What is the story about?
Argentina’s
World Cup title defense is somehow, someway, remarkably still alive as the Albiceleste pulled off a historic comeback to beat Egypt 3-2 in their Round of 16 clash in Atlanta. After going down 2-0 in the first 80 minutes and looking all but done, Lionel Messi put on the cape and led a comeback that was completed by a 92nd minute winner from Enzo Fernández to send Argentina to the Last Eight in the most dramatic way imaginable.
Reactions & Observations
- For 80 minutes in Atlanta, Argentina were staring at one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history with a flat, slow and very poor performance. Egypt defended for their lives, Mostafa Shoubir had the game of his life in goal, and the underdogs had a two-goal lead that felt like good enough to pull off a miracle.
- Then Lionel Messi happened: after missing an early penalty and not looking like himself he decided to put the country on his back, assisting Cuti Romero’s header and scoring a powerful and angry goal off the crossbar to equalize and bring the Albiceleste back to life.
- And there was still time for the miracle: a great pass from Julián Álvarez released Lautaro Martínez down the right wing, and his cross was headed home by Enzo Fernández to send the crowd into a frenzy and complete one of the greatest comebacks of all time.
- It’s hard to find the words to describe the feeling of watching that unfold, what this means for Messi’s legacy as he decides yet another World Cup game, and how much momentum Argentina will take from this despite a very poor performance.
- There is nothing like the World Cup. There will never be anything like the World Cup.
