Argentina stages late comeback to defeat England 2-1 and reach World Cup final
via The Namibian3 min read
Lautaro Martinez scored a 92nd-minute winner, inspired by Lionel Messi, as Argentina defeated England 2-1 in a World Cup semi-final match in Atlanta. England had taken the lead 10 minutes after half-time through Anthony Gordon. However, Messi set up Enzo Fernandez for an 85th-minute equalizer, and then crossed for substitute Lautaro Martinez to head in the winning goal in stoppage time. Argentina will now face European champions Spain in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. England will play France in the third-place play-off in Miami. This victory keeps Argentina's hopes alive of winning back-to-back World Cups, a feat not achieved since Brazil in 1962. Messi will become only the second player after Cafu to appear in three World Cup finals. The match was marked by a deep-rooted rivalry and tension, with Argentina's determination to retain their World Cup crown evident. England will regret sitting back after Gordon's opener, as key players Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane were unable to deliver on this occasion.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
Must ReadEngland captain Harry Kane shared his deep disappointment following England's 2-1 defeat to defending champions Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals. Kane stated he was "gutted" for the team, staff, and fans. England had taken a 1-0 lead with a goal from Anthony Gordon, but Lionel Messi orchestrated a comeback for Argentina, assisting Enzo Fernandez's equalizer and Lautaro Martinez's winning goal in stoppage time. Kane, who scored six goals in the tournament, noted that England struggled to withstand Argentina's continuous attacks after taking the lead, despite efforts to defend. He clarified that the team's intention after scoring was to seek another goal, not to solely defend, but they were unable to regain momentum after Argentina's two goals.
The International Cricket Council ICC announced a new format for the men鈥檚 2027 one-day international World Cup, which could lead to an additional match between India and Pakistan. The 2027 tournament will feature a 12-team main group stage, with two pools of six, and a new 'super seven' stage replacing the previous 'super six' round-robin. This restructure aims to increase competitiveness and context, addressing concerns about 'dead rubbers' and sparse crowds. An additional team in the round-robin phase increases the chances of an extra India-Pakistan match, which is highly lucrative due to the passion for cricket in the subcontinent and significant broadcast rights. India and Pakistan currently only play each other in ICC events due to political tensions. The ICC also approved changes for the men鈥檚 T20 World Cup in 2028, which will remain a 20-team competition, with 10 sides qualifying from the group stage. In a separate announcement, the ICC approved a $12.82 million loan to Cricket West Indies to support the member board, acknowledging the financial challenges faced by the regional side compared to larger cricketing nations.
Must ReadOpposition parties in Namibia are raising concerns about the nomination of Electoral Commission of Namibia ECN commissioner Gerson Sindano to become the commission's next chairperson. They argue that his past ties to the Swapo party, including a previous role as personal assistant to former Swapo secretary general Nangolo Mbumba in 2013, undermine his perceived impartiality. Sindano's current term ends on 21 June 2027, but he has been nominated by president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to replace current chairperson Elsie Nghikembua. National Democratic Party president Martin Lukato stated that while Sindano's academic and professional credentials are not in question, he cannot approve a candidate whose impartiality might be affected by party loyalty, suggesting he would only support Sindano if he publicly renounced his Swapo membership. The Landless People鈥檚 Movement and All People鈥檚 Party also expressed concerns about the transparency of the nomination process, demanding the release of interview minutes and score sheets. Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda has approached the High Court for these documents. Conversely, parliamentary standing committee on constitutional and legal affairs chairperson Pohamba Shifeta defended the process, stating all legal procedures were followed. A former student of Sindano, Patrick Kashera, also defended him, urging objective assessment over partisan considerations.