​Holders Argentina were inspired by the great Lionel Messi to storm back in the closing stages and beat England 2-1 on Wednesday to set up a meeting with Spain in the World Cup final.Anthony Gordon struck on 55 minutes for England, who then dropped deep and went ultra defensive, allowing first Enzo Fernandez to fire in on 85 and substitute Lautaro Martinez to head home in injury time. Messi assisted both.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement”I am simply so happy, I’m without words. I am always surprised by our team,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said after a tournament of late comebacks from his side. “We fight for our fans.”Argentina are bidding for a fourth title and second in a row. They are hoping to become the first men’s team to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1962. Italy also did it in 1938.The World Cup final is in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday at 1900 GMT. England must face fellow semi-final losers France in the third place play-off on Saturday in Miami.Sunday’s final against Spain will be especially memorable for 39-year-old icon Messi, who spent much of his career at Barcelona. The final will also likely mark his last World Cup appearance.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe last of a record 104 games in an expanded World Cup of 48 teams – played across the US, Mexico and Canada – could end with the same winner as four years’ ago in Qatar.Messi, joint top scorer in the tournament with eight and already the World Cup all-time record scorer with 21, was playing against England for the first time in his illustrious career. He was well-marshalled for much of the game but then burst into life late on.Harry Kane became England’s most capped outfield player with 121 appearances, only four behind overall record holder Peter Shilton, but a first global final for England’s men since they won it in 1966 slipped away as they tried to hold out and failed.”Just gutted for the boys, for everyone,” captain Kane told the BBC. “We played a good game for the large majority of it. We just couldn’t quite hold on. We’ve worked so hard to be here.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDropping back had worked in the epic last-16 win in Mexico with 10 men but the might of Argentina proved too much.Physical encounterThe build-up to the game was dominated by references to the 1982 Falklands war between Britain and Argentina, Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal in 1986 and David Beckham’s red card in 1998.Argentina were again in their dark blue change kits, just like those two famous victories over their old rivals. The anthems were booed by fans in the near 70,000-strong crowd.England made three changes from the patchy 2-1 win over Norway in the quarter-finals as Morgan Rogers came in for right winger Noni Madueke. Reece James and Djed Spence returned at full back.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Albiceleste brought in Giuliano Simeone – son of Diego who helped get Beckham sent off in 1998 – for Rodrigo De Paul in midfield.In a feb