Lionel Messi and Argentina stormed into the World Cup final after dumping England out of the competition on Wednesday night.

Messi provided both assists for two late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez, as the South American side came from behind to dramatically win 2-1.

England were prepared to go all the way in extra time and a penalty shootout if needed, though Thomas Tuchel’s side couldn’t hold on in stoppage time.

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Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez checks out England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s water bottle. Pic: TyC Sports

During their celebrations, a few of the Argentine players came across Jordan Pickford’s ‘cheat sheet’ for a potential shootout, which they seemingly did not agree with.

The England goalkeeper had taped the sheet to his water bottle, giving him a chance to look over where he thought each Argentine would place their penalty.

A member of Argentina’s coaching staff pointed out the ‘cheat sheet’ to Messi and a few others before showing it to Fernandez, who seemed particularly amused.

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Argentina players with England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s water bottle. Pic: TyC Sports

The players were seen laughing at Pickford’s notes, but it will remain unclear if they would have been helpful.

There were plenty of hits and tense moments during the match itself, with dozens of fouls committed and players going into challenges hard.

It was the first World Cup match with no shots on target in the first 30 minutes, as both sides never allowed the other to break through.

However, after Anthony Gordon put England ahead, Tuchel made a string of defensive substitutions as he sought to see the game out much as he did in Mexico City in the Round of 16.

These decisions may have proved costly, as when Fernandez equalised, England were left on the back foot with few attacking options.

Speaking immediately post-match, former England captain Wayne Rooney admitted on the BBC that he was ‘shattered’ and ‘crushed’.

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It was the first World Cup match with no shots on target in the first 30 minutes. Pic: Buda Mendes/Getty Images

Rooney explained: ‘Yeah, we got ourselves in such a good position, and then we…. we didn’t know what to do. I think we didn’t know what to do. We sat back, we allowed them to come onto us.

‘They were creating a number of chances, put us under pressure, we couldn’t get out, and then we cracked, as soon as they got the first goal, it was inevitable they were going to get a second.’

Sunday night will now be the first World Cup final in which the reigning European champions will take on the reigning South American champions.

It promises to be another classic, with Spain, who have dominated the tournament, only conceding once, and Argentina, who never know when they’re out, able to claw and survive all the way to the final with one of the greatest of all time leading the way.