FIFA World Cup 2026: "Argentina played very good football," Thierry Henry hails defending champion
Atlanta, July 16
Former France striker Thierry Henry hailed Argentina as the deserved winners after their 2-1 victory over England in the FIFA World Cup semifinal, praising Lionel Scaloni's tactical approach and questioning England's defensive strategy.
Speaking during Fox Sports' post-match coverage, Henry said Argentina's display reflected the qualities of reigning world champions.
"The best team won. Great attitude, mentality. Argentina played very good football, and England went into a back five too early for my liking. They thought they had to defend the lead a tiny bit too early," Henry said.
The Arsenal legend also highlighted Scaloni's tactical decision to deploy Lionel Messi on the right flank rather than through the middle, saying it allowed the Argentine captain to exploit one-on-one situations.
"Scaloni put the little man (Messi) on the right, not in the middle in traffic, but on the right to give him the ball in one-v-ones. They're the world champions for a reason," he said during Fox Sports' post-match coverage.
Argentina defeated England 2-1 to book their place in the FIFA World Cup final, where they will face Spain, while England will take on France in the third-place playoff.
The first half was a tightly contested battle, with both teams fighting for midfield control and creating limited clear chances. England eventually broke the deadlock in the 55th minute when Anthony Gordon finished Morgan Rogers' cross to put the Three Lions ahead.
After taking the lead, England dropped deeper defensively, allowing Argentina to build pressure. The defending champions responded strongly, with Jordan Pickford making key saves and Alexis Mac Allister hitting the post before Argentina found the equaliser. In the 85th minute, Enzo Fernandez struck after receiving a pass from Lionel Messi to level the match.
Argentina completed their comeback in stoppage time when Messi delivered a cross for Lautaro Martinez, who headed home the winner. Despite England's late efforts, Argentina held on to reach the final. England will now face France for third place, while Argentina will meet Spain for the title.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I agree with Thierry Henry - England went defensive too early. After taking the lead at 55th minute, they should have kept attacking. Argentina's mentality is unmatched, they never give up till the last minute. Great lesson in persistence for all of us. 🙌
Honestly, I think England's defensive approach was understandable given Argentina's attacking power. But the way Messi controlled the game from the right was like watching a maestro. India can learn so much from Messi's positioning and game intelligence. What a player!
Great analysis by Henry. Argentina deserved to win - they showed champion mentality. But credit to England too, they played a good game until the 70th minute. That Messi cross for Martinez's header was world-class. Finals will be interesting: Argentina vs Spain. Can't wait!
As someone who follows international football closely, I must say Scaloni's tactics were spot on. But I'm a bit critical of England's decision to sit back after scoring. In big matches, you can't afford to drop deep against quality opponents. Argentina taught them a lesson. Still, fantastic tournament so far! 🌟
Absolutely incredible performance from Argentina. The way they kept fighting till the 85th minute and then won it in stoppage time shows why they're defending champions. Messi's vision for that final ball to Martinez was out of this world. Football really is the beautiful game. ❤️⚽
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