Only one day after the confrontation between France and Spain, played last night (the Iberians won 2-0), and the England-Argentina match tonight (10:00 p.m.) promises high-class football. Especially since at the end of it, the second finalist of the World Football Championship will be decided from Canada, Mexico and the USA.
UPDATE 20.25 The battle for the top scorer title remains extremely exciting.
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe share first place with 8 goals each. With the mention that the French has three assists, and the Argentinian has two (this is the first tie-breaker criterion in the event of a tie in goals scored). They are followed by Norwegian Erling Haaland, with 7, but Norway have left the competition. England’s Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane are also in the running, each with 6, Frenchman Ousmane Dembele and Spanish Mikel Oyarzabal, each with 5.
UPDATE 19.45 Here are the results of tonight’s semi-finalists at the World Championship from Canada, Mexico and the USA:
Argentine
Group J
3-0 with Algeria
2-0 with Austria
3-1 with Jordan
Round of 16
3-2 with Ins. Cape Verde (after extra time)
Optimum finals
3-2 with Egypt
Quarter finals
3-1 with Switzerland (after extra time)
England
Group L
4-2 with Croatia
0-0 with Ghana
2-0 with Panama
Round of 16
2-1 with DR Congo
Optimum finals
3-2 with Mexico
Quarter finals
2-1 with Norway (after extra time)
UPDATE 18.55 If there are no last-minute surprises, the two rivals will line up the following “toppings” tonight:
England: 1. Pickford – 24. James, 2. Konsa, 6. Guehi, 3. O’Reilly – 8. Anderson, 4. Rice – 7. Saka, 10. Bellingham, 18. Gordon – 9. Kane (capt.)
Reserves: 23. Trafford, 13. D. Henderson, 25. Spence, 12. Chalobah, 15. Burn, 5. Stones, 16. Mainoo, 21. Eze, 17. Rogers, 20. Madueke, 11. Rashford, 22. Toney, 19. Watkins
Absent: Ouansah (suspended), J. Henderson (injured)
Coach: Thomas Tuchel
Argentine: 23. E. Martinez – 26. Molina, 13. Romero, 6. Li. Martinez, 3. Tagliafico – 7. De Paul, 20. Mac Allister, 5. Paredes, 24. Fernandez – 10. Messi (capt.), 9. Alvarez
Reserves: 1. Musso, 12. Rulli, 4. Montiel, 19. Otamendi, 25. F. Medina, 8. Barco, 2. Senesi, 11. Lo Celso, 16. Almada, 14. E. Palacios, 18. Paz, 15. N. Gonzalez, 17. G. Simeone, 22. La. Martinez, 21. JM Lopez
Absent: no player
Coach: Lionel Scaloni
It is known that there is a great rivalry between the Argentina and England teams. And this was also amplified by the territorial dispute in the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), implied by the fact that the two countries fought the war in 1982, resulting in 649 deaths on the Argentine side and 258 deaths in the British camp. The Arlantic Ocean archipelago has been claimed by Argentina since the British occupation of 1833.
Four years later, at the 1986 World Cup, Argentina eliminated England in the quarter-finals thanks to a ‘double’ from Diego Maradona (2-1), which the former number 10 described as ‘symbolic revenge against the English’.
However, England’s coaching staff insist they have no interest in being swayed by history. “The match is iconic enough in itself and the tension is already high enough. So we do the exact opposite: we try to influence the players on what we want them to do, on how to behave in different situations,” said coach Thomas Tuchel.
On the other hand, Lionel Scaloni believes that mixing the sports rivalry between Argentina and England with the territorial dispute related to the Falkland Islands “would be madness”. The Argentina coach said ahead of the second semi-final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup: “It was a very sad period in our history and there’s not much we can do about it. That’s the reality. And it’s a football match, nothing else. So mixing the two would be crazy. Of course we have to remember the victims of the conflict and their families, but what responsibility do the players bear, the people of today?” he asked. this one.
As for the 1986 quarter-final, “I think everyone remembers that game, Diego’s performance, especially the second goal (nicknamed ‘the goal of the century’ after an incredible run of dribbles – na) which will remain etched in our hearts for its beauty,” Scaloni explained. He added that the fact that it was scored against England was “a coincidence” and “it would have been just as beautiful if it had been scored by anyone else opponent”.
The England coach appreciates the Argentina team
Argentina are the “complete package”, combining the experience, stamina and magic of Lionel Messi, said England manager Thomas Tuchel, who hopes to see his players impose their style and strengths: “I find the players very excited and very ambitious. Nobody is satisfied and that is exactly the perfect mix to get the performance we want tomorrow (today, no). Ahead of such a game crucial, I will feel the tension and I will be nervous, but I don’t feel any weight, no burden. I think the players know perfectly what this match is. If a match like this has produced so many iconic moments, it is difficult to say that it is just another football match,” said Tuchel in the press conference before the semi-final in Atlanta.
Tuchel praised the Argentina team as well as Messi: “They have mentality, solidarity, they don’t panic when they are led. They have experienced and high-quality players in every position. For me, they are the complete package. Their captain, Lionel Messi, is having an incredible tournament. The way he leads this team… there are no words to describe the responsibility and quality he shows. When you analyze his games, it’s like he sees things before everyone else from the field. In short, there are many things to worry about, but we are here to play in our style and impose our strengths.”
The German coach made it clear that everyone is ready to start the semi-final, including midfielder Declan Rice, who was affected by a medical problem before the quarter-final against Norway (2-1 after extra time). On the other hand, quarterback Jarell Quansah will serve the second game of his suspension.
In first-team football, England and Argentina have met 14 times, with the British winning six times, while their rivals mustered just two wins. The first dispute, a friendly one, took place in London on May 9, 1951, and England won 2-1.
Messi won all matches refereed by Ismail Elfath
The star of the Argentina team, Lionel Messi never drew or lost a game when he was refereed in the center by the American of Moroccan origin Ismail Elfath, who will lead the match between the Argentina and England teams, in the semi-finals of the soccer World Cup, reports Reuters. The matches of Lionel Messi’s Major League Soccer team, Inter Miami, refereed by Ismail Elfath in the center, ended only in victories. As a result, the appointment of Elfath to officiate the England v Argentina match has angered English fans, who have sparked a series of allegations of a possible arrangement to obtain a new trophy for Lionel Messi.
Elfath, an American citizen born in Morocco, will officiate the England-Argentina match, with his compatriots Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins as assistant referees. Several online publications have reported that Messi’s teams have five wins with Elfath at center. Ismail Elfath was the fourth official at the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, where Messi and Argentina beat France on penalties.
Scaloni avoided talking about the changes in the team
With regard to the current World Cup, the coach of the reigning world champion considered reaching the semifinals a “huge achievement”, but emphasized that there is no question of resting on his laurels: “It is true that we have already played one, but it is as if we have never played one. We are as happy, as eager, as motivated to give our people the pleasure of seeing their national team give everything”, said Scaloni. When asked about possible changes to the starting line-up, the Argentina coach gave a deliberately vague answer: “The team comes first.”
Nico O’Reilly will be the one to mark Lionel Messi
Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly (21 years old) has declared himself confident in his ability to do well in the “once-in-a-lifetime” task of marking Argentine star Lionel Messi (39 years old). The English defender wants to make his dream of winning the world football title a reality.
The media in England pointed out that Nico O’Reilly was a baby when Messi played in his first World Cup in 2006. The City footballer was the left-back chosen by Three Lions coach Thomas Tuchel at the North American tournament, but his task will be much more difficult in today’s semi-final against the reigning world champions.
The England defender regards the Argentine as “the best player to ever step on a football pitch. And yes, I’m looking forward to the challenge. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” O’Reilly told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Argentina will evolve in blue equipment as in 1986
The International Football Federation (FIFA) has approved the request of the Argentina team to use a blue kit against England. Considered the “visiting” team, they made the request less than 48 hours before the game in Atlanta, and the world forum agreed.
According to the French daily “Le Parisien”, the South Americans will thus perform in an equipment of the same color as the one they used against England in the famous football WC match of 1986, won by the South Americans with the “double” of the legendary Maradona.
In terms of regulation, such a request would not have been necessary. England, considered the “host” of this match, has the first option in choosing the equipment for the game in Atlanta. And surely he will choose to evolve in white, traditional equipment.
But the Argentine Football Association (AFA) wanted to be guaranteed to play in the kit they consider lucky against the English.
