England's dream of reaching a first FIFA World Cup final since 1966 came to a devastating end after Argentina staged a dramatic late comeback to secure a 2-1 victory in a gripping semi-final clash.

Thomas Tuchel's side looked to be on course for a famous win after Anthony Gordon fired the Three Lions into the lead early in the second half, sparking wild celebrations among England's travelling supporters. The Newcastle winger calmly finished after a swift attacking move, giving England one foot in Sunday's showpiece final.

For much of the contest, England defended resolutely as Argentina struggled to break through. Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice worked tirelessly to frustrate the reigning world champions, while Jordan Pickford produced several important saves to keep Lionel Messi and company at bay.

However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the closing stages. Argentina piled on relentless pressure and finally found an equaliser in the 85th minute when Enzo Fernández arrived inside the box to fire beyond Pickford after a clever assist from Messi.

With England visibly shaken, Argentina sensed their opportunity. Deep into stoppage time, Lautaro Martínez rose highest to meet another pinpoint delivery from Messi, powering a header into the net to complete a stunning turnaround and send the South American supporters into delirium.

The final whistle brought scenes of heartbreak for England's players, many of whom collapsed to the turf after seeing victory slip away in the closing moments. It marks yet another painful near miss for a national side that had impressed throughout the tournament, eliminating Mexico, Norway and DR Congo on their route to the final four.

After the match, captain Harry Kane admitted England became too defensive after taking the lead, acknowledging the team "tried to hold on" rather than continue attacking against one of the world's strongest sides. Manager Thomas Tuchel also defended his tactical decisions despite criticism following England's late collapse.

Argentina now advance to the World Cup final, where they will face Spain in what promises to be one of the most anticipated finals in recent history. England, meanwhile, must quickly regroup for the third-place play-off against France as they attempt to finish their campaign on a positive note.