[Anchor]
In the North and Central America World Cup, defending champion Argentina has secured a spot in the finals for the second consecutive time after a thrilling comeback victory against England. The hero was, once again, the soccer god, Messi.
First, here is reporter Ha Seong-nyong.
[Reporter]
The tension between Argentina and England, long-standing rivals in the soccer world for nearly half a century, began on the way to the stadium.
The scene where the England team bus overtook the bus carrying the Argentine players served as a prelude to the heated match ahead.
As the two teams remained locked in a tight battle with rough tackles and intense physical clashes, it was England that broke the deadlock.
In the 55th minute, Gordon finished a cross from Rogers with a one-touch right-footed shot, sending the home of soccer into a frenzy.
Argentina launched an all-out offensive afterward, but they were pushed to the brink of defeat as they struggled against the opposing goalkeeper's saves and bad luck hitting the goalpost. However, the soccer god, Messi, turned everything around with his two feet.
In the 85th minute, as defenders swarmed him, Messi delivered a left-footed pass, and Fernandez fired a dramatic equalizer with a right-footed long-range shot.
Then, in stoppage time, Messi flashed his brilliance once again.
He sent a precise, pinpoint cross from the flank, leading to Martinez's header that completed the comeback.
Messi, typically known for his left foot, caught the defense off guard with his right foot to complete his multi-assist performance, and the unbelievable turnaround sent all of Argentina into a frenzy.
[Pablo Giralt / Telefe Argentina Commentator: Goal! Long live Argentina, long live Lautaro (Martinez). Let's go, Argentina. It is not over until it is over. You must never lose faith until the end.]
When the final whistle blew, Messi clenched his fists in celebration, and his teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders to enjoy the joy of victory.
[Messi / Captain of the Argentina National Soccer Team: We have been the best team for the past four years, and this team has proven once again that we are one of the two best teams in the world.]
Argentina has reached the finals for the second consecutive time, staging dramatic victories by scoring winning goals after the 90th minute in four consecutive matches from the Round of 32 to the semifinals.
[Scaloni / Head Coach of the Argentina National Soccer Team: Our team shows its best performance when we are in difficult situations. Just like a shark smelling blood in the water when the opponent hesitates, we push until the very end.]
The highly anticipated final will take place early Monday morning, and the opponent is the invincible Spanish armada.
Reported by Ha Seong-nyong | Video by Lee Seung-jin
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