Cruelly, the journey was brought to an end in Atlanta by the defending champions.
Enzo Fernandez scored with five minutes to go, then Lautaro Martinez two minutes into stoppage time, both of them assisted by Lionel Messi, the greatest player of all time, whose genius showed no sign of having waned.
On to Sunday’s final to face Spain heads the 39-year-old and his team, an extraordinary group littered with Premier League pantomime villains who just seem to find a way. So did England, until this. Until now.
The journey ends
In the end, the fact England finished the match with six or seven…
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