Here are updates – If you don’t see it, update the page!
Follow the World Cup semi-final live between England and Argentina – where the Three Lions will face Lionel Messi and co. in Atlanta.
| Teams | Formation | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏴 | England | 4-2-3-1 |
| 🇦🇷 | Argentina | 4-4-2 |
Location: Atlanta Stadium | Referee: Ismail Elfath
📊 PRE-MATCH INSIGHTS
- John Stones is playing his 17th World Cup match.
- Lionel Messi is playing his 33rd World Cup match – equalling the record.
- Jordan Pickford is playing his 19th World Cup match.
- Nicolás Tagliafico is playing his 16th World Cup match.
- Harry Kane is playing his 18th World Cup match.
📈 PRE-MATCH: STATISTICS
- Argentina have won six straight games.
- Harry Kane has scored in 67% of England’s World Cup games this season.
- Argentina scores 2.6 goals per 90 minutes in this World Cup. England scores 2.1.
- Both teams concede 0.9 goals per 90 minutes.
⚔️ The showdown: History and rivalry
England will be hoping to reach their second ever World Cup final when they face reigning champions Argentina in Atlanta. The semi-final is the latest chapter in a long sporting rivalry – with Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” in 1986 and David Beckham’s controversial red card twelve years later being the most famous chapters.
Both teams have been lucky on the way here:
- England can thank the referee for Norway having a goal annulled for pushing Erling Haaland in the quarter-finals.
- Argentina has had several decisions in their favor:
- Lionel Messi avoided a red card after putting his heel in the Achilles tendon of Algeria’s captain in the opening match. He scored a hat-trick instead.
- Egypt had a goal annulled and Mohamed Salah had a penalty disallowed just before Enzo Fernández scored the winning goal.
- Switzerland’s Breel Embolo was sent off for simulation in the quarter-finals – Argentina won 3-1 after extra time.
📺 Where to watch England vs Argentina?
Kick-off: Wednesday evening 20:00 UK time / 21:00 Norwegian time. You can watch the match on BBC One and stream via BBC iPlayer. In Norway, TV 2.
📊 PRE-MATCH STATS
- England have won 6 of 14 previous meetings, 6 draws (including 1986, which Argentina won on penalties).
- Among teams Argentina have faced 3+ times in the World Cup, they have a lower win percentage only against Italy (0%), Germany (14.3%) and the Netherlands (16.7%) – than against England (20% – W1, D2, L2).
- This is Argentina’s sixth World Cup semi-final. They have reached the final from all five previous ones.
- England manager Thomas Tuchel could become the fourth manager to reach a World Cup final with a country other than his own.
