition.

England’s line-up was, barring the selection of Morgan Rogers instead of the semi-fit Bukayo Saka, close to most pre-finals predictions with Reece James at right back, John Stones and Marc Guehi in central defence, Declan Rice and Elliott Anderson in midfield and Jude Bellingham supporting Harry Kane.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni made one change to the team who had started the quarter-final against Switzerland, Giovanni Simeone replacing the tiring Rodrigo De Paul.

The fans set a hot temperature by drowning out each others national anthem and Argentinas midfielders took the hint to launch three blatant assauts into the backs of England players in the early minutes.

American referee Ismail Elphath risked storing up a lot of trouble for himself by not issuing an early yellow card in a scrappy, snappy opening phase before the hydration break.

The rest of the first half followed much the same pattern with the only incidents of note being a superb drive from Enzo Fernandez which flew safely over the angle of Jordan Pickfords goal and yellow cards for Elliot Anderson for a foul on Messi and for Lisandro Martinez for pulling back Bellingham as he tried to escape forward in midfield.

By the start of the second half England had yet to put Emilio Martinez under serious pressure and it was his opposite number, Jordan Pickford, who was pressed into the first serious goalkeeping action, a sharp near post save from the busy Fernandez.

Aainst te run of play England then took the lead on a breakaway in the 58th minute. Nicolas Tagliafico fluffed his clearance attempt and Rogers crossed square for Gordon to nip in front of Molina and tap the ball home.

Pickford then protected the lead with an excellent diving save to deny newly-arrived substitute Nico Gonzalez just before the hydration break. Argentina maintained their relentless pressure Immediately after the restart and came even closer to an equaliser when Alexis Mac Allister headed against a post.

England were now into full resistance mode as both coaches rang the changes to meet the challenges of the closing minutes. Pickford tipped a drive from Fernandez over the bar but was helpless a minute later when the Chelsea midfielder thumped home another rocket.

That was only in the 85th minute but the writing was on the Atlanta wall. Stoppage time saw Mac Allister hit a post again before an England defence shored up by substitutes Ezri Konsa and Sam Burn inexplicably allowed Lautaro Martinez a free header for the winner.

#############