Argentina Refuses to Die: Stoppage-Time Comeback Against England Keeps Messi's World Cup Alive
The reigning champions snatched a 2-1 win in Atlanta in the dying minutes. The pattern holds: Argentina only settles things at the last second — and Messi marches on.
A pattern is taking shape at this World Cup — and it has Messi's face on it.
On Wednesday (15), in Atlanta, Argentina came from behind once again. England opened the scoring and tried to hold on. They couldn't. The reigning champions turned it around to 2-1 in stoppage time, advancing exactly as they had against Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland: right on the edge, just when the clock seemed ready to have the final say.
England's strategy of sitting deep and running down the clock was punished. According to Trivela, Argentina refused to go out and pulled off a historic comeback in the final minutes on United States soil.
Golmetria's model sees Argentina as the overwhelming title favourite: a 34% chance of lifting the trophy and a 67% probability of reaching the final. England, despite making it this far with real conviction, went into the match with just a 5.4% chance of winning the title — and are now out.
As for the hosts, the USA remain in the tournament, but the model is honest: just a 0.16% probability of a title for the American side. The dream is alive, but it is a small one.
What this match leaves behind is the image of an Argentina that seems to have made a pact with fate to only settle things when hearts are already in throats. Not one comeback has been easy. Every single one has come right at the limit.
The question that lingers: how long can this script keep working — and who will have the nerve to stop this team before the final?