England aims to reach the World Cup final for the first time in 60 years when they face defending champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, in the semi-finals in Atlanta on Wednesday.
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The winner of this match will progress to face Spain, who booked their spot in the 2026 World Cup final on Tuesday by defeating France 2-0 in Dallas.
England's German manager Thomas Tuchel believes matches between Argentina and England are "much more than just a football match." The rivalry between the Argentines and the English is one of international football's greatest classics, famously linked with iconic moments like Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" and "Goal of the Century" in the 1986 Mexico World Cup quarter-finals.
"You can't simply say it's just another football match," Tuchel said during Tuesday's pre-match press conference. "But as a coaching staff, that is exactly what we do: we focus on what we can influence."
He added: "My staff and I do not talk about historical events or iconic moments. The match itself is iconic enough, and the tension is high enough already."
Messi vs. Guéhi and O'Reilly
Lionel Messi aims to win a second consecutive World Cup title. However, after the immense effort he put in to help Argentina reach this stage, and at 39 years old, the question remains: can he still inspire the Albiceleste to overcome England?
The legendary number 10 will likely occupy his usual deep-right position with the freedom to drift wide. The responsibility of marking him is expected to fall on Nico O'Reilly and Marc Guéhi.
England's defense, which has not always looked completely solid during the 2026 World Cup, faces a tough test.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," 21-year-old Manchester City left-back O'Reilly told the BBC. "He's coming to the end of his career. To me, personally, he's the greatest player to ever step onto a football pitch."
Kane and Bellingham vs. Romero and Paredes
England's talismanic captain Harry Kane knows Argentine defender Cristian Romero well from their time playing together at Tottenham.
Argentina must find a way to stop Kane, who is England's joint-top scorer in the tournament alongside Jude Bellingham with six goals each.
However, this task won't fall on Romero alone, given Kane's tendency to drop deep and link up play.
Boca Juniors' 32-year-old Leandro Paredes is expected to anchor Argentina's midfield in front of the defense, policing the zone where Kane and Bellingham are most dangerous.
Winning the Midfield Battle
Declan Rice is believed to be recovering in time to play alongside Elliot Anderson in England's midfield. Supported by Bellingham, the duo will need a massive work rate to counter Argentina's expected diamond midfield.
The defending champions have settled on Paredes as the defensive anchor, flanked by Rodrigo De Paul and Alexis Mac Allister, with Enzo Fernández playing ahead of them. This quartet combines immense work rate and tenacity with high technical quality. Liverpool's Mac Allister and Chelsea's Fernández will find themselves lining up against several familiar faces.
"I think it will be a high-intensity match, and of course, with a lot of tension on both sides," Mac Allister admitted.
Pickford vs. Martínez
Goalkeepers Jordan Pickford and Emiliano Martínez know each other well from their Premier League battles.
Pickford's standout moment of the tournament so far was his heroic performance in the Round of 16 win against co-hosts Mexico, where he thwarted all of their attacking attempts.
He faced criticism after failing to stop Andreas Schjelderup’s goal against Norway in the quarter-finals, but that match was still historic for the 32-year-old Everton keeper. It was his 18th World Cup appearance, making him England's all-time record appearance maker in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa's Martínez was one of the stars of Argentina’s triumph four years ago, winning the Golden Glove award.
Though he has not been entirely unbeatable—conceding twice against both Cape Verde and Egypt in the knockout stages—the 33-year-old’s big-game experience and familiarity with English football will be crucial.
Scaloni vs. Tuchel
Lionel Scaloni has never coached a club side, yet he has amassed an extraordinary record since taking charge of Argentina in 2018.
He faced heavy criticism back then and was deemed underqualified, but he went on to lead the Albiceleste to the 2022 World Cup title alongside back-to-back Copa América trophies.
He is now on course to potentially equal the record of Italy's Vittorio Pozzo, the only manager to win the World Cup twice.
Thomas Tuchel is his polar opposite. Renowned as one of club football's elite tacticians, he led Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021 before being convinced to take his first international job with England in late 2024.
AFP
