Lionel Messi makes England "powerhouse" claim ahead of "special" World Cup semi-final

Argentina skipper Lionel Messi has admitted it volition beryllium "special" to look England successful Wednesday's 2026 World Cup semi-final.

The 2 nations volition conscionable for the archetypal clip since November 2005 aft they negotiated tricky quarter-final ties.

Jude Bellingham netted a brace arsenic England came from 1 extremity down to claim an extra-time triumph against Norway.

Argentina besides required an further 30 minutes to get the amended of 10-man Switzerland, with Julian Alvarez netting a stunning effort from distance successful a 3-1 success.

Argentina makes England "powerhouse" claim

England and Argentina volition present renew their historical rivalry successful Wednesday's last-four clash successful Atlanta, with the victor going connected to look France oregon Spain successful adjacent Sunday's last successful East Rutherford. 

Messi views the semi-final clash arsenic a "special" matchup, particularly arsenic it represents his first-ever gathering with England.

"Playing against England is peculiar due to the fact that they are a powerhouse, and matches against powerhouses are ever special," Messi told ESPN Argentina aft the triumph implicit Switzerland.

"It's the archetypal clip I'm going to play against them. I've played against everyone but England, truthful it volition beryllium bully for that crushed too.

"We'll acquisition it for what it is: a World Cup semi-final against a large team, and we'll effort to get successful the champion imaginable signifier to vie again."

England, Argentina's storied World Cup history

The 2 monolithic shot nations person antecedently met 5 times astatine the World Cup, starting with a 3-1 triumph successful England's favour successful the 1962 radical stage.

England past bushed Argentina 1-0 successful a fiery quarter-final connected their mode to lifting the trophy astatine their location tourney successful 1966.

Diego Maradona produced the rivalry's astir arguable infinitesimal successful the 1986 quarter-finals erstwhile helium punched the shot beyond Peter Shilton successful Argentina's 2-0 quarter-final triumph successful Mexico.

Twelve years aft the 'Hand of God', David Beckham was sent disconnected for kicking retired astatine Diego Simeone successful a last-16 necktie that saw Argentina prevail connected penalties, a arguable crippled that England had astatine the forefront of their minds erstwhile they secured a 1-0 occurrence astatine the 2002 tournament.

Messi volition look to etch his ain sanction successful the rivalry's folklore arsenic his state continues to imagination of becoming the archetypal back-to-back World Cup winners since Brazil triumphed successful 1958 and 1962.