Why Argentina always finds a way when the pressure is greatest

When Anthony Gordon gave England the lead against Argentina in Wednesday's World Cup semi-final, I thought it was over. Like many others, I had predicted an England victory. For more than an hour, it looked like Thomas Tuchel's side had one foot in the final. England were organised, disciplined and restricting Lionel Messi's influence. Argentina looked frustrated, short of ideas and on the brink of surrender. If you took my prediction seriously, my apologies. Because once again, Argentina reminded us of the one lesson this World Cup has taught over and over again: never write off the defending champions. If there has been one defining characteristic of Lionel Scaloni's team throughout this tournament, it is not dazzling football or overwhelming dominance. It is their strange ability to survive. Every time they have looked vulnerable, they have found a solution. Every time they have been pushed to the limit, someone has stepped forward. Every time the pressure has peaked, Argentina have somehow emerged stronger. Wednesday's comeback against England was simply the latest chapter. The warning signs had been there long before the semi-finals. In the Round of 32, tournament surprise package Cabo Verde pushed Argentina into extra time, refusing to be intimidated by the reigning world champions. Many expected the African side to complete one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. Argentina found a way. The quarter-final against Switzerland followed a similar script. The Swiss frustrated Messi and company for more than 100 minutes, defended courageously and looked capable of forcing penalties even after being reduced to ten men. Argentina found a way. Against Egypt, it took three late goals. Against England, they trailed with just over 30 minutes remaining. Argentina found a way. Four consecutive knockout victories have now been secured either in extra time or through goals in the closing moments of matches. That is not luck. Champions create their own luck. What separates great teams from merely talented ones is not how they perform when everything is going according to plan. It is how they respond when the plan begins to unravel. Argentina never panics. Even when they fall behind, there is an unmistakable calm about them. They continue to move the ball patiently. They continue to believe another opportunity will come. They trust the system, they trust one another and, above all, they trust the man wearing No. 10. Because when Argentina need inspiration, they know exactly where to look. For nearly two decades, Lionel Messi has carried the hopes of an entire nation. At 39, he no longer glides past defenders with the explosive acceleration of his younger years. But perhaps he has become even more dangerous. His understanding of space is unmatched. His passing remains breathtaking. His ability to slow a game down before producing one decisive moment is as remarkable as ever. Against England, he did exactly that. He created Enzo Fernández's stunning equaliser before delivering the inch-perfect cross that Lautaro Martínez headed home in stoppage time. When Argentina needed someone to lead them back from the brink, Messi answered. His numbers tell the story; Eight goals, four assists and countless decisive moments. Yet statistics alone cannot explain his influence. Messi gives Argentina belief. Even when supporters begin to doubt, his teammates never seem to. That confidence spreads throughout the team. Players like Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister and Lautaro Martínez know that if they keep making the right runs, the opportunities will eventually arrive. More often than not, they do. But reducing Argentina's success solely to Messi would be unfair. Lionel Scaloni deserves enormous credit. His substitutions have repeatedly changed matches. His team remains tactically disciplined even when chasing games. They defend together, suffer together and attack with conviction when the moment presents itself. There is a resilience about this squad that cannot be coached overnight. It has been built through years of winning together. Now comes their biggest challenge; Spain. Unlike England, Spain rarely surrenders control of matches. Luis de la Fuente's side have conceded just one goal throughout the tournament and dismantled France with a tactical masterclass in the semi-finals. Their relentless pressing, intelligent possession and youthful energy have made them arguably the most complete team in the competition. If Argentina falls behind again, Spain may prove far less forgiving. Yet writing off the defending champions would be a mistake. We have seen this movie before. We thought Cabo Verde had them. We thought Egypt had them. We thought Switzerland had them. We thought England had them. Each time, Argentina found another gear. Each time, Messi produced another moment. Each time, the defending champions refused to go home. Perhaps that is what champions do best. They convince everyone the story is over before writing one final twist. Spain will undoubtedly start the World Cup final believing they have the tools to stop Argentina. And indeed, they probably do have the team and superstars. But they must also understand one simple truth that every Argentine opponent has learned the hard way this World Cup. Until the final whistle blows, Argentina is never beaten.

World Cup 2026

Why Argentina always finds a way when the pressure is greatest