Former NBA guard Austin Rivers blasted Chris Brockman for claiming that LeBron James will be a “non-factor” in his league-record 24th season.
There has been an argument on social media that wherever James lands in free agency, they would instantly become legitimate championship contenders. Among the teams strongly linked to the four-time NBA champion are the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers.
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On Wednesday’s episode of “The Rich Eisen Show,” Chris Brockman said the Heat, which recently acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo, would be a play-in team.
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“If he goes to Miami, enjoy the Play-In Tournament,” Brockman said. “LeBron is gonna be a non-factor this season. I think everybody needs to ready themselves for that.”
Rivers, who played 11 NBA seasons from 2012 until 2023, came to the defense of James and criticized Brockman for his comments. The 6-foot-4 guard wrote his comment under the Instagram post of ESPN, which shared Brockman’s remarks.
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“This guy has zero ball knowledge and looks like he barely has the coordination to tie his shoes together,” Rivers commented. “Bron stats last season say the opposite of ‘non factor’…but go ahead get ur clicks guy.”
Austin Rivers’ comment under ESPN’s Instagram post on Wednesday (IG/@espn)
James also reacted to Brockman’s comments on Wednesday. He reshared ESPN’s post on his Instagram story and added a number of laughing emojis.
In his final season with the Lakers, James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game as the third scoring option behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
How will the Miami Heat roster look with the addition of LeBron James?
The Miami Heat made a splash early in the offseason with the blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. They’ve also added forward Bobby Portis via the deal and sent Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Heat still have three-time All-Star Bam Adebayo and one-time NBA champion Andrew Wiggins. Davion Mitchell would likely be Miami’s starting point guard, and recent acquisition Tim Hardaway Jr. will be the team’s sixth man.
While it can be argued that Miami needs to add more depth, James could be viewed as the missing piece in this already-solid starting lineup.
Super Falcons forward Chinwendu Ihezuo has expressed confidence that Nigeria can successfully defend their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title and qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The 14th edition of the tournament will take place in Morocco from 26 July to 16 August.
Ihezuo admitted that this year’s competition will be more difficult than the previous edition because teams will also be battling for places at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
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“This tournament will be much tougher,” Ihezuo said.
“Last year, there was no World Cup ticket to fight for. Once the tournament begins, every team will focus on qualifying for the World Cup. As defending champions, we cannot afford to be over-confident.”
Despite the expected tough challenge, the Pachuca Tuzas striker believes the Super Falcons have the quality and unity to achieve their goals.
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“I believe in the team that we have, our togetherness, hard work and determination. We are not only going for a World Cup ticket but also to retain the trophy,” she added.
Ihezuo also gave an update on her fitness after spending time on the sidelines with an injury.
The former Nigeria junior international said she has fully recovered and is ready to rejoin the Super Falcons for the tournament.
“God has been great and I give Him all the glory. I am now fully fit and recovered. My club is currently in pre-season, but I am ready to fly to Morocco and join the Super Falcons to make Nigeria proud,” she said.
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Nigeria will be aiming to win a record-extending 11th Women’s AFCON title when the tournament kicks off later this month.
After a breakout 2025-26 campaign, Trevor Zegras is staying put in Philadelphia.
The RFA centre and the Flyers agreed to a four-year deal on Wednesday, holding an average annual value of $9.125 million, the team announced.
“We’re thrilled to have Trevor committed to our organization for the next four years,” said general manager Daniel Briere in a statement. “The growth he showed this past season, proving that he is the skilled player he entered the league as, reinforced our belief that he will be an impact player for the Flyers for the years to come. He’s the type of player who can help take our team to the next level, and we’re excited to continue building alongside him.”
The new deal comes after Zegras potted career highs in goals (26) and points (67) in 81 games with the Flyers.
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The 25-year-old spent the previous five seasons with the Anaheim Ducks, but injuries limited Zegras in his final two seasons in Southern California, playing just 86 games over that time and falling down the pecking order on a Ducks team looking to take the next step.
That led to his trade to Philadelphia in the 2025 off-season as the Flyers sent Ryan Poehling and two picks to Anaheim in exchange.
Selected ninth overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2019 NHL draft, the six-foot, 185-pound Boston University product has played in 349 career NHL games, and has 93 goals and 160 assists for 253 points. He has 60-plus point seasons in three of his six seasons in the league.
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Zegras has also represented the United States on five occasions, most recently at the 2024 World Championships where he had a goal and an assist in eight games. He also played in back-to-back World Junior Championships in 2020 and 2021. In 2021, he helped the U.S. win gold and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player with seven goals and 18 points in seven games.
International Chess Federation (FIDE) President Arkady Dvorkovich isn’t going anywhere – at least if he has things his way.
“FIDE must become even more open, efficient, and responsive,” the former Russian deputy prime minister said in late June when announcing his candidacy for a third term.
The Russian was first elected to the post in 2018. The sanctions imposed on Russian sports over the war in Ukraine have thus far failed to checkmate the 54-year-old economist and politician. On the contrary, in August 2022, months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Dvorkovich was re-elected by a large majority.
Yet Russia lost its dominance at the chessboard long ago; recent world champions have come from China and India. Within FIDE, however, Russian influence remains substantial. Little happens within the organization without funding that is directly or indirectly linked to Russia.
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One of FIDE’s key sponsors is financier Timur Turlov. Although he became a Kazakh citizen in 2022, he is originally from Russia. Turlov is now running to become a FIDE vice president under Dvorkovich.
India: Why Tamil Nadu state is a chess powerhouse
Challengers from Germany
However, the vote in September could prove to be a tight race, as two Germans have announced their candidacies for the presidency. The congress in Uzbekistan could thus see a three-way contest for the votes of the approximately 200 national delegates.
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“I still consider Arkady Dvorkovich the favorite in this race,” Peter Heine Neilsen, the coach of former world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway, said. However, should he be put under EU (European Union) sanctions this could change the situation.
Jan Henric Buettner has been working to helpestablish “freestyle” chess as a format of the gameImage: Marcus Brandt/dpa/picture alliance
Neilsen, of Denmark, was on the ticket with Ukrainian grandmaster Andrey Baryshpolets, when he unsuccessfully ran for FIDE president in 2022.
This time, he is backing German investor Jan Henric Buettner. The former internet executive’s goal is “to improve transparency and create sustainable, long-term growth for our sport.”
Buettner’s candidate for vice president is the veteran English chess official Malcolm Pein.
“All over the world, chess has grown immensely over the last five years – but FIDE hasn’t,” Pein told DW. “We want to change that.”
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According to Pein, a key challenge for FIDE is attracting new sponsors who have no ties to Russia. The Englishman is an outspoken critic of Russia’s dominance of FIDE.
However, the fact that Buettner is now seeking to become the head of FIDE has surprised some in the chess world. Buettner has spent recent years helping former world champion Carlsen to establish “freestyle” chess—a variant in which the starting position is determined by a draw, rendering memorized opening moves irrelevant. However, to many, he comes across more like an outgoing startup entrepreneur than a future federation president holding a diplomatic passport.
Turning Nigeria’s slums into a chess classroom
DSB backs Rosenstein
“I cannot fathom Jan Henric Buettner’s candidacy, nor do I think it has any chance of success,” Paul Meyer-Dunker, president of the German Chess Federation (DSB) told DW.
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“Buettner did not contact us before announcing his candidacy, nor did he collaborate with the DSB on his freestyle activities.”
The DSB are pinning their hopes on another German: Wadim Rosenstein. The 35-year-old entrepreneur from Düsseldorf has been financing and organizing top-tier chess events worldwide since 2022. He even participates himself as an amateur player sometimes. His vision is to make FIDE “one of the most respected institutions” in international sports.
“Wadim Rosenstein is someone who doesn’t just talk; he takes action,” Meyer-Dunker stressed.
By his own account, Rosenstein has invested millions of euros in the sport of chess over the past few years, in part through his company WR Logistics, which has been a major sponsor of FIDE international events. However, he declined when asked by DW to put a figure on just how much he has invested in the sport.
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Wadim Rosenstein is not just an investor but also an enthusiastic playerImage: Meurer/Beautiful Sports/IMAGO
Even the Buettner camp acknowledges that Rosenstein has set a great deal in motion in the global chess world. However, questions remain.
“I am grateful for Wadim Rosenstein’s work as a sponsor and organizer of chess events all over the world,” Pein said. “But I am worried about the absence of hard facts about his business background.”
Rosenstein counters that his businesses are private as opposed to publicly listed companies, meaning he is under no obligation to release details of his assets. He did, however, say that his companies were active in some 70 countries.
Until 2022, a key focus for Rosenstein, who was born in 1990 in present-day Ukraine, was supporting German companies in regions like Ukraine and Russia. In 2022, however, he ceased doing business with Russia, even though he “formally” remains the owner of companies there.
DSB President Meyer-Dunker is well aware of the questions surrounding his candidate for the FIDE role.
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“There is constant speculation among some people regarding Wadim Rosenstein’s motives and background, but we know that he is a successful and reputable entrepreneur with a great love for the sport of chess,” Meyer-Dunker said.
“In my view, he represents the best chance of ousting Dvorkovich and pushing through necessary reforms in international chess.”
Pein sees things differently.
“Wadim Rosenstein asked me to join his ticket, but I declined, because I could not move past my suspicions,” Pein said.
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“Wadim Rosenstein has been evasive on the issue of Russia’s role in chess politics. I demand that he makes a clear statement about the illegal activities of the Russian Chess Federation in the occupied territories in Ukraine and about the participation of Russian players and teams in official FIDE events,” Pein explained.
Current FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich (left) is well connected in the KremlinImage: ITAR-TASS/IMAGO
CAS ruling leaves Russia without a vote
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) recently ruled in favor of Ukraine, which had complained that the Russian Chess Federation had organized chess events in occupied Ukrainian territories. In June, FIDE suspended the Russian federation’s membership because of the ruling.
“As a matter of principle, I would prefer a world in which every player can compete under their own national flag,” Rosenstein replied, when DW asked him to outline his position on the matter.
“At the same time, the President of FIDE must serve every member federation responsibly and within the rules. In this case, there is a clear legal framework: the Russian Chess Federation has been affected by a CAS ruling, and those decisions must be implemented immediately.”
The ruling also means that as things stand, the Russian federation is barred from voting in September’s FIDE election. Nevertheless, the campaign is being watched with great interest in Russia. The Russian Chess Federation’s website features a favorable article on Dvorkovich’s candidacy, as well as one about Rosenstein’s.
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There is no mention of Jan Henric Buettner and Malcolm Pein. Perhaps this is merely a coincidence, but Heine doesn’t seem surprised.
“Generally, in the world of chess, players, officials and the broader chess community are happy if interesting tournaments and events are organized,” he said. “And they don’t tend to ask too many questions as to where the money comes from.”
Argentina still has a chance to defend its title. La Albiceleste’s passionate comeback against England in the World Cup semifinal unleashed a wave of emotion. The final still has to be played, but the now three-time world champions are taking the evening to properly celebrate their glorious last-minute victory.
The tears of joy on the pitch were then replaced in the locker room by pure final euphoria at the latest. You could say: Argentina’s inner party animals had been awakened.
Apparently, their physical reserves were not even depleted after that enormous effort. There’s no other way to explain this late-night cardio session.
Argentina are heading to another FIFA World Cup final, and head coach Lionel Scaloni believes their latest comeback is because of the character of his team.
The reigning world champions came from behind to beat England 2-1. Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez scored late goals to overturn Anthony Gordon’s opener and book a place in the final against Spain.
After the match, Scaloni explained why he never lost faith in his players, even after England took the lead.
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“This team plays better when it’s in trouble.”
The Argentina manager praised his side for refusing to give up despite creating chance after chance before finally finding the breakthrough.
“If it didn’t go in, we would’ve lost 1-0 with seven goal-scoring chances. We kept pushing until the end.”
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Scaloni also admitted the performance surpassed even Argentina’s dramatic comeback victory over Egypt earlier in the tournament.
“We thought the match against Egypt was the peak, and this one surpassed it.”
The 48-year-old reserved special praise for every member of his squad, particularly those who came off the bench.
“Those who came on from the bench today were fundamental.”
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He added:
“We have to thank the players. It’s hard to explain what this group has done with words. We’re going to try to win the final, but what these guys have already achieved is incredible.”
Match-winner Lautaro Martínez described the victory as one he had dreamed about since childhood.
“I’m very happy and very excited about the victory and the goal.”
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The Inter Milan striker revealed his thoughts immediately after scoring the winning goal.
“I thought about my family, about my children. For my parents who were always there in the difficult moments.”
He added:
“I’ve always dreamed of scoring this goal, ever since my dad bought me a pair of cleats.”
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Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez said Argentina approached the match knowing what it meant to their supporters.
“We played like it was a semifinal, with the knife between our teeth. We knew it was a special match for the people.”
Defender Lisandro Martínez echoed that feeling.
“We are all Argentinians right now. What they go through, what they live, it’s felt here too.”
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He added:
“We leave everything in every contested ball and that’s the most important thing. We’re one step away, but now we’re going to enjoy what we’ve achieved.”
Argentina will now face Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final, one victory away from successfully defending the title they won four years ago.
England’s dream of reaching their first men’s FIFA World Cup final since 1966 came to a painful end after Argentina scored two late goals to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory in Wednesday’s semi-final in Atlanta.
Thomas Tuchel’s side looked set for a famous win after Anthony Gordon gave them the lead early in the second half, but a series of tactical changes and Argentina’s relentless pressure turned the match around.
England will now face France in the third-place play-off, while Argentina will meet Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final.
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Gordon Gives England Hope
After a fiercely contested first half, England took the lead in the 55th minute. Morgan Rogers delivered an excellent cross from the right and Anthony Gordon arrived at the far post to finish calmly.
The goal gave England confidence, but instead of pushing for a second, they gradually dropped deeper and allowed Argentina to take control.
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Tuchel’s Changes Invite Pressure
One of the biggest turning points came through Tuchel’s substitutions and tactical adjustments.
With 18 minutes remaining, goalscorer Gordon was replaced by defender Ezri Konsa as England switched to a more defensive system. Tuchel also introduced Dan Burn to strengthen the back line, hoping to protect the narrow lead.
However, the move had the opposite effect.
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England were forced deeper into their own half and struggled to keep possession. Argentina dominated the closing stages, attacking in waves as England found it difficult to relieve the pressure.
Argentina Take Their Chance
Argentina finally found the breakthrough in the 85th minute when Enzo Fernandez fired a brilliant long-range strike past Jordan Pickford to level the scores.
The equaliser lifted the defending champions, who continued to attack while England struggled to respond.
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Deep into stoppage time, Lionel Messi delivered a superb cross with his right foot, and Lautaro Martinez rose highest to head home the winner and send Argentina into another World Cup final.
Messi Leads by Example
Although he was quiet for much of the match, Messi produced two moments of quality when his team needed him most.
The 39-year-old played a key role in Fernandez’s equaliser before providing the cross for Martinez’s winning goal, once again proving why he remains Argentina’s biggest inspiration.
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England’s Defensive Approach Backfires
England’s biggest problem was their inability to keep attacking after taking the lead.
Instead of controlling possession and pushing Argentina back, they retreated into a defensive shape that invited constant pressure. Argentina enjoyed more of the ball, created several chances and eventually found the goals their dominance deserved.
Jordan Pickford made several important saves, while Alexis Mac Allister also struck the woodwork twice, but England could not withstand the late pressure.
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Argentina Set Up Final with Spain
The victory sends Argentina into Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain, while England must now regroup for the third-place play-off against France.
For Tuchel and his players, it was another painful World Cup exit, with cautious tactics, defensive substitutions and Argentina’s late quality combining to end England’s hopes of lifting the trophy.
Argentina could face disciplinary action from Fifa after several of their players celebrated with a banner supporting their country’s claims to the Falkland Islands following the World Cup win over England.
The defending champions came from behind to beat England 2-1 in the semi-final and advance to a decider against Spain.
The Atlantic archipelago is a British overseas territory but Argentina maintains a claim to the islands, situated about 300 miles off its coast, having fought a war in 1982.
655 Argentine and 255 British servicemen, and three people from the islands, died in the 74-day conflict.
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The Argentine Football Association (AFA) was previously fined £20,000 by Fifa in 2014 after Argentina’s players held up a banner with the same message.
The governing body said the actions, which followed a friendly win over Slovenia, had breached rules on political action and team misconduct. Argentina fans have chanted songs referencing the islands throughout this World Cup.
“I had left and gone to bed before the banner came onto the pitch, but I saw the images this morning, and of course, it’s entirely inappropriate,” the business secretary told SkyNews.
“Politics should stay away from football. That is a very clear principle of the World Cup, but any consequences that come from that is now a decision for Fifa.”
Argentina will take on Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday.
Opinions vary on how to handle the first weekend after the break, requiring two lists
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You know how Week 1 immediately divided the user base into two factions, those who regarded opening weekend as its own separate scoring period and those who combined with the first full week for a supersized scoring period? Well, the All-Star break presents another such opportunity.
Once again, play resumes in the middle of a week, and because there’s no clear consensus over what to do about it, some of us will be splitting off here. Yes, those of you who know Week 17 as Week 16 because of choices your league made earlier this season are about to fall behind by one more.
That’s because, when in doubt, CBS defaults to more scoring periods, treating this first weekend after the break as its own. Many leagues opt for the alternative, extending the four-day period to 11 days, which can obviously change the complexion of a player’s upcoming schedule.
When it comes to recommending players, then, two lists are needed to account for the different variants, and that’s what I’ve put together here, making streamer recommendations for both the short week and the long. The only players who qualify are those rostered in no more than 80 percent of CBS Sports leagues.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi has expressed deep gratitude to God after leading his country into another FIFA World Cup final, saying he could not ask for anything more following an extraordinary career.
The 39-year-old spoke after Argentina’s dramatic 2-1 victory over England in the semi-final, where he provided two crucial assists to help the defending champions book a place in Sunday’s final against Spain.
Reflecting on Argentina’s journey, Messi said reaching another World Cup final was already a special achievement.
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“I don’t know, honestly, after everything we’ve been through, we can’t ask for more than that,” Messi said.
“Just playing another final is an amazing thing. God is great, and He always has something else, but honestly, I can no longer ask God for more.”
The Inter Miami forward said he remains thankful for everything God has given him, both on and off the pitch.
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“I am grateful for everything God has given me, whether in my sports career or in my personal life. As I always say, the rest will be God’s will. God knows.”
Messi also admitted he knows many of Spain’s players ahead of Sunday’s final, especially those representing Barcelona, a club he still holds close to his heart.
“I know many, many players in Spain. Many of them play for Barcelona. Barça is the team I adore, and I still follow them.”
“There is still one last step. Still one more game. We will keep trying, we will keep fighting.”
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The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner revealed he always believed Argentina would challenge for the biggest prize.
“It never crossed my mind not to be among the top four teams in this World Cup.”
Describing the tournament as one full of surprises, Messi urged Argentine supporters to continue believing in the team.
“This World Cup is madness and being in another final is incredible.”
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“To the Argentinians, I say the same as in Qatar: enjoy it. This team never lets you down.”
Argentina will now face European champions Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final as Messi looks to win another world title and bring his remarkable international career to another unforgettable moment.
In the middle of Argentina’s celebrations for sealing a spot in the FIFA World Cup2026 final, Lionel Messi found something that completely took his mind away from the game. In a video that has surfaced on social media, Messi and the rest of the Argentina players could be seen engrossed in reading the penalty notes that were pasted on the water bottle of England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, after the conclusion of the semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday. While pasting such notes on the water bottle is a common practice, Messi was intrigued to see how in-depth England’s preparations were.
It was Nico Gonzalez who held the bottle for Messi as the Argentina captain tried to read the penalty notes. For Messi, the notes suggested that Pickford should take left and dive right.
Argentina players started laughing when they saw Pickford’s water bottle with their names written on it just in case it ends in a penalty shootout. pic.twitter.com/AuUUk9dSev
As the match concluded in a 2-1 win for Argentina, England captain Harry Kane had nothing but praise for his counterpart.
“Leo is still performing at the highest level,” England captain Harry Kane said. “I felt like for large parts of the game, we dealt with him really well. But as always with the most dangerous players in the world, when they have the ball in the final third, they can be place-setters. And he did that again today. He’s obviously one of the best players ever for a reason.”
Eight days after an improbable rally against Egypt in the round of 16, Messi returned to Atlanta to produce another stellar moment in a career that might already be the best of anyone to play the sport.
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England was surely envisioning going for its first World Cup title since its only one six decades ago after a 55th-minute goal from Anthony Gordon.
But Messi and his blue-clad teammates, as they have shown over and over again, are never done. Now it’s on to face Spain in the final on Sunday with a chance at becoming the first repeat champion since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
In the 85th minute, with England hanging on for dear life, Messi pushed out a short corner, immediately got the return pass and spotted Enzo Fernandez lurking in the middle of the field, 25 yards from the goal. Fernandez ripped a curling shot past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to even the score.
At that point, it seemed inevitable that Argentina would pull out the victory.
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With AP Inputs
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