ATLANTA — It was coming, the only surprise being the goals did not come from the boot of Lionel Messi.
England were just six minutes from a second World Cup final, their stop Messi protocols keeping Argentina at bay, when first Enzo Fernandez and then Lautaro Martinez broke English hearts.
Questions will inevitably be asked about the deployment of blanket defence to steal a win but that would ignore the nature of a brilliant game that was always going to be claimed aggressively.
England delivered their most compelling performance of this tournament to take a deserved lead. A Djed Spence tackle that halved Giuliano Simeone as he bore down on goal was received like a goal at the other end by the relieved England fans.
Jordan Pickford’s reflex palming of the ball to safety on the line was met with open mouths on both sides of the stadium. Argentina hit the post twice in this intense spell and ultimately it was their will and spirit that prevailed.
The world has its Messi final against Spain and England go to Miami to fight over third place.
The anthems at the start set the tone, drowned out by the opposition jeering. Not unexpected and wholly additive to the atmosphere. The acoustics in the Atlanta stadium were conceived for this moment, the full we are going in, it’s now or never.
England responded to the primal prompts, hurrying Argentina into an error from the kickoff. There was in these early stages purpose and intent from England that we had glimpsed only briefly in this tournament, a connection across the pitch that forced Argentina into a sequence of barely legal defensive actions that had more to do with wrestling than football.
The principal perpetrator was Giuliano Simeone, who appeared set on emulating the shithousery perpetrated by his father and Atletico Madrid coach, Diego, who tormented David Beckham at the 1998 World Cup. The family business is in good hands.
With half an hour gone and neither keeper troubled, the match boiled between the Ds. England edged possession but not in a way that troubled Argentina unduly, until they encroached the box. At which point out came the dark blue scythe.
The match was waiting for its first Messi moment. It arrived following an uncharacteristic mistake by Declan Rice. Messi collected possession on the edge of the centre circle. No one insinuates his way past human shields more balletically than he. The space opened before him, sucking white shirts into panicked defensive movements. First Spence and then Elliot Anderson dived in, resulting in the first yellow of the match for the latter.
England had survived with a warning. This is how it would be, England dialled in for the first time since the second half against Croatia in the opening group game, taking the game to Argentina, who in turn buckled up and looked for Messi on the break.
Half-time suited Argentina most. England were growing in stature, at last punching with authority. Like any boxer who falls back on the ropes, Argentina appeared increasingly vulnerable to the big strike.
Equally this is their natural state, existing on the edge of chaos. They are comfortable absorbing pressure and when the opportunity presents assume rapid attacking shapes, with Messi lurking at the tip of the spear.
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Ironically it was just as Argentina were enjoying their best spell of pressure at the start of the second half that England cut through, Rice jumping on to a loose ball to send Rogers free down the right. It was training ground stuff from there, Rogers crossing for Anthony Gordon to tap home at the far post.
As the celebrations exploded in front of the England fans Messi stood in the centre circle with hands on hips. He was not catching his breath. He was stoking the engine. The next half hour would be his last meaningful minutes in the World Cup unless he were able to summon his best.
He did, getting bigger and bigger as the minutes ticked by. Was it ever in doubt?
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