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Harry Kane, magnificent for so much of this World Cup, had a relatively anonymous game - Bradley Collyer/PA
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All the years that have passed since those red shirts on a summer’s day at a long-gone Wembley Stadium – the humiliations, the occasional triumph, the plentiful servings of self-pity. For a short while in Atlanta it felt like that epoch might finally be ending and all it came down to was managing the last five minutes and whatever the beleaguered referee might add.
A place at a World Cup final was within England’s grasp, a mere 60 years since the last. But just as it loomed into view, already the players and their manager were tracing an old path. The man currently in charge of the England team might be German, the players might be of a generation finessed under bold new coaching ideas, but once more a familiar anxiety took hold. England were minutes from the prize. Yet team and manager were already obeying an old instinct to sabotage the moment.
England had been in retreat long before Lionel Messi served up for Enzo Fernández the goal that would level this World Cup semi-final, and then the second for Lautaro Martínez ,which would propel Argentina forward. Of course, Messi is Messi, and this Argentina team exist to exert his will on games by any means necessary. Yet, as ever, at the moment of reckoning, England demonstrated all the resistance of damp cardboard.
Thomas Tuchel once again reverted to the deep defensive position. Once again, the adapted five-man back line sat on the edge of their area. Against Mexico in the last 16, Tuchel was dismissive of any suggestion he had invited pressure, asking what other option he had with just 10 men. Against Norway in the quarter-finals he did the same, once Erling Haaland was off the pitch. Against Argentina, a team accustomed to playing with it all on the line, such a move was fatal.
Immediately the supporters in the stands in Atlanta, and in the streets and front rooms of England, recognised the mistake. The punditocracy on the BBC saw it, too. Former players Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart have been here before and treated this defeat much like revisiting a trauma. For the rest of us it was hard to miss: like staring into the face of the England team over the decades that have passed since 1966.
Tuchel said that Argentina’s tactical changes as he saw them – two wide wingers, two central strikers – forced his hand. So too, he seemed to suggest, did the attitude of his players. He talked about them failing to be “active” as he called it, engaging their opposition and taking the game to them. But by this point those on the outside could see it more clearly than him.
This kind of retreat, to a greater or lesser degree, was the default position of so many England teams. England led against Brazil in 2002, Croatia in 2018, Italy in 2021. Sir Gareth Southgate, a man more criticised for a reluctance to make substitutions, never went into reverse quite as spectacularly as this. The record is now two World Cup semi-finals, and two European Championship finals in the last five tournaments. But that final step, or the penultimate one at the World Cup, is the primary English problem.
The recriminations from Atlanta will last for years, and as for the precious opportunity – who knows when it will come again?
Tuchel is part of this unfortunate history now, and defeats like this often suck reputations into the void. Afterwards he breezily turned over the page to Euro 2028, before England complete Saturday’s third-place play-off, although one feels that moving on will be more difficult than that.
After Fernández’s 85th-minute equaliser, Messi found the substitute Martínez at the back post for a winner seven minutes later. “There was blood in the water and we went for it,” Lionel Scaloni, the Argentina head coach, said. His team, to their credit, never gave up the chase.
They pursued that equaliser after Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute goal, a fine finish after England launched a quick attack down the right that ended with Morgan Rogers sweeping the ball to the back post. England had just 12 per cent of the ball from that moment until Martínez’s 92nd-minute goal.
This Argentina team are very hard to love, but you have to admire the tenacity with which they keep going. Around Messi is a fairly mixed bag of young talents and old boys clinging on. Their commitment to the cause, however, is not in doubt. They handle the moments of adversity better than most.
As for England, in the minutes that followed Gordon’s goal, Tuchel and his players seemed to make up their minds that what had sufficed for Norway and Mexico would work for Argentina.
He brought off Gordona after 72 minutes for Ezri Konsa and then Dan Burn and Nico O’Reilly came on for Reece James and Declan Rice. In the meantime, the game was following an inevitable path. There were nine attempts on the England goal, including the two that went in, after Gordon scored. Alexis Mac Allister somehow clipped a post with a header. Jordan Pickford made one of the saves of his life from the substitute Nicolás González. A post was struck again by Mac Allister before the second goal.
In other words: this goal was coming. This Argentina have some fine players, including Messi, Julián Alvarez, Fernández, Emiliano Martínez – but they are so much more than the sum of their parts. The game finished with the 38-year-old Nicolás Otamendi on the pitch. So too the MLS midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, as well as the right-back Gonzalo Montiel, 29, who did not make the grade on loan at Nottingham Forest.
“They were raised in an environment where they feared nothing,” Scaloni said of his players. “They don’t feel the weight on their shoulders.” In those painful last moments, Tuchel tried to reverse his earlier mistake by sending on Ivan Toney and Marcus Rashford, but the momentum had slipped away. England were beaten.
It had been intense from the start with the Argentine cynicism as high as ever. Elliot Anderson was targeted and eventually booked when Djed Spence nudged a charging Messi into the midfielder’s path. Spence was superb for much of the game, including a recovery tackle on Giuliano Simeone after the Gordon goal.
At the critical moment when Messi prepared to cross for the Martínez goal, however, Spence seemed to feel a bolt of pain and could not react in time.
It was a gripping game, even without a single shot on target from either side in the first half. Ismail Elfath, the US referee for whom this game felt impossible at times, was slow to book Argentina players. They seemed to know who to target, in particular Jude Bellingham and Pickford. Bellingham had some fine moments in the first half but he struggled after the break.
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England’s goal came 10 minutes after half-time, when the momentum had been with Argentina. Nicolás Tagliafico only just stopped Harry Kane’s long ball forward. From there Rice fed Rogers and the cross was perfect. At the back post, Gordon slipped past his man and guided it home, right-footed, at the back post.
In the aftermath England seemed to retreat. Tuchel said that he did not believe in a curse that afflicts England in the closing stages of such big knockout games. Of course, he was seeing it first hand for the first time – which, for the rest of us, is sadly not the case.
12:21am
Thomas Muller, winner in 2014, criticises England’s tactics
12:01am
Police rescue an Argentina fan in London
11:53pm
Thomas Tuchel speaks to ITV
[Reporter: Did the better team win?] “I don’t know. I thought we deserved to be 1-0 up. The momentum changed after that. They had nothing to lose and we suddenly played like we had a lot to lose. They took more and more risks and turned the game around in the last 20 minutes.
[Argentina had 88 per cent possession after Gordon’s goal] “It felt like that.” [What went wrong?] “We didn’t have enough possession to escape the pressure. We tried everything but couldn’t get hold of the ball. It’s like you’re dying a slow death. It started straight away after the goal and is the reason basically that we lost.”
“We were the better team until we cored then the mindset shifted, they took a lot of risks and have a lot of quality.
[You took Gordon off for Konsa at 71 minutes and sat deep] “We sat deep from when we scored the goal. Not after the substitutions. I take the responsibility. It’s easy to be a coach after the game. The result tells the story. No one can say what would have happened with other substitutions. I thought we needed a back five with all the crossing.
“We didn’t stop the second line coming through the gaps. We were not physical enough in these moments. It’s not about structure. You can play in any structure deep, you can defend in any structure if you’re active but we were too passive.
[Harry said he’d been here before, 1-0 up in the 2018 semi-final, 1-0 up in the Euro 2020 final] “I can’t speak about that I was not part of that.
“No regrets, we gave everything, that’s the bottom line. We gave everything. It’s difficult to accept because we hate to lose. We were very close. For the overall summary we have to wait a bit and digest it.
11:09pm
Well, what now?
The FA extended Tuchel’s initial 18-month contract to the end of Euro 2028 last year. He was hired to be the ultimate “finisher”, focusing solely on the first team rather than all the other jobs as a figurehead for the elite pathway that Gareth Southgate filled. His job was specifically to get England over the line after two defeats in Euros finals, a World Cup semi and quarter.
Everyone deserves one tournament’s grace and he has gone farther than anyone bar Sir Alf, Sir Bobby and Sir Gareth. But when you talk so much about your players being brave, you also need to demonstrate your own courage. And clinging on for dear life, even if it worked in different circumstances against lesser opposition, is pusillanimous. Scaloni’s substitutions won the game for Argentina, Tuchel’s lost it for England.
10:58pm
And from 10 Downing Street
10:55pm
A consoling message from the FA patron
10:54pm
Two telling stats
10:49pm
Thomas Tuchel speaks to BBC Sport
“We are disappointed. We got so close but we got too passive after we scored and conceded a lot of chances. We could not turn possession around and juts conceded so, so many chances, crosses and shots.
“We were so, so close but we couldn’t keep the level up after we scored.
“I also made offensive substitutions in the last games to try to help the players. We decided to go to a back five because the gaps were too large but they kept crossing and crossing. We went to a back five to close the gaps in the air and win headers. We concedes so many crosses and chances after our goal so we tried to help. But the responsibility is on the coach and if it doesn’t go well it is easy to say it is wrong.
“Yeah [we wanted to go for a second goal] but it doesn’t help when you can’t get the ball. I didn’t think an offensive substitution [at that point] would help. We got more and more passive. We couldn’t keep balls, we couldn’t win balls. It was not a structural problem after the goal. We changed nothing [in the immediate aftermath] but I understand these are the discussions and millions of coaches after the game know better.
“We can discuss this [whether they invited pressure] but I have to make a decision. I have to analyse what I see on the pitch and take responsibility.”
[Any regrets?] “Not at the moment. The team gave everything and we were very, very close. We deserved to be 1-0 up. We played one of our better matches, maybe the best match [of the tournament] but we couldn’t bring it over the line. No regrets.
[Did we ever see the Thomas Tuchel England you wanted to see?] “I don’t have an answer for that question. I don’t know what it means. I think we saw the mentality throughout the matches. We played strong teams in the group, a lot of miles, a lot of travelling, we played at altitude, with 10 men, in the heat and we were very, very close. It is not the time to analyse the tournament. We went very close but lost a crucial match.”
10:37pm
Argentina’s players proclaim the Falklands belong to Argentina
Credit: X/@PlanetaBoca10:26pm
Argentina’s banner
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Argentina players lay claim to the Falkland Islands - PAUL ELLIS/AFP
We will see if Fifa applies its regulations and fines the AFA.
10:24pm
Shearer’s verdict
10:23pm
Harry Kane talks to BBC Sport
“Gutted for the boys, everyone. The team, the staff, the fans. We played a good game for the majority of it. Once we went 1-0 up we tried to hold on but at this level you can’t.
“The lads have given everything. Running, sweat, blood tears, whatever. So to fall short like we did today is just gutting.
“We struggled to get pressure on the ball [after scoring]. Whether it was them putting more men forward or us not being able to match them man for man it was juts wave after wave. Lads were putting blocks in but it wasn’t enough.
“The boys are always ready. The message after we went ahead was to go and get another one but when they got their two goals we tried to find something but we couldn’t get back into it.
“We had a lot of good moments, good matches in this tournament. Another semi-final. We keep knocking on the door. We need to find that missing piece in the final part of the tournament. We’re just missing that final piece.”
10:15pm
Thoughts from the BBC panel
Wayne Rooney: “We go one-nil up and we go five at the back, we go six at the back. If you allow Argentina to come on to you, you’re in trouble. We surrendered. If you let players of that quality have the ball, you’re in trouble.”
Joe Hart: “Gareth Southgate will be sat at home, watching, and he was criticised for big games when England had the lead, I don’t see anything has changed. For Thomas Tuchel… that’s him saying he didn’t believe in his team and couldn’t land any more punches on Argentina.”
Micah Richards: “Tactically we all thought he got it wrong with his changes.”
10:13pm
Carra’s succinct verdict
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Tonight the changes didn’t work. Argentina deserved their victory. Sadly, it’s deja vu for England when the moment of truth arrived.
10:08pm
England’s players look like they’ve seen a ghost
They froze after scoring. As Joe Hart says, they went back to what they did against Mexico and Denmark and packed the defence but Argentina are not Norway or Mexico. They have an indomitable spirit, experience and some great players. You can sit back against Mexico and Denmark. You can’t withstand a 30-minute siege against a team like Argentina.
10:04pm
Full time: England 1 Argentina 2
England have lost a third World Cup semi-final. Argentina were the better team. They took more risks, made positive substitutions and found the attacking incisiveness that England lacked all game, apart from when setting up Gordon’s goal.
10:02pm
90+9 min: England 1 Argentina 2
England pump a long ball up to Dan Burn and Argentina knock it clear. It has come to this.
10:01pm
90+8 min: England 1 Argentina 2
Rashford gets to the byline on the left and cuts back a cross that Argentina clear. Then Bellingham brings down Messi and Montiel taunts Bellingham when the free-kick was awarded.
09:59pm
90+6 min: England 1 Argentina 2
England are huffing and puffing, pumping long throws and crosses into the box but without the precision they need.
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09:56pm
90+3 min: England 1 Argentina 2
I’m afraid England have been sitting ducks ever since they scored.
Rashford and Toney are on for Spence and Stones as England have a throw on the right.
09:53pmVideo • Goals
GOAL!
England 1 Argentina 2 (Lautaro Martinez) Gonzalez slides a pass inside from the left to Mac Allister who flays a shot into the foot of the right post. Spence slides into knock it away from Messi but Messi races out to the right to retrieve it and arc over a right-foot cross that Lautaro Martinez creeps between Konsa and Stones to bury with a forceful header.
09:52pm
90+1 min: England 1 Argentina 1
Bellingham tries to relieve the siege with a long solo run up the left but can’t keep it going.
09:52pm
90 min: England 1 Argentina 1
Nine minutes of stoppage time are signalled after Stones receives treatment for a head injury sustained in a collision with his keeper. He has to go off for a minute.
09:50pm
Carra’s view
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The chances were coming. Tuchel made his big decisions, but the crosses kept coming into the box. It’s not a great strike for me. The keeper has to save it. Now it’s an awkward one tactically. Tuchel will have to make another change.
09:50pm
88 min: England 1 Argentina 1
England have been under the cosh for the past 20 minutes and have switched to a packed defence. Can they switch back and regain some momentum.
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09:48pmVideo • Goals
GOAL!
England 1 Argentina 1 (Fernandez) Messi takes the corner short to De Paul who gives it back to the captain. Messi then drills a pass to Enzo Fernandez 22 yards out, right of centre. He smashes a shot with his instep and, after four or five sighters, hits it with blistering power into the left of the goal.
09:46pm
84 min: England 1 Argentina 0
Pickford soars to his left to turn Fernandez’s shot over the bar.
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This is a blow for Reece James and England. Has him hamstring gone again? We will find out for sure later, but here’s Big Dan Burn to try to get England over the line. Tuchel’s team have dropped very deep since going ahead and I’d worry about them finding a second wind if Argentina do manage to equalise.
09:45pm
82 min: England 1 Argentina 0
O’Reilly and Burn come on for Rice and James. O’Reilly slots into midfield. Lautaro Martinez replaces Tagliafico.
09:44pm
80 min: England 1 Argentina 0
Rogers mugs Messi in the tackle and bombs forward with Kane in tow but smacks his shot into a defender. Back come Argentina with a couple of crosses that force Anderson to head it off Mac Allister’s attempted bicycle klick and Kane to throw his body on the line to thwart Alvarez.
09:41pm
78 min: England 1 Argentina 0
England are clinging on now and Messi clips a fantastic [ass with his left foot from the inside-right channel to the back post. Gonzalez peels off James and heads back across goal, looking for the far corner, but it drifts inches wide. Montiel drops to his haunches. Up goes the flag but it was mighty close and could have been overturned by VAR.
09:39pm
76 min: England 1 Argentina 0
Moments later De Paul hammers an effort that Pickford saves low then gathers at the second attempt when Mac Allister was closing him down.
09:37pm
74 min: England 1 Argentina 0
England are happy to soak up the pressure Argentina are trying to exert and attempt to hit them on the break but it’s nerve-racking.
De Paul’s swings in a cross with venomous whip and dip. Mac Allister gets up to head it powerfully into the heart of the left post. He had to score. Konsa picked the wrong man to mark.
09:35pm
72 min: England 1 Argentina 0
England do go to five at the back with Konsa’s introduction for Gordon
Argentina send on De Paul, Otamendi and Montiel for Simeone, Molina and Lisandro Martinez.
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09:31pm
Second water break
Argentina are coming. You can feel it as well as see it.
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09:30pmVideo
69 min: England 1 Argentina 0
Pickford saves England’s lead with a one-handed, scooped save from Gonzalez’s header, the sub artfully picked out by Messi’s cross. Is it too soon for Dan Burn and five at the back?
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09:29pm
67 min: England 1 Argentina 0
Fine pass from Kane opens up Argentina on England’s right and James feeds a pass across the 18-yard line to Rice. His attempted daisycutter of a shot turns into a pea-roller and is an easy save for Emi Martinez.
09:27pm
65 min: England 1 Argentina 0
Gonzalez → Paredes.
Stones stops the substitute’s first touch, a header back across goal, from reaching Alvarez with a crucial header.
09:26pm
63 min: England 1 Argentina 0
Fernandez fires a shot over the bar after Argentina’s most sustained spell of possession of the match.
09:25pm
61 min: England 1 Argentina 0
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09:24pm
59 min: England 1 Argentina 0
Argentina do not panic when behind and have started to play with more fluency as England let them have the ball. Kane shows remarkable composure in his own box to shield the ball from two attackers and see it into safe harbour.
09:22pm
Carra on the goal
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The two wingers combine brilliantly! How long have we wanted more England attackers to come to the party in this World Cup? England needed something else tonight and they’ve got it big style.
09:21pmVideo
57 min: England 1 Argentina 0
Argentina were on the verge of equalising when a mistake allows Simeone to storm down the right and into the box. Just as he was about to pull the trigger on a shot, Spence hared back to slide in and knock the ball behind for a corner. Amazing.
09:16pmVideo • Goals
GOAL!
England 1 Argentina 0 (Gordon) Kane chips a 25-yard pass from the centre looking for Rogers down the right. Tagliafico hooks it back upfield straight to Rice who finds Rogers. The Villa forward gallops down the wing then bends over a superb cross. Gordon diddles Molina by coming found the blindside to steer in a volley.
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09:15pm
53 min: England 0 Argentina 0
Molina’s cross from the right is ripe with menace but England see it off.
09:14pm
51 min: England 0 Argentina 0
The two sides of Romero, an amazingly insouciant touch in the box a split-second before Gordon as about to steal the ball off him and a turn away from fanger. Then, moments later, he grabs Bellingham round the waist to stop him driving past and is belatedly booked.
09:13pm
49 min: England 0 Argentina 0
England defend the corner taken by Messi short so that he can be played back in up the byline. Bellingham stands his ground and Messi cannot wriggle past him, finding only the brick wall of Bellingham’s torso.
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09:11pm
47 min: England 0 Argentina 0
Emi Martinez dwells on the ball, trying to invite the press. England stand off and eventually the keeper launches it. Simeone beats Guehi to flick it on and Alvarez drives past Spence and then shoots towards the near post. Pickford gets down low to beat it away. Alvarez beats Spence to the rebound and has another go, smashing it into the side netting via a faint deflection.
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09:06pm
46 min: England 0 Argentina 0
Rice, with one leg of his shorts hitched up, kicks off. No changes. The referee insists the kick-off be taken again as Anthony Gordon had crossed the line before the whistle. Pickford pumps a 70-yard pass up the middle, looking for Kane. Romero wins the header.
09:02pm
Anthony Barry, assistant manager, speaks to the BBC
We wanted to be the aggressor, we wanted to be on the front foot and get after them – to show there was no inferiority complex and that we’re here to play in their half.
I think it worked until the water break. After that it was a bit more difficult for us to get the ball – they dropped Messi and Enzo [Fernandez] outside our block and got some possession. But it’s still absolutely OK, and the evolution for us is to take this dominance and turn it into bigger chances.
The more time we spend in their half, the more tired they’ll get.
We can open them up later on.
09:00pm
Carra’s half-time verdict
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A cagey half, which is to be expected given the stakes. I’ve been impressed with England. They’ve looked dangerous without creating any clear chances. Argentina have created nothing so far.
What’s encouraging is England look like they belong out there, going head-to-head with the world champions, and Elliot Anderson has been outstanding.
This has been the opposite of what the rest of the tournament has been for us. In previous matches there have been a lot of average performances and our two best players have shone. This time, England have played well as a collective while the two best players have been quiet. Bellingham and Kane might have their moment in the second half.
08:52pm
Half-time: England 0 Argentina 0
Too many fouls, too many stoppages by design. No shots on target. Both teams are scrapping but there has been very little quality. The foul count is 19, seven by England, 12 by Argentina.
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08:50pm
45+3 min: England 0 Argentina 0
England work the free-kick to Gordon whose cross is deflected over the bar for a corner but the referee blows for half-time before it can be taken. Clive Thomas, at the age of 90, nods approvingly.
08:48pm
45+2 min: England 0 Argentina 0
The signal goes up for three minutes of stoppage time, the absolute minimum.
Paredes is penalised for dangerous play for raising his studs in a challenge on James.
08:47pm
45 min: England 0 Argentina 0
It is compelling to watch but not particularly elevating. Romero makes a good tackle on Bellingham. When he is in control of his emotions, he is a fine defender.
08:44pm
43 min: England 0 Argentina 0
England have not made much from their dozen free-kicks. More haste less speed.
08:43pm
41 min: England 0 Argentina 0
The referee sees Lisandro Martinez pulling Rogers’ shirt and finally acts.
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Anderson takes out Messi - Carlos Barria/Reuters
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08:42pm
Carra’s view
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It’s become cat-and-mouse with Argentina getting more of the ball in the last ten minutes. The one worry is Messi is just starting to take possession much more with some great touches. He hasn’t hurt England yet, though. The hydration break stopped some momentum again, but Tuchel will be pleased overall so far.
08:42pm
38 min: England 0 Argentina 0
Argentina defend the free-kick staunchly as Anderson cannot get above Tagliafico then Messi breaks, hangs on to the ball with sumptuous skill, beating Kane, Spence and Rice before Anderson launches himself at the No10 to stop him. Argentina surround the referee with the distaste of someone who had heard a guest break wind in front of the King. Eventually they get on with the free-kick. Messi tries to dribble straight down the middle, can’t do so but the ball breaks to Fernandez who fires a shot that scratches the top of the cross-bar. That was alarmingly close.
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08:38pm
35 min: England 0 Argentina 0
Simeone gets away with a foul on Guehi without a booking when he shoves the centre-forward up the jacksie. England attack down the left with Gordon beating his man before being thwarted by Lisandro Martinez’s recovery tackle. Spence pounces on the loose ball and to stop England Molina makes a daft foul on Bellingham.
08:34pm
33 min: England 0 Argentina 0
Rice takes the free-kick from the left, whipping it with his right to the far post where Stones cranes his neck but was too tightly marked by Lisandro Martinez to work it towards goal.
08:33pm
31 min: England 0 Argentina 0
Paredes spots Molina’s lung-bursting 70-yard run down the right but overhits his diagonal. England take the goal-kick short then work it up to Bellingham who is brought down 25 yards from goal, quite deliberately by a combination of Romero and Fernandez.
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Fernandez and Romero bring down Bellingham - Steph Chambers/FIFA via Getty Images
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08:30pm
29 min: England 0 Argentina 0
James is penalised for a foul on Mac Allister down the right which looked like a foul on the England right-back. Tuchel auditions for the Ministry of Silly Walks in his foot-stomping ire on the touchline.
08:29pm
27 min: England 0 Argentina 0
Pickford scuffs a left-foot clearance and Alvarez is well positioned to pounce on it but he miscontrols his pass to Messi who responds in kind.
08:27pm
25 min: England 0 Argentina 0
First hydration break. No doubt Argentina are trying to wind England up. Noticeable and positive that both Rice and Bellingham have responded by laughing at their tormentors. Eleven fouls in 24 minutes.
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08:25pm
23 min: England 0 Argentina 0
Spence stays tight to Simeone after an Argentina free-kick is taken short. The left-back closes the gap and the cross rebounds off his shins for a corner. Pickford tries to push Simeone away as they wait for the corner as the winger tries to block him. The ref tells them to stop messing around and then blows once the corner is launched as Simeone wrapped his arms around the keeper.
08:23pm
20 min: England 0 Argentina 0
After a couple of decent thrusts down the left, England’s right flank gets weaving with Rogers finding the overlapping James whose cross is smothered by Argentina.
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08:21pm
Carra’s view
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England have started well. They look confident and dangerous – more than Argentina. Argentina want to make this a dark arts game. They are better than us at that ‘nasty’ stuff. We can’t get involved in any of that.
08:20pm
18 min: England 0 Argentina 0
Wonderful tackle by Paredes on Bellingham instigates an Argentina counter during which Messi claims he was fouled. He wasn’t but that doesn’t stop him waving his arms around in exasperation. England try to attack up the left only to be stopped by a foul on Gordon. From the quickly taken free-kick, Spence makes great headway down the left, beating Molina again only for Fernandez to race back and force him off the ball and into touch.
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Somebody is going to boil over here. Paredes and Fernandez are constantly looking to goad England’s players, much to the chagrin of Thomas Tuchel and captain Harry Kane, who seems to be urging US referee Ismail Elfath to take closer control.
08:17pm
15 min: England 0 Argentina 0
Excellent combination between Gordon and Spence down the England left gets the better of Molina. He cuts in, takes a touch too many which takes him into five Argentina defenders who swarm round him with recovery runs. Sheer weight of numbers push him back.
08:15pm
13 min: England 0 Argentina 0
A foul on Rogers ends with a drop ball after Anderson was deemed to have hurt Paredes in a firm but not illegal tackle. The ref is going to have to get a card out soon. Tuchel is going garrity with Scaloni and the level of diving by Argentina. The most naked example of that is when Simeone picks up the ball having been caught offside and Pickford bumps him as he tries to get it back. Simeone goes down as if kneecapped.
08:12pm
11 min: England 0 Argentina 0
Gordon chases a long pass down the left that has too much on it but he gets there in the nick of time but can’t find Rogers’ run down the inside-left channel. Emi Martinez gathers.
08:11pm
9 min: England 0 Argentina 0
Anderson buys a third free-kick off Simeone with excellent positioning but, after Kane is tackled by Paredes, he fouls Fernandez in this tit for tat start.
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Anderson’s ‘foul’ on Messi goes unpunished much to Argentina’s outrage - Agustin Marcarian/ REUTERS
08:08pm
7 min: England 0 Argentina 0
Rogers drives at Tagliafico, reaches the byline and whips over a cross that Argentina head behind for a corner. Rice goes long. Simeone wrestles Stones over but the referee waves play on until a high boot clips Messi.
08:07pm
5 min: England 0 Argentina 0
Spence makes good progress down the left, riding a tackle before a forceful sliding tackle wins the ball back. England regroup and Simeone fouls Anderson .
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Bellingham and Paredes were mouthing off at each other after that Fernandez foul on Anderson. Messi then had a go at Bellingham too. Feisty start!
08:05pm
3 min: England 0 Argentina 0
England continue to press high and there’s a stand-off between the players with the gobby Paredes in Bellingham’s face after Messi is not given a free-kick when Anderson holds his shoulder. Fernandez retaliates with a chop down Anderson’s shin. Messi, trying to referee the game, gets up in the referee’s grill.
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Argentine fans drown out the God Save The King with their own song. England fans respond in kind with the Argentinian anthem. This is a real World Cup knockout tie - and nothing even the stadium address system can do about it. It’s electric in the stadium. I was in Dallas yesterday for the first semi-final and the mood was nothing like as fierce as this.
08:01pm
1 min: England 0 Argentina 0
Argentina kick off, attacking from right to left. Messi, alone in the centre-circle, rolls it to Paredes who works it all the way back to Emi Martinez. England press high and force a throw-in.
England give the ball to the centre-backs who sweep it across the back four. Mac Allister tries to disrupt the spell of possession with a shove.
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England sing the national anthem - Carlos Barria/Reuters
07:56pm
Ready to rumble
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Michael Buffer’s “champions of the worrrrrrld” billing for England feels a touch generous given it was 60 years ago. I have watched him perform his master of ceremonies shtick in several sports and he barely changes a word. Still, it has earned him, at a conservative estimate, £300m.
07:55pm
The national anthems
God Save the King goes first and is resoundingly booed by the Argentina fans. England supporters respond by whistling and jeering through Himno Nacional Argentino.
07:54pm
Hedge fund bro
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Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly is inside the Atlanta stadium and has picked his side... Chelsea vice-captain Enzo Fernandez might not be too happy.
07:52pm
The teams are in the tunnel
A reminder that England will play in all white, Argentina in navy shirts with black shorts and socks.
07:51pm
The BBC has gone full Cumberbatch
Benedict gives us a talking to, ASMR style, over a montage, ending with ‘Are you ready?’
I believe we are.
07:45pm
Dispatches from the stadium
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07:43pm
You would recognise that body shape in silhouette
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He starts from a low centre of gravity and angles his right leg for even crisper contact - Amanda Perobelli/Reuters
07:39pm
All white on the night
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Jude Bellingham warms up – England will play in all white tonight - Michael Regan/Fifa via Getty Images
07:37pm
I thought he had better taste
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Pleased to report that Sir Mick Jagger is here and singing along to ‘Sweet Caroline’. TV cameras have located him.
07:28pm
Guess the allegiance
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Reporters from all countries sitting together. I’m assuming my neighbour is Argentine judging by the maté and Lionel Messi flask.
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Mike’s neighbour - Mike McGrath
07:22pm
Meanwhile in Port Stanley
Governor of the Falkland Islands, Colin Martin-Reynolds lights up Government House with the colours of the England flag.
07:20pm
Thomas Tuchel speaks to BBC Sport
Once we had the draw, we knew the possible way, these are the games that you dream of to get to where you’re trying to reach, not only reach, don’t forget, but win.
They are specialists [full-backs] and deserve to play. Reece has the quality to play at the very highest level and shows no nerves. The speed of Djed, and he was very good in the last two games from the bench, and I think we need to get our full-backs forward to protect. That’s why.
It’s just a feeling, a stomach feeling from the coach about Morgan. He has something special tp give today. He was very good in the last game against Norway and had an outstanding training session to follow up on that performance.
You need a lot of keys [to contain Messi], a complete performance offensively and defensively to stop the supply to Messi, to stop his support and his runs on our right side when he gest the ball and turns. We need to play with freedom, also for the mindset, we should be ready for the fight, calm and collected to give them some problems to solve. We’re up for it.
07:10pm
Flashpoints ahead?
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Lionel Scaloni has given a nod to the historic rivalry of this fixture by picking Diego Simeone’s son in his starting line-up. Giuliano Simeone is given his first appearance since the final group stage match against Jordan, when Argentina had already sealed a place in the knockouts. His father was famously on the end of David Beckham’s boot 28 years ago in Saint-Étienne. This just adds to the feeling there will be some flashpoint in the next few hours in Atlanta.
While Thomas Tuchel has changed his backline, Argentina are playing the same back four from the team that defeated Switzerland. Simeone is the only change, coming in for Rodrigo De Paul. This could mean a change of system for the world champions – if Enzo Fernández drifts to the right, they could look very 4-4-2.
07:07pm
Declan Rice speaks to BBC Sport
It doesn’t get much bigger, the biggest competition in football against the holders.
We know what Argentina are about. We’ve got a game plan we’re ready to set up against.
The manager’s made a decision. Morgan is an incredible player, he’s fast, strong and can come inside. He’s a player we’re all looking forward to playing with.
I’m back to normal. I’m 100 per cent, fully refreshed and ready to go.
07:05pm
Carra’s view on Tuchel’s XI: A night for bravery
The team will shock a few people because of Djed Spence’s inclusion. What I like about Thomas Tuchel’s approach is that keeping the same team would be a much easier decision, particularly in a game of this magnitude.
The manager is consistent in selecting players for specialist roles. Just as he called up Dan Burn in case England needed to revert to a back five (as they did against Mexico), the reason he likes Spence is for situations requiring one-on-one defending. Tuchel clearly believes Spence’s pace is a vital attribute in this situation, even if facing Lionel Messi is the ultimate challenge. This is the whole point of Spence being in the squad. If England win, the same logic would suggest he would be asked to mark Lamine Yamal in the final.
From that perspective, maybe we should not be so shocked by the choice.
Morgan Rogers comes in because Tuchel simply could not go with Madueke again. He was poor against Norway, and Saka has not looked fully fit all tournament. Saka is still a good option from the bench.
Overall, Rogers has played well whenever he’s been given a chance, so he’s gone with the man showing form.
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Morgan Rogers has impressed whenever he has been given a chance, and set up Jude Bellingham’s winner against Norway - Eddie Keogh /FA via Getty Images
This is the first game where England are playing a team who will expect to have as much of, if not more, of the ball than us. Every other game has followed the same pattern, certainly at the start, where England were considered the higher level team and tried to go after the opponent.
That’s not necessarily going to be the case here because we are clearly not favourites, and Argentina will look to apply all the early pressure. Argentina have the edge coming into the match because they are a team that has shown in recent international tournaments that they know how to get over the line.
England deserve to be at this stage, but the question remains: do we have the capacity to do what is habitual for nations like Argentina – finding a way when it matters most in the latter stages of a World Cup?
This is a night for bravery, which means getting on the ball and controlling the game. That could be achieved against every other opponent in this tournament so far, even if some of the victories have been flawed. Doing so against Argentina requires another layer of courage.
07:00pm
The teams in black and white
England (Pickford; James, Stones, Guehi, Spence; Anderson, Rice; Rogers, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.
Substitutes Trafford, D Henderson, O’Reilly, Konsa, Saka, Rashford, Chalobah, Burn, Mainoo, Watkins, Madueke, Eze, Toney.
Argentina E Martínez; Molina, Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Tagliafico; Paredes; Simeone, Fernández, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvárez.
Substitutes Musso, Rulli, Senesi, Montiel, Barco, Lo Celso, Palacios, González, Almada, De Paul, Paz, Otamendi, López, Lautaro Martínez, Medina.
Referee Ismail Elfath (United States)
06:58pm
England’s other ambassadors
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Britain’s ambassador to the United States has urged England fans to remain on their best behaviour as tensions mount ahead of the World Cup semi-final against Argentina.
Sir Christian Turner called on travelling supporters in Atlanta to continue to act as “ambassadors for the country” amid fears that the historic dispute over the Falkland Islands could spill into violence.
The FBI has designated Wednesday night’s match “high risk”, making it the most serious security concern of the tournament so far.
“Continue to support each other, whatever the outcome,” Sir Chris told The Telegraph. “Enjoy the moment, enjoy the occasion, enjoy the hospitality. It’s a game of football.”
Tensions have been inflamed by recent claims from the Argentine government that Britain is an “usurping” power and that the Falkland Islanders were “artificially implanted”.
So far, England’s games in the tournament have seen little to no violence.
Of the estimated 50,000 fans who have made the journey to the United States for the World Cup, just 25 needed assistance from the embassy for issues like lost passports, medical problems, or visa help.
“It’s a wonderful sign of how the fans have been ambassadors for the country,” Sir Chris added.
06:51pm
Old pals act
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Thomas Tuchel has twice picked Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers in the same starting line-up. In the group stages against Panama, Bellingham had a deeper role in midfield and Rogers was the No10. The only other time they have started was Tuchel’s second match in charge, when he fielded the childhood pals in the win over Latvia.
Tuchel has never picked a back four of Reece James, John Stones, Marc Guéhi and Djed Spence during his time in charge of England.
06:50pm
Retirement trip
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John Byers is – and I’m sure he won’t mind me saying it – one of the older England fans at this World Cup. He’s 68 now and was eight when England won the thing. He remembers it well. He made a banner out of toilet paper, grabbed his mum’s red lipstick and scrawled E-N-G-L-A-N-D on it, a letter on each piece of loo roll. “This is our best chance to beat Argentina,” he says, “They haven’t been too good so far. We’ve got the better team.”
John, who worked in construction, retired four weeks ago especially in time for the World Cup. He’s from Birmingham and used to go and see Jude Bellingham playing in the Birmingham City youth team. “ I watched Jude as a nine-year-old and I used to tell everybody this guy is a diamond. I was right.”
06:48pm
Maybe it’s because he’s a Londoner
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Djed Spence with a briefcase saying ‘just a kid from South Ldn’ before facing Argentina in the World Cup semi-final
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06:45pm
Argentina make one change
Giuliano Simeone, the youngest of El Cholo, Diego Simeone’s three footballing sons, replaces Rodrigo De Paul on the right of midfield:
Argentina E Martínez; Molina, Romero, Lis Martínez, Tagliafico; Paredes; Simeone, E Fernández, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvárez.
06:41pm
England confirm their starting XI
And there are three changes flagged earlier:
Rogers replaces Saka, Spence is in for O’Reilly and James takes Konsa’s place.
06:39pm
The lad himself
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You wonder why Messi even needs an accreditation lanyard. As he enters the stadium, most of the security staff simply stop to take pictures of him.
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Lionel Messi arrives for his third World Cup semi-final - Bradley Collyer/PA
06:37pm
And here’s how they got there
06:36pm
England arrive
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England players are on the pitch, having a look at the surface and taking in the atmosphere. Plenty of jeers as they head back to the dressing room – and big cheers when Argentina’s coach arrives at Atlanta Stadium.
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Harry Kane leads the side off the bus - Amanda Perobelli/REUTERS
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England players return to the pitch on which they beat DR Congo - Dylan Martinez/Reuters
06:31pm
The ubiquitous Leo
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Traffic jams across Buenos Aires as the city gathers to watch the game. No doubt about the result here.
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Gavin Mairs
06:28pm
Birmingham’s favourite son
06:20pm
What do you make of that starting XI?
Reece James is an excellent full-back, offering more than Ezri Konsa, a centre-half, in terms of crossing ability and as an accomplished midfielder, he is comfortable moving into the inside-right channel. Nico O’Reilly usually does that job on the left and maybe Tuchel is sacrificing his ability to ghost into attacking positions for Spence’s thrust and greater tackling? As for Rogers, Saka is not fit to play much more than an hour and Tuchel obviously thinks he is better used against a tiring defence than using him to set the tone.
Rogers often plays wide for Villa and, although he will not drive to the byline as often as Madueke, his delivery will be more reliable.
06:14pm
England’s expected starting XI
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06:13pm
Police concerns
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It’s all been super good natured in and around the stadium. So far at least. Not least because there are just tens of thousands of Argentinian fans, hugely outnumbering England supporters. We’ll see what it’s like at kick-off inside the stadium but I expect this to be another England away game. And we did OK in the Azteca in Mexico with the crowd against us.
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Argentina fans are outnumbering England fans in Atlanta, as are Argentine donkeys. Is that a hat tip to the magical Ariel Ortega ‘the little donkey’? - James Manning/PA Wire
Officials tell me that they anticipate – or at least are most worried – if Argentina lose. While England’s animus is sporting (Hand of God in 1986 and the Beckham kick in 1998), theirs is political. Obviously the vast majority of fans on both sides are fantastically well-behaved but there are big worries from a security point of view if Argentina go out today.
06:05pm
Two more changes now expected
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It seems there has been a surprise… we’re just getting word that it looks to be Reece James at right-back. That means Tuchel is still yet to name the same back four in successive games at the World Cup. In for Konsa. Djed Spence is in at left-back too…
Wow! That’s two surprises expected in Tuchel’s line-up as we approach official confirmation of the teams.
The thought had been that the England head coach could stick with the same back four. But it appears he is going with Reece James at right-back, in for Ezri Konsa, and Djed Spence at left-back, ahead of Nico O’Reilly. That means the probable team is:
Pickford; James, Stones, Guehi, Spence; Rice, Anderson; Rogers, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.
06:04pm
World Cup semi-final records
Argentina have played four and won four, two of them on penalties, though they did not have to when going through to their first final at home in 1978, a tournament of two group stages. The hosts fortuitously defeated Peru 6-0 in the last of the second-round group games, scoring three more goals than they needed to pip Brazil on goal difference,.
A man who scored twice in that match and two more in the final, Mario Kempes, celebrates his 72nd birthday today.
#SaludoAlbiceleste ¡Feliz cumple, Matador! ️ pic.twitter.com/YvWJWJNxUk
— Selección Argentina(@Argentina) July 15, 2026
England, by contrast have played in three semi-final, beating Portugal in 1966 and losing to West Germany in 1990 and Croatia in 2018.
05:54pm
V for victory
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Spotted outside the British embassy in DC today:
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British Embassy
05:50pm
The eternal cry of the Yorkshireman: ’Ow much?
05:48pm
Readers’ views
05:45pm
Argentina team news
Nothing official yet but Lionel Sacloni has stuck with the same XI for the R16 and quarter-final victories.
Emi Martínez (Aston Villa); Molina (Atlético Madrid), Romero (Tottenham), Lisandro Martínez (Man Utd), Tagliafico (Lyon); Paredes (Boca Juniors); De Paul (Inter Miami), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Mac Allister (Liverpool); Messi (Inter Miami), Alvarez (Atlético).
The only grumblings I’ve seen among Argentine journalists focus on the full-back positions with advocates pushing for Nicolás González (Atlético), essentially a winger who has come on for Tagliafico in the last two games when Argentina were behind against Cape Verde and level with Switzerland. Tagliafico, who played in the 2022 final, is good enough going forward and offers more in defence, though he isn’t Giacinto Facchetti.
Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), who is the reserve right-back, came on for Molina in the 2022 quarter-final and finals, scoring in both penalty shoot-outs.
05:30pm
Rogers almost certainly the only change
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Unless Thomas Tuchel springs a surprise, the expectation is that Rogers is likely to be the only change. As reported by Telegraph Sport on Tuesday, the feeling has been that Tuchel will stick with the same back four and start with Declan Rice, despite lingering doubts over his fitness and condition.
If that’s the case, then the England team will be: Pickford; Konsa, Stones, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Rogers, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.
05:20pm
England line-up predictions
Quite a lot of our experts predicted Rogers to start on the right tonight. You can read the rest of their XIs here.
05:16pm
Breaking England team news
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Morgan Rogers is to start on the right of England’s attack in Atlanta as reward for his performance as a substitute against Norway. That means Bukayo Saka will once again start on the substitutes’ bench. More team news to follow.
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Morgan Rogers will start on the right of England’s attack in the World Cup semi-final - JAY BIGGERSTAFF/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters
05:12pm
‘Wall to wall Argentina fans’
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It’ll be interesting to see if these flags, being sold for $20 each, are allowed into the ground.
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Vendors outside the stadium display a selection of Argentina-themed merchandise
The Argentine flags have maps of the Falkland Islands on them, which should be in breach of strict Fifa rules that prohibit political expression inside the stadiums.
I’m at the ground now and it’s wall to wall Argentina fans with a smattering of England supporters. All super peaceful from everything I’ve seen.
But the major worry, I’m told, from a law enforcement point of view, is an Argentina defeat. Most of the United States seems to want an England win. Except maybe the Atlanta police department.
05:02pm
Have your say
A whopping 76 per cent of Telegraph readers are adamant England will overcome Argentina and book their place in Sunday’s final...
04:48pm
Matt and Mike’s semi-final special
04:43pm
Crowds gathering
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Argentina fans get the party started with the help of a drum adorned with the image of Lionel Messi - Megan Varner/Reuters
04:36pm
Rees-Mogg: ‘God is an Englishman’
The semi-final preview you didn’t know you needed... Jacob Rees-Mogg has provided his take on whether England can reach a first World Cup final since 1966.
04:25pm
Liverpool irritate England fans with ‘Macca’ post
For the first time since the 1986 World Cup, Liverpool do not have a single representative in an England squad for a major tournament.
It is therefore understandable, perhaps, why their social media post previewing Alexis Mac Allister’s involvement for Argentina in tonight’s semi-final has not been well received by a handful of England fans online.
The use of an Argentina flag emoji has proven particularly incendiary...
“Such a disgrace posting this. And I’m a Liverpool fan,” read one reply.
Another fan wrote: “Imagine doing those emojis on a post about the opponents of your home nation.”
It’s important to point out that Liverpool published similar posts in support of players contracted to the club earlier in the tournament.
04:11pm
‘Lay the ghosts to rest’
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This is Kingsley, the Uber driver taking me to the stadium in Atlanta for today’s semi-final. He’s a wise man. England need to win this World Cup to lay to rest the ghosts that have dogged a nation for 60 years, he tells me.
04:01pm
View from Buenos Aires
Telegraph Sport’s Gavin Mairs is behind enemy lines ahead of England rugby’s Nations Championship Test against Argentina on Saturday...
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The skies are grey over Buenos Aires, but the city is already resplendent in La Albiceleste colours.
Dawn was just breaking this morning when I spotted a homeless gentleman walking along the walkway beside the docks in Puerto Madero wearing an Argentina top.
The lady serving in the bakery near Plaza de Mayo, where the official seat of government is located in Casa Rosada (the Pink House), was wearing her football top under work clothes, so she could make a quick get-away to the official fan festival in the Palermo district.
By mid-morning, the city was a sea of white and sky blue. In contrast, I have seen just one England supporter brave enough to don his football jersey and even he was having second thoughts about keeping it on.
03:47pm
England 1-0 Argentina
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Telegraph Sport’s Mike McGrath with a replica of the World Cup trophy
Mike McGrath stole this from some Argentina fans in our hotel lobby – it’s coming home! Or he is….
03:15pm
Wright criticised over England-Argentina ‘war’ comments
Ian Wright has attracted criticism from Falklands veterans after predicting England’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina will be a “war”.
The former Arsenal and England striker was previewing tonight’s tie as part of ITV’s coverage of Spain’s victory over France on Tuesday evening.
“There’s going to be chaos in the game; there’s going to be chaos in the stands; they’re not separating the fans. It’s a game where we’re going to have to show a lot of composure,” said Wright, who won 33 caps for England.
“It’s a country that, as time’s gone by, I’ve learnt a lot about them, and I have no love for them. Obviously, [Diego] Maradona’s somebody that’s done some amazing things I’ve seen.
“It’s a team that we have to beat and it’s going to be a tough one; it’s going to be a real tough one, a real attritional war we’re going into, and we have to recognise that.
“I’ve heard Thomas Tuchel saying it’s just a game. It’s not just a game, and they’ll realise it’s not just a game. It’s going to be more than that when they play.”
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Ian Wright is working at the World Cup as a pundit for ITV - ITV Sport
255 British soldiers lost their lives during the 1982 Falklands War. Simon Weston, who suffered severe burns during the Argentine bombing of the Galahad Ship, condemned the comparison between a football match and war.
“Some people describe a footballer as a hero on the field but that’s completely misusing the language,” he told The Telegraph. “They’re footballers. It’s hardly like they’re risking their lives on the pitch. It’s nothing like a battlefield.”
02:55pm
Guehi: No pressure on England
Marc Guéhi has claimed there is “no pressure at all” on England ahead of their semi-final against Argentina.
The England centre-back said the onus was on Argentina to win the game as World Cup holders.
“What’s the pressure? The onus is on them, they are the world champions,” Guéhi said.
“They need to come out and defend their title so there is no pressure on us at all.”
The Manchester City defender was a second-half substitute in England’s tournament opener against Croatia but has started every game since then, including the entirety of the extra-time victory over Norway in the previous round.
“Both sides have big players. When you have that, you know it’s going to be a good game. It’s going to be a fun watch,” he added.
“It’s one you’re going to be talking about for a long time, so we’re excited.”
02:34pm
Argentina take over Atlanta
Remarkable flag-waving scenes in Atlanta, where Argentina fans have been making their presence felt...
Some designs are better than others...
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An Argentina fan appeals for a ticket miracle - Reuters/Nathan Ray Seebeck
02:21pm
More kit news
England’s rugby players will resist the temptation to wear their national team training kit out in public in Buenos Aires in the build-up to their Nations Championship Test against Argentina on Saturday.
Steve Borthwick’s side are scheduled to arrive in the Argentine capital on Thursday and are braced for a hostile reception should their footballing counterparts reach the World Cup final with victory in Atlanta this evening.
Alex Coles, the England second row, said: “I think, bearing in mind where we are and who we’re playing with, we’ve been pretty sensible about not wearing our English shirts around too much.”
Tommy Freeman, Coles’s England and Northampton team-mate, added: “We’ll see how hostile it gets. It’s big for Argentina and us and being here it’s heightened massively.”
02:05pm
Bad omen...
02:01pm
Kit mind games
Thomas Tuchel has produced a reassuringly indifferent response to the news that Argentina will wear their “lucky” kit tonight.
The holders will swap their traditional sky blue and white stripes for their navy blue away strip. England, as the designated home side in the tie, will wear their all-white home kit.
Argentina previously wore dark blue in World Cup victories over the English in 1986, when Diego Maradona scored his infamous “Hand of God” goal, and again in 1998, when England were eliminated on penalties in the round of 16.
“I would have done the same if there was any superstition combined with it,” said Tuchel. “So credit to them. I was not aware of that.”
The German also admitted he had his own superstitions which help him manage stress level before a big game.
“I have my superstitious routines. I will not tell you because another superstition is that if I tell you, it will not work,” he said.
“We have routines that keep you grounded and calm through the day, and that will not change. We have, of course, also our lucky charms, and these things are just normal in high-level sport.”
01:45pm
Good omen...
01:35pm
Starmer’s message to England
Sir Keir Starmer has used his final appearance at Prime Minister’s Questions to wish England well in tonight’s World Cup semi-final.
Having been compared to Jude Bellingham by Graham Stewart, the Conservative MP for Beverley and Holderness, Starmer told the House of Commons: “For the England team, as with my successor [Andy Burnham], I won’t give advice, I will simply give my wholehearted support.
“And Mr Speaker, just for the record, I don’t care what the score is tonight as long as we win.”
Cue rapturous applause from MPs.
01:16pm
Early team news
We’re still around five hours from any official announcement on team news, but the early indications are that Thomas Tuchel is considering retaining the back line that started England’s extra-time victory over Norway.
Tuchel deployed a back four containing Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Marc Guehi and Nico O’Reilly in the previous round before introducing Reece James, Djed Spence and Dan Burn off the bench.
James, the Chelsea right-back, is available to start from the off in Atlanta after recovering from a hamstring injury he picked up in the goalless draw with Ghana.
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Reece James has not started since the group stage - Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Tuchel opted to field Konsa at right-back in the absence of James and the suspended Jarell Quansah and could stick with the Aston Villa defender after impressing against Erling Haaland and Co.
Elsewhere, Declan Rice is likely to keep his starting place in midfield. The Arsenal midfielder was withdrawn at half-time against Norway after being struck down with a stomach bug in the build-up to the game but has sufficiently recovered to be considered for selection this evening.
The other dilemma facing Tuchel is who to start on the right side of attack. Bukayo Saka impressed after replacing Noni Madueke against Norway, but there have been previous concerns over a chronic Achilles issue.
Tuchel also has the option of bringing in Marcus Rashford and playing him on the right or switching Anthony Gordon from the left. Morgan Rogers, the Aston Villa playmaker is another option on the right side of attack after he made an impressive contribution off the bench in the quarter-finals.
01:01pm
‘A game for the ages’
Sam Wallace, Telegraph Sport’s chief football writer, summaries the significance of tonight’s tie and explains why it could represent Lionel Messi’s final game in international football.
12:52pm
Rooney: Kane will absolutely destroy Argentina centre-backs
Wayne Rooney, the former England forward, has made another outlandish claim which I hope doesn’t come back to bite him.
Less than a week after he promised to row down the River Mersey if Norway beat Brazil to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, Rooney has made an equally bullish prediction for tonight’s semi-final...
12:41pm
Argentina fans brawl in Atlanta
Police in Atlanta, Georgia, have been forced to intervene after rival sets of Argentina fans were involved in violent clashes on the eve of tonight’s semi-final.
Glass bottles, tables and chairs were thrown in an incident involving supporters of Argentine clubs San Lorenzo and Huracan.
Argentina supporters were asked to gather for a “flag-waving rally” the night before their nation’s last-four tie against England but the event descended into chaos when two ultra groups started fighting and caused many to flee for their safety.
Credit: X/@Olguinkev
12:33pm
Argentinian dark arts
With a place in the World Cup final on the line, Argentina supporters are resorting to bizarre methods in a bid to curse England’s hopes of progressing.
One fan told Reuters: “During this World Cup, when my friends and I get get together, we freeze the players. We put the star player and the goalkeeper on the same piece of paper and freeze in it in the freezer.”
Argentina fans in Buenos Aires perform pre-match rituals such as freezing stickers of rival players and wearing lucky jerseys ahead of the World Cup semi-final against England https://t.co/HcoxGvDyvHpic.twitter.com/YncKZOupLS
— Reuters (@Reuters) July 15, 2026
12:17pm
A history of acrimony
For those requiring a detailed history on the acrimony at the heart of this storied rivalry, look no further than Sam Wallace’s excellent essay, which explains why this tie will always be more than just a football match.
Here’s a snippet of Sam on the fixture’s most infamous chapter: the 1986 World Cup quarter-final, which took place four years after the Falklands War.
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Argentina captain Diego Maradona (left) and his England counterpart Peter Shilton before the 1986 World Cup quarter-final in Mexico City - David Cannon/Hulton Archive
12:01pmAnalysis
History beckons
And then there were three.
In just over 10 hours time we will know the identity of Spain’s World Cup final opponents after the European champions dispatched 2018 winners and pre-tournament favourites France on Tuesday evening.
Immortality beckons for England, who are braced for their biggest match in a generation with familiar foes Argentina standing between them and a first World Cup final since 1966.
This is a fixture steeped in history. The two nations are meeting at a World Cup for the sixth time, renewing a bitter rivalry that has produced some of the tournament’s most memorable moments and enduring controversies.
Thomas Tuchel’s side have reached the last four without being entirely convincing. They needed extra time to beat Norway in the quarter-finals after surviving for over half an hour with 10 men against co-hosts Mexico in the previous round.
England’s fortunes have been intrinsically linked to the performances of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, who have scored six goals apiece to keep Tuchel’s side alive at this tournament.
Argentina’s route to the latter stages has been just as arduous. The defending champions needed extra time to overcome both Cape Verde and Switzerland, while they came from 2-0 down with 11 minutes remaining to beat Egypt and avoid one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history.
The holders remain on course to become only the third side after Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962) to retain their crown and in the process give Lionel Messi the fairy-tale end to a remarkable international career.
The 39-year-old has scored eight goals in the tournament and remains central to everything to Argentina’s fortunes. Remarkably, despite a career spanning more than two decades, tonight’s semi-final meeting will be Messi’s first ever international appearance against England.
Tuchel has spoken openly about the scale of the challenge facing his players. Stopping Messi has become one of football’s great unsolved problems, but the 52-year-old German insists his team must focus on imposing their own game plan rather than being consumed with the
Rarely has so much been at stake for both nations. For England, it is another chance to move one step closer to ending a wait that has now stretched almost 60 years. For Argentina, it is an opportunity to go level with Italy and Germany for the second-most World Cup titles (four). Either way, one of football’s most storied rivalries is about to add another chapter.
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