England vs Argentina - prediction, team news, lineups | World Cup 2026

Renewing a fierce rivalry that has lain dormant for 20 years, England and Argentina volition clash successful Wednesday's 2nd World Cup semi-final, with the aged foes acceptable to conscionable successful Atlanta.
 
The Three Lions are wrong a whisker of their archetypal planetary last for six decades, but La Albiceleste are reigning champions and historically person a 100% deed complaint astatine this precocious signifier of the tournament.

Match preview

Continuing on a way laid by erstwhile brag Gareth Southgate, England person conscionable reached their 4th large semi-final since 2018, which is arsenic galore arsenic they had made passim their anterior shot history.

It has not been creaseless sailing, however. An uneven radical run was followed by scraping past plucky DR Congo, past a magical nighttime successful Mexico preceded a pugnacious quarter-final necktie successful Miami.

Following his important two-goal publication astatine Estadio Azteca, Jude Bellingham's latest brace helped the Three Lions roar backmost aft falling down arsenic they beat Norway aft other time.

Thomas Tuchel's broadside surely rode their luck against the Nordic acheronian horses, but they are present conscionable 1 triumph distant from gathering either France oregon Spain successful the final.

While optimists volition enactment that England are connected a four-game occurrence streak - having scored astatine slightest doubly each clip - antiaircraft vulnerabilities person remained and Tuchel was acold from satisfied with his squad connected Saturday evening. 

So, they whitethorn person to measurement up a cogwheel oregon 2 against Argentina, erstwhile the brace reprise a classical World Cup fixture.

That caller travel to the Azteca recalled memories of Diego Maradona's infamous treble backmost successful 1986, but 20 years earlier England won a feisty quarter-final astatine Wembley en way to claiming the rubric connected location turf.

In fact, they person mislaid conscionable 2 of 14 games betwixt the nations to date, winning the astir caller gathering with goals from Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney successful November 2005.

© Imago / JOERAN STEINSIEK

This necktie represents Argentina's sixth World Cup clash with their aged foes from Europe, and it volition besides beryllium their sixth semi-final - the South American giants person ne'er failed to advancement from this stage.

It has required rather an effort to scope the past 4 this summer, but aft surviving 3 investigating knockout rounds they tin proceed their rubric defence successful Atlanta.

La Albiceleste archetypal extricated themselves from a sticky concern against World Cup debutants Cape Verde, past managed to excavation their mode retired of an adjacent deeper spread against last-16 opponents Egypt. 

Trailing 2-0 with 11 minutes left, Lionel Scaloni's broadside wholly turned that necktie connected its head, earlier going the region against Switzerland. Julian Alvarez efficaciously settled different controversy-hit lucifer with a axenic infinitesimal of magic successful other time, his stunning onslaught yet finishing a 10-man Swiss side. 

That was Argentina's 13th consecutive triumph since past September, and they present basal conscionable 2 much from a 4th sensation of planetary glory.

While Scaloni's squad - mostly made up of Qatar 2022 heroes - has shown signs of ageing, a diagnostic operation of accomplishment and grit has taken them this far, and goals are inactive flowing freely.

Lionel Messi and co person scored 3 successful each of their past 4 matches, racking up 17 since the commencement of the tourney - Argentina's champion World Cup tally ever is 18, which they acceptable mode backmost successful 1930.

Already a nationalist hero, Scaloni could soon go conscionable the seventh antheral to negociate successful 2 World Cup finals, pursuing successful the footsteps of countryman Carlos Bilardo - but Tuchel's England broadside basal successful his way.

England World Cup form:

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Argentina World Cup form:

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Team News

© Iconsport / PA Images

England's right-back problems rumble on, arsenic Jarell Quansah is inactive suspended portion injury-prone Reece James whitethorn not beryllium risked from the start.

So, either Djed Spence volition instrumentality to the lineup oregon Ezri Konsa could proceed to capable in, with John Stones partnering Marc Guehi successful the centre.

Jordan Henderson's wrist wounded successful Mexico City required country and should regularisation him out, but Tuchel volition anticipation Declan Rice tin retrieve from an unwellness that truthful intelligibly affected him against Norway.

Up front, Harry Kane is each acceptable to gain his 121st cap, surpassing Wayne Rooney for the astir of immoderate English outfield subordinate - goalkeeper Peter Shilton holds the wide grounds with 125.

The Three Lions' starring airy astatine this tournament, Bellingham has scored doubly successful back-to-back games, joining his skipper connected six goals truthful far.

Both are vying to triumph an epic Golden Boot race, jointly led by Messi (eight), who has besides missed doubly from the spot. With his assistance against Switzerland, Argentina's main antheral has present deed treble figures for extremity contributions astatine some of the past 2 World Cups.

Either Julian Alvarez oregon Lautaro Martinez - some of whom scored successful other clip astatine the play - volition spouse Messi, giving Scaloni a pugnacious telephone to make.

Though Thiago Almada impressed aft arriving from the bench, Leandro Paredes offers much antiaircraft screen successful midfield truthful it whitethorn adjacent beryllium an unchanged XI.

England imaginable starting lineup:

Pickford; Konsa, Stones, Guehi, O'Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane

Argentina imaginable starting lineup:

E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Tagliafico; Paredes; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez

We say: England 1-2 Argentina

Since losing their opener astatine Qatar 2022, Argentina are unbeaten successful 12 World Cup matches - scoring astatine slightest doubly each clip - truthful stopping specified an irresistible unit volition beryllium England's toughest trial yet.

While a lean, potent portion nether their existent coach, the Three Lions person not solved immoderate glaring antiaircraft problems, meaning Messi and co tin instrumentality vantage connected Wednesday.

La Albiceleste travel into the semis somewhat much favoured according to Sports Mole's usher to the champion World Cup 2026 betting sites, and they volition publication a instrumentality travel to the final.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.