See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy NATHAN SALT - FOOTBALL REPORTER Published: 00:08 BST, 16 July 2026 | Updated: 00:23 BST, 16 July 2026
Victorious Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni claimed Argentina 'smelled blood' against England when Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions 'doubted themselves' in Wednesday's thrilling World Cup semi-final.England took the lead through Anthony Gordon's goal but retreated thereafter and struggled to get out of their own half as they looked to cling on to their narrow lead.That vanished when Enzo Fernandez scored a stunner from distance to make it 1-1 and all English hope was extinguished when Lionel Messi's cross was nodded in by Lautaro Martinez, one of Scaloni's bold substitutions after he came on for left back Nicolas Tagliafico, at the back post.Tuchel defended his defensive game-plan, which saw as many as six defenders on the pitch with England in a 5-4-1 set-up by the time Martinez scored, but Scaloni had his own interpretation as to how the game slipped away from England. Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni consoled England's players after dumping them out in Atlanta Scaloni felt England 'doubted themselves' and Argentina 'smelled blood' to go and win 2-1'The opponent doubted themselves a bit,' he explained.'We smelled blood and went for it. We all felt it.'Argentina have dug themselves out of a hole multiple times this tournament and now have the chance to win back-to-back World Cups when they face Spain in New Jersey on Sunday.For Scaloni, the bravery of his side after Gordon made it 1-0 was a message to this side's critics.'Yes, after England scored we showed a lot about our football,' he added.'It's more than tactics and playing pretty football.'It was a sentiment shared by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who knows England's players well given he plays for Aston Villa in the Premier League.'It was crazy,' Martinez told BBC Sport.'I thought we played really well in the first half. We dominated them. We know how strong they are in set-pieces and how physical they are. I've played there for 16 years and I know them really well.'Asked if Argentina's players felt the momentum shift after Gordon's goal, Martinez added: 'We felt it. We felt them going backwards and backwards rather than going forward. 'Sometimes when you are winning, you have to go forward anyway. You can't change the gameplan. I think they did it and they put extra defenders.'Many in England wrote Argentina off in the build-up and were left to pay the price when the South Americans deservedly booked their place in Sunday's final against Spain.'I'm lost for words,' Scaloni, who was seen consoling Jude Bellingham, Marc Guehi and numerous other England players at full-time, said in the immediate aftermath of the Atlanta epic. Enzo Fernandez (right) got Argentina level before Lautaro Martinez headed in the winning goal'A great happiness for our country and our people. And another great happiness for this group who just do not know when they are beaten.'I can tell them that we are going to try to win, we're going to leave it all out there, but the truth is that to do this is very difficult.'It's very difficult for people to understand what our players have given. It is so impressive.'We are unique. It's not arrogance, it is all heart. Today so many people arrived here to support us and for that I am truly grateful.'This shirt merits us giving absolutely everything possible until the very end. To not spare anything at all.'
