Argentina stuns England in stoppage time (1-2) and the World Cup final is SPAIN-ARGENTINA

We've got the New York poster, and it's the kind that makes history before the ball is even kicked: SPAIN-ARGENTINA. The world champions fought their way into the final coming back against England (1-2) in stoppage time, in another one of those heart-stopping finales that this Argentina has turned into their calling card. The dream lasted 85 minutes for the English. Then the champions showed up.

The match. England played their best hour of the tournament: high press, Bellingham running the show and Anthony Gordon's goal as the reward. Argentina looked sluggish, finally mortal… until the closing stages arrived, that territory that's been theirs for three years now. In the 85th, Enzo Fernández —there he is again, just like against Egypt— levelled with a crisp strike from the edge of the box. And in the 90+2', with extra time warming up the bench, Lautaro Martínez pounced on a loose ball in the area and sent England home. Argentina's fourth comeback or agonising victory of the tournament. This isn't luck anymore: it's a way of being in the world.

England, knocking on the door again. Tuchel's side leave having been the better team for an hour in the semi… and with that familiar feeling: that this England team is missing the gene for the final ten minutes that Argentina has got in spades. English football keeps waiting since 1966. And Maradona in '86, Beckham in '98, penalties… their record against Argentina in World Cups is basically a straight-up curse at this point.

And now for real: THE FINAL. Spain-Argentina, Sunday the 19th, 21:00, MetLife Stadium in New York. The tournament's best side (ours, no disrespect: unbeaten with one goal conceded in seven games) against the champions that never die. Rodri against Messi. Lamine, 18 years old, against the number 10 who's been defining this sport for twenty years and who's playing, almost certainly, his last match for Argentina. Their first star was against Holland, ours was against Holland… and now one of us gets the one we're missing. This is the final we've all dreamed of, mate. You couldn't ask for anything more.

📊 Match details: line-ups, statistics and score · 🏆 THE FINAL details: Spain-Argentina · 🇪🇸 How we got to the final: the 2-0 over France

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