Argentina vs England 2-1: Argentina's Incredible Comeback Sends Them To The World Cup Final!

Project 90 Soccer: So baby, we are live Marco. Welcome to another episode of the Project 90 podcast. My name is Antonio and I'm here with my brother as always Marco Munoz. Marco today, let's just get straight into this man, the second semi-final and boy did it live up to the hype. England versus Argentina. This game quite literally had everything. So before I break it down, go over some of these notes. Just give me your take on this game, man. This game, I was thrilled the entire time watching this match.

Marco: Guys, it's gonna be a short episode. No need to break anything down. It's one person's fault. Tuko, it is your fault. England is not in the final right now. It is all your fault that they are not in the final right now, okay? We can't blame the refs. Argentina played a solid game. Right, I don't want to hear any crying about this yellow card, that yellow card, this didn't get called. The ref was not biased.

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm. Woo! Mm-hmm.

Marco: The ref was solid. So, Tuco, this falls on you. England, I'm sorry. Your hearts are broken. But Tuco, you need to get sacked.

Project 90 Soccer: Hot take right out the gate. like this. And to be honest, I do kind of agree with you Marco. I think a lot of people do agree with you because you know, jumping ahead here just quickly, you know, as soon as, as soon as that goal went in, this was the 60th, maybe 70th minute came along. Man, did he really just make it obvious what he was trying to do, right? He just threw all in on the defense, parked the bus and said, we're gonna, we're gonna wait this one out. We're gonna hold it down. And we're going to hold this one zero lead, which against the team, particularly like Argentina, what a terrible, terrible way to sort of strategize the last 20, 30 minutes of your game. Because what, what do we know about Argentina and all of these games we've seen in the last 20, 30 minutes, they are going to put it down on you. And that is, that is exactly what happened. You know, it's exactly, exactly what happened. And then to see Tuco sort of backtrack on that when they lost the lead. to then bring on Rashford and to try to go back into the attack. mean, honestly, yeah.

Marco: What for what it's too late throw those guys a lot earlier when you know, Argentina's already on your ass Like aren't like I don't know how it could have been like three goals McAlester got lucky. I mean got unlucky Pickford played his ass off, right? He blocked as much as he could but ultimately man You remember we were in London, right when you see those double-decker buses out there in London. That's what to pull That's what to code decided to name to the starting lineup

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. yeah. Yeah. yeah.

Marco: in the second half. brought that double decker, he decided to park it and ultimately shot himself in the foot.

Project 90 Soccer: Dude, he was parking a couple double-deckers back there. That guy was really going for that defensive strategy, And you know, it just sounds so much smarter to me to say, hey, let's take Gordon off a six and let's put Rashford on, maybe throw in a big guy like Oli Watkins because you know Argentina is going to go for the, they have to go for the goal. So your outlet, you need to have an outlet for when you clear the ball, maybe you get lucky on a break, you get a counter, and you never know, you maybe put another one in the goal as England. and really seal the game. But instead it's like they were just inviting this pressure as if Argentina wasn't going to do what they did. I mean, they had so many shots at the end there, so many opportunities, crosses, you name it. Pickford came up big, they hit the post two times. I mean, come on, man. And Tuchel, you know, he might not have any regrets right now, but I think deep down he kind of does because he did not handle that correctly. And I think a lot of the players are feeling that as well.

Marco: Yep. look at the first half how England was playing. It's night and day from first half to second half. Spence arguably the best player in the first half, but at least they were trying to make things happen. Gordon was trying to make things happen. Gordon didn't have the best game, right? And I can't say one coach decided to make a bunch of adjustments because both coaches made adjustments on both ends, right? They were looking at the tactical side of things. mean, Simeone's son.

Project 90 Soccer: Yes. Mm-hmm. Yep.

Marco: I got his first minutes for the first time, right? But yeah, night and day.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Simeone, that was his, I want to say second appearance this World Cup, but yeah, nonetheless, nonetheless. Yeah. Not to interrupt though, but real quick, I mean, this game, speaking of Simeone, I was going to mention something about him. That guy is an absolute bull in a china shop. I mean, that guy is, when I think of Argentina, I think of a guy like that who's just running around like a chicken with his head cut off, just knocking the dudes.

Marco: Okay, okay, my mistake, yeah.

Project 90 Soccer: But you cannot take it away from him. He worked his ass off and on that wing against Spence today. I thought that was the most exciting exciting just part of the game for the first at least half man. Those guys were just going at it and shout out to Spence dude coming out turned his tournament around. I mean that guy's a starter nothing no mask dude. I'm telling you you just pull the future today. No mask on this guy after today's game. I think he's going to have some

Marco: Yep, shout out. No mask.

Project 90 Soccer: some big clubs kind of knocking on his door to be completely honest. Beginning of the tournament, maybe not so much. After last game though, and especially today, I think that guy's gonna be getting some calls, some phone calls this summer, personally, yeah.

Marco: I mean, had a tough season with Tottenham, you know, so who's to say he doesn't leave, especially after the season he had and these last couple of games. But yeah, I'm pretty disappointed for him also, right, how it ended. And I feel like he was out there too long. I mean, we're talking about it beforehand. He looked like he was getting cramps. And that second goal came on his side, those few moments where he stepped away and he wasn't 100%. Here comes Anenzo Fernandez.

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Marco: Man, what a banger.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Yeah, I know it was, man. I want to touch on those goals and I sort of want to take it from the top here about this game. mean, this game had everything, right? It had tackles, intensity. It was so competitive. It had yellow cards. It had goals, shots, saves. I mean, this was truly, this game truly felt unlike yesterday's game. This game truly felt like a semi-final, a game worthy of being the semi-final of the World Cup. and it started out extremely intense start to finish, right? I felt like the early stages of the game were sort of 50 50 teams trying to find their feet. the midfield was really battling for control. think Paredes did an amazing job breaking up attacks, Declan Rice, McAllister, everyone in the center of the park today for both teams to me, they just battled it out. They absolutely battled it out. And, you know,

Marco: Uh-huh. another solid job.

Project 90 Soccer: The big shocker, I think, came the first goal. I don't want to say I was shocked by it, but I wasn't necessarily expecting it. But what it was, it just a long ball from Kane, right? Led to Rice, who played it out to Rogers. He crossed the ball. And I remember you mentioned this to me when the game was happening, how Gordon came in and he beat Molina to the ball, right? Molina sort of fell asleep on that back post. What were your thoughts like when you saw that happening?

Marco: Same, I think he was ball watching, right? But kudos to Molina, right? He did not let that impact his game. He had a solid second half of the game. I mean, he was pushing a lot of the balls from his side, the whole back half, starting a lot of the offense from there. So shout out to him. Yeah, he did get caught ball watching. It was a tight squeeze. Gordon was able to make it happen, but ultimately they were able to bounce back.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yep, no, they were and after that it's like when Argentina really this is what we didn't really see from France yesterday, right? When you go down Argentina went down and immediately immediately they put on the pressure and said this is it right? This is the moment we got 30 minute whatever it is For about 40 minutes to go win this game. There's no like there's no other option at this point We got to attack and we got to go. Yes do or die. We got to win We got to go score these goals and we got to win this game

Marco: We're done.

Project 90 Soccer: So mean, moving on from the 55th minute when that goal happened, there was a sub for Argentina. Nico Gonzalez came on for six of the parents this World Cup. Paredes came off and you can already see Scoloni sort of changing it up to try to get more out of the attack. I thought Nico Gonzalez made a huge difference. was a problem right from the start. And since that moment when he came on, balls were flying in from all over the place, crosses, shots, you name it, right? And then this is kind of where I think

Marco: Yeah.

Project 90 Soccer: the game shifted and you tell me if you agree with this. In the 70th minute, Gordon comes off for Konza, right? A right back, which pushed James up the wing, but ultimately just threw in another defender for an attacker, right? But then Argentina took off Simeone Molina and Lissandra Martinez. Okay. And they threw on DePaul, Montiel and Otamendi. So for England, let's start there with Gordon coming off, Konza coming in, 70th minute, you know, they're up one zero. You can kind of see

Marco: Mm-hmm.

Project 90 Soccer: the game plan falling into place. What did you think of that sub?

Marco: I thought that was a bad call. I immediately said this is way too early to be trying to defend the rest of the game, especially with Argentina. What have they done these last couple of games? What did they do against Egypt? Right. They found ways to win. We've been talking about it. This team is a winner and they just know how to make things happen. I was kind of hopeful even since last game to see Rashford come in a little early just because he was getting a lot of playing time earlier on. He didn't have a bad season in Barcelona. So mean, this, this, this guy.

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yes.

Marco: It was in a good moment, but Tuco, like I said, I don't know what he was seeing. I think he had it in the bag. But 1-0 against the reigning champs? No, that's not the right call. And Scaloni, he did the right thing. Like I said last time, Carne Alasador. He put all the meat on the grill. And who scored? Martinez. This guy always makes it happen in the Serie A. He's always in the right position. He's not a goal scorer for no reason.

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Marco: Shout out to Stallone making the right adjustments, risking the defense. But based on what we're seeing, there was not a whole lot of offense. mean, you see Kane, bro. Kane was basically playing like a defensive mid at times. He was just playing defense. Not a lot was going his way. They were just on the defense, man, way too long. But let me backtrack a little bit. Playing a little bit behind, like Kane was doing, he was able to provide a great ball.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm.

Marco: for that first goal for England, right? But that's not something that I would expect from Kane to do the rest of the game. I mean, his job is to score and pull some defenders his way and create chances for other people. yeah, I think the adjustments in the back half of the game is detriment to England.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I agree with that. Seeing Kane, that was kind of the one of the first times maybe he didn't drop back, but he dropped back that far, was on the goal. And it's something you see him do, know, with Tottenham, did it with Bayern Munich, he does it occasionally where he'll kind of drop into this role, pick up the ball, turn and sort of, he's got that ability to be able to play a ball in like that. And, you know, ultimately it led to a goal, but he was, there's a lot of chasing going on today. Him, Bellingham, yeah.

Marco: Real quick, real quick, you know what that reminds me? Right now that you're talking about that Wayne Rooney used to do that a lot. Yeah.

Project 90 Soccer: Yes. Yeah, that guy was solid as well. It's similar, very similar to what Kane does, you know? But yeah, Kane came back, picked it up, played a nice pass overhead and it led to the goal. But after that, it just seemed like Argentina just took control of game, right? 81st minute, Lautaro Martinez comes on and we always talk about, you know, it's become like the story of the World Cup. Mikel Marino comes on and he gets the late winner. Well, I argue that

Marco: Yeah.

Project 90 Soccer: The real guy that does that every time is Lautaro Martinez because he's done it last tournament and he's doing it again this tournament. He really is the definition of a super sub. That guy comes on and you can expect he's going to get at least an opportunity on goal. And he's the type of guy that typically finishes those opportunities, right? After he came on, Rhys James went down. And then what did he do? He brought Dan Burn on another defender. Right. So they're really without a doubt. parking the bus Declan Rice comes off for O'Reilly another defender for a midfielder so they're really dropping back now they're really holding it down Argentina though fucking relentless right Messi it's like he just eases into these games and it's like he has his moments where I thought Anderson for instance Declan Rice even Gahey they were they did lock him down they won the ball off him many times but

Marco: Yeah, they were on them. on them. They're locking them down.

Project 90 Soccer: Again, with a guy like Messi, it's it's relentless. He's just going to keep going. and that's what happened. You know, in the 85th minute shot from Fernandez was pushed over, right? Shortly after off a corner who obviously assisted it was Messi. You got to assist today, passes it straight to the top of the box, back to Fernandez. Enzo Fernandez takes a beautiful shot, side netting one to one. And I just want to get your take on what, how did you What did you think the feeling was after that goal went in and it tied the game one to one? Because I felt like when that ball went in, the tides just the gate, the floodgates just opened for England, right? For Argentina.

Marco: Yeah. And I actually want to take it back to that corner kick. How many times they run that same play? Half full times and I and on that specific play that they scored on, I was talking to myself, I was like, why are you doing this play? Clearly nothing's happening. It keeps getting booted out. Right. But kudos to them. It's probably a routine play that they run and practice. And if you look at some of the other games, that's

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Every time. Yeah.

Marco: perfect play for Messi, right? Because you're thinking he's going to cut into the left. He's going to cut out to the left and try to find a shot. But that was just a decoy, man. You see Fernandez just waiting on the outside of the 18, just waiting for that. Like, this is my play. This is my play. Same thing he did with Egypt, right? But to answer your earlier question, yeah, as soon as they scored that first goal, I was like, all right, this is Argentina's game to win and England's to lose. Because, they were real. Man, they just.

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Just putting it on

Marco: It just wouldn't stop. You know what mean? They were just shot after shot, left, right. know what I mean? Shout out to the post that blocked the couple because Matt Pickford wasn't going to get those. But yeah, man, it was headed towards Argentina's dub at the end of the day after they scored that first goal.

Project 90 Soccer: I know man, I- Yeah, no, I agree completely with that. after after that, right Fernandez, Enzo Fernandez puts it in the back of the net. We're talking literally six minutes later, right? Pressure just never stopped. Six minutes later, Mac Allister, the second post, right? He shoots it, comes off the post. It goes out to the right, to the left side of the goal and Spence, he goes to get the ball. He goes to slide to sort of clear it out. And as he slides, it looks like he maybe

Marco: We will be.

Project 90 Soccer: gets stepped on or twists his ankle a little bit, gets a little knock, whatever the case is, he gets up and he's sort of hobbling around on that ankle. And what does that do? It gives Messi all the time in the world. He picks up the ball, he turns around, there's nobody, literally nobody in front of him because Spence is hobbling around. And by the time he comes under pressure, he's already cutting to the end line.

Marco: Yep.

Project 90 Soccer: cuts across up in the air with his right foot and who's there? Lautaro Martinez. Absolutely nail in the coffin. It was over. As soon as that goal went in, you knew like there's no way England's gonna get even a look at goal at this point. It was over. It was over.

Marco: And if I'm not mistaken, Anderson pulled away from the previous play talking about Enzo when he scored, right? So I don't know, man. don't think, yeah, Messi's dangerous. He can score from anywhere, but you also got to take care of your man.

Project 90 Soccer: Nuh-uh. You do and you know this game it was definitely a lot of lot of credit goes to Argentina and the way they play the way they fight they have an unbelievable will it's like when they put that jersey on there's so much pride so much passion it's like they have that what is that stuff they drink mate it's like it's just flowing out of their fucking veins dude towards the end of the game they just do not stop but these goals I think

Marco: matters.

Project 90 Soccer: You can almost say some of the blame definitely goes on England. think, like you said earlier, it was their game to lose. And I think ultimately they sort of shot themselves in the foot. Not to say Argentina wouldn't have scored anyways or found a different way, but in the ways that they did, I'd say England has something to sort of look on or look back at and sort of realize that maybe they could have done a little bit better in those moments.

Marco: Yeah. And ultimately I'm jumping back and forth a lot, right? But it's because it's just disappointing seeing a team that made it that far go out the way they did, especially the decisions made by Tuco, but don't want to take any credit away from Argentina. They were, they still have the task at hand and they needed to get the job done. And what I always say, they got the job done.

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm. Yep. Mm-hmm. They did, man. They got the shot done. So now we're looking at, you know, a third and fourth place game on Saturday, right? And then on Sunday, the big final. versus Argentina. Spain was obviously in the final 2010, haven't been to the final since they won in 2010. Argentina reigning champs, they have the opportunity to go back to back, back to back champions for the first time. last people to do it was Brazil, 58 and 62. back to back. So, you know, we're looking at the European champions making it to the final. We're looking at the Copa America and the previous World Cup champions making the final. So everything, you know, on paper, as we see it right now, is set up for a massive final, a massive game. And yeah, man, I'm just, really, really excited for this final to match up that I personally can't remember seeing. Maybe in the past it did happen. You know, England had played Argentina previously and obviously the big hand of God moment. Then there was one in 2002 and you know, today was just Messi's first time playing Argentina. So really this is a whole new matchup today and Spain versus Argentina sort of feels like another one, especially in a major tournament final like this. So I'm really excited to see that game. How do you, how do you see that playing out? Who do you have a little bit more of a, of a feeling that's going to win this game, this final?

Marco: Yet. Well, oddly enough, I was looking at the odds today before the England-Argentina match and Vegas had Argentina as an underdog. So you know what? they're the underdogs, I'm just going to ride with Argentina on this one. I think they're going to be first back to backs champs in Brazil, right? But I know we've been talking about France and all these players playing for these teams, but we have been talking about Argentina and all the players that they have playing at some of the huge clubs.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: across the world and even Argentina. So I'm a go Argentina on this one. No predictions on any scores is just like I keep saying, man, they just always find a way.

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm. I agree, man. I agree. I don't want to go too much in depth with it, but I just see Argentina, you know, pulling through because again, with Spain, you haven't seen them all fully come to life. haven't seen sort of just overall the level of intensity that Argentina plays with. have not seen Spain come up against that. It's a different level of like relentlessness when Argentina is there. You know what I mean? The later stages of the game, God forbid that Argentina is losing. You're gonna get it just like England did today. So I don't know if Spain's ready for that Obviously, they have kubar see back there a young guy laport. They have a good team. No doubt They definitely have a good team, but I think this Argentina team is just gonna is gonna They're gonna take another World Cup back to a bonus. just you know, I think that's ultimately what is gonna happen but you know moving forward I think I think we're gonna maybe in a couple days we can do a

Marco: Yeah.

Project 90 Soccer: A pre-match sort of preview of the final. Talk about it more in depth. Talk about what we see happening. Starting lineups, things like that. But man, today's game, know, heartbreak for England and glory for Argentina, you know? And it was exciting. It was lived up to the expectations. Exactly what I thought was going to happen, sort of happened today. I thought England was going to win. I was wrong. But I did think the game would be full of excitement. And my God, was it? It was, man.

Marco: Yep.

Project 90 Soccer: So that's it for this episode. Is there anything you want to add Marco? Any comments, any notes, any things you might have saw that I didn't?

Marco: Shout out to the Argentinians, shout out to the Argentinian fans, shout out to Argentina, and I look forward to doing a pre-match on who's gonna take third place.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, me too, man. It's gonna be exciting. If you guys enjoyed this episode, like, comment, subscribe, leave in the comments what you thought of this game, what you thought of our takes. You know, it's, this is the beautiful game, right? Everyone's got a different opinion. We'd love to hear it. Project90soccer.com, find all of our platforms. Like, subscribe, like we said, and thank you so much for listening. It's been another episode of Project 90.