City's England quartet suffer World Cup semi-final heartbreak | OneFootball

City quartet Marc Guéhi, Nico O’Reilly, Elliot Anderson and James Trafford’s hopes of World Cup glory ended in semi-final heartbreak as Argentina claimed a dramatic 2-1 win over England in Atlanta.

Guéhi and Anderson both featured from the start with O’Reilly coming on after 82 minutes on a night that started promisingly but which ended in yet more World Cup agony for the Three Lions.

When Anthony Gordon struck to open the scoring on 55 minutes, England’s dreams of a first World Cup final appearance in 60 years looked well set.

But prompted by a series of smart substitutions, and two superb Lionel Messi assists, the World Cup holders summoned up a ferocious last half hour and turned the game around in the final throes.

First Enzo Fernandez struck a stunning 25-yard drive to level affairs on 86 minutes before substitute Lautaro Martinez headed in a winner on 92 minutes to send Argentina through to Sunday’s final against France.

For England, it marked a third straight World Cup semi-final defeat – and one that will arguably sting the most.

With so much baggage and history surrounding the fixture, the game was a fiercely fought, ill-tempered affair right from the start with the flow interrupted by a litany of fouls.

The first meaningful opportunity fell England’s way on 33 minutes, former City icon John Stones sending a header wide from Declan Rice’s free-kick.

Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez then came within a whisker of breaking the deadlock with a thunderous 39th minute drive.

The Argentine intensity and pressure ramped up immediately after the break with Jordan Pickford doing well to deny former Blues striker Julian Alavarez at the near post.

But it was England who made the all-important breakthrough on 55 minutes, the Barcelona winger superbly steering home a wonderful pinpoint Morgan Rogers cross from the right flank.

At that stage, it looked as if Thomas Tuchel’s side were well set for the final.

Instead, it prompted a ferocious Argentine response.

England keeper Jordan Pickford produced a stunning save to keep out a goalbound Nico Gonzalez header after a sumptuous Lionel Messi cross.

The World Cup holders began to turn the screw and England received a huge let-off on 76 minutes when Alexis Mac Alister somehow headed against the post from only six yards out.

However, it felt a goal was coming and it duly arrived on 86 minutes via Enzo Fernandez, the Chelsea man drilling home a quite stunning 25-yard screamer that arrowed into the net.

It served to provide a turbo boost for Lionel Scaloni’s men.

And, in the second of nine added minutes, after MacAlister had again struck the post, Argentina struck again through substitute Lautaro Martinez as he headed home another superb Messi cross to complete a stunning turnaround.

Argentina’s reward is a place in Sunday’s World Cup final against a Spain side featuring City midfield talisman Rodri.

The showpiece event at New York’s MetLife Stadium gets underway at 20.00 (UK).

Meanwhile Saturday’s Bronze medal play-off clash between France and England takes place in Miami on Saturday, July 18, kick-off 22.00 (UK).