Argentina’s squad couldn’t resist poking fun at England following the side’s World Cup semi-final victory over the Three Lions, even staging a ‘minute’s silence’ for Thomas Tuchel’s men in the dressing room.
England had looked on course to reach only a second World Cup final in the nation’s history after Anthony Gordon directed home Morgan Rogers’ cross to open the scoring in the 55th minute.
But England dropped progressively deeper as Argentina pushed for an equaliser, while sending on Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn and Nico O’Reilly in an attempt to shut out the defending champions.
Tuchel’s cautious and defensive tactics were duly punished, though, as Enzo Fernandez hammered in an 85th-minute strike, before Lautaro Martinez headed Lionel Messi’s pinpoint cross beyond Jordan Pickford to give the holders the lead at the death.
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Lionel Scaloni’s side held firm for the remaining minutes to come away from Atlanta with a famous 2-1 win, setting up a mouthwatering showdown with Spain in Sunday’s final.
England, meanwhile, will face off against France – runners-up in Qatar four years ago – in the third-place playoff on Saturday.
There were feverous celebrations amongst Argentina’s squad as they soaked up the moment with their adoring supporters, who remained inside the Mercedes-Benz Stadium for some time after the final whistle.
At one point in the proceedings, Argentina’s jubilant players were pictured holding aloft a banner emblazoned with the words, ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’, translating as, ‘The Falklands are Argentine’ – an act which could face punishment from FIFA.
Later on in the dressing room, former Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi was filmed leading a ‘minute’s silence’ for Argentina’s old rivals, whose painful wait for a major trophy goes on – 60 years on from the side’s triumph in 1966.
‘A minute of silence for England, who is dead,’ the Scaloneta can be heard singing in a 25-second clip which has spread like wildfire across social media.
The video in question then shows the squad breaking into celebration, while chanting: ‘Argentina, a special dedication to England!’
Wednesday’s encounter was a bad-tempered affair throughout and the ill feeling between the two teams continued beyond the 90 minutes as Jude Bellingham was seen slapping Argentine midfielder Valentin Barco in a melee.
During the contest itself, Tottenham centre-back Cristian Romero took the opportunity to torment Pickford, screaming directly in the goalkeeper’s face, after Fernandez had levelled for Argentina.
‘There was blood in the water, and we went for it. That’s the feeling that I was getting,’ Argentina head coach Scaloni told reporters shortly after the final whistle.
‘You just have to keep going. We hit the crossbar. We hit the post, and it just couldn’t go in.
‘There’s six or seven chances, but I’m very pleased about that, because the team fought to the very end, and I think this is critical.’
Asked how he would describe the performance, Scaloni offered: ‘Epic squared?
‘This group is difficult to explain. It is a show of the collectiveness, the brotherhood that we are in.
‘We fight to the very end with all that we have.’
Tuchel has come under fire for the ultra-defensive approach England adopted after taking the lead, but the German insisted he had ‘no regrets’ about his tactical switch in the aftermath.
Though there are widespread calls for Tuchel to lose his job following the side’s crushing defeat, the Football Association are reportedly planning to keep faith with the former Chelsea, PSG and Bayern Munich manager.
Tuchel put pen to paper on a two-year extension with the Three Lions in February, with his contract running through to Euro 2028.
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