England faces Argentina test for World Cup final after 60 years

The second ticket to the 2026 World Cup final will be claimed this evening. England and defending champions Argentina will face off at the Atlanta Stadium at 22:00 TSI. American referee Ismail Elfath will officiate the match.

The winner will be Spain's opponent in the final to be played on Sunday. For the England camp, the match means more than just reaching the final; it represents an opportunity to reach a World Cup final for the first time since their 1966 championship.

Under the management of Thomas Tuchel, England has maintained a consistent performance in major tournaments in recent years but has been unable to secure the trophy. The English, who were eliminated by Croatia in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, lost to Italy on penalties in the Euro 2020 final. In Euro 2024, they suffered another final disappointment, losing 2-1 to Spain in Berlin.

In his pre-match assessment, Tuchel emphasized that they need a different result this time. The German coach said, "We want to fight until the last drop now. We want to take the next step." Stating that he is pleased with the atmosphere in the team, Tuchel said the players are "very excited and very ambitious."

HISTORIC RIVALRY BACK ON STAGE

The England-Argentina matchup stands out as one of the toughest and most remembered rivalries in World Cup history. The football tension between the two countries dates back to the 1966 quarter-final. In the match played at Wembley, the red card shown to Argentina captain Antonio Rattin caused great controversy, and England advanced with a goal by Geoff Hurst.

The quarter-final played at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico in 1986 went down in football history with Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal and the unforgettable second goal he scored afterward. Argentina won that match 2-1 and lifted the World Cup at the end of the tournament. The round of 16 match in 1998, where David Beckham was shown a red card and Michael Owen starred, also went to Argentina on penalties.

Tuchel stated that this background is known by the players, saying, "If a matchup has been the scene of so many unforgettable moments, you cannot say it is an ordinary football match." Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni also said that the history between the two countries makes the encounter more emotional.

THE MESSI, KANE, AND BELLINGHAM FACTOR

Argentina's biggest trump card is once again Lionel Messi. For the 39-year-old star, this tournament could be the last World Cup of his career. Messi achieved one of his greatest goals by winning the trophy in Qatar 2022; however, he is still seen as Argentina's tactical brain and source of inspiration.

Although his mobility has decreased in the tournament, Messi's technique and vision continue to be decisive for Argentina. According to sources, Messi has completed 47 percent of the distance he covered in this World Cup by walking; this rate is the highest among outfield players in the tournament. Despite this, he remains one of the primary names capable of changing the score in critical moments.

On the England side, a significant portion of the burden rests on the shoulders of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. England has scored 13 goals in the tournament so far; 12 of these goals came from Kane and Bellingham. The other player to score for the team was Marcus Rashford, who found the net in the first match won 4-2 against Croatia.

While this picture brings with it comments that England is highly dependent on its two stars, the form of Kane and Bellingham is one of the biggest advantages for Tuchel. Argentina has not looked flawless in the knockout stages either; they experienced difficult moments against Cape Verde, Egypt, and Switzerland.

For this reason, the semi-final in Atlanta will determine both the fate of the tournament and a new page in the long football memory of the two countries. If England wins, they will end their 60-year wait for a final; if Argentina wins, they will take the final step toward their goal of a second consecutive trophy as the defending champions.

News Source: 12punto