Lionel Messi’s Argentina will take on England in a highly anticipated World Cup semi-final on Wednesday, with a place in the final against Spain at stake.
The encounter between two of football’s biggest nations carries both sporting and historical significance, as Argentina aim to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win consecutive World Cup titles.
Messi, who lifted the trophy with Argentina in Qatar in 2022, has continued to lead his country’s charge at the tournament despite expectations that his previous World Cup campaign would be his last.
The 39-year-old forward is among the tournament’s leading scorers with eight goals and has played a key role in Argentina’s run to the last four.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has tried to keep focus on football rather than the political history surrounding the fixture, particularly the long-running dispute over the Falkland Islands, known as the Malvinas in Argentina.
“The reality is this is a football match. I am not going to mix everything up, especially regarding things that happened so long ago,” Scaloni said.
“It was a very sad time in our history and we can’t do much about it. This is a football game, that’s all.”
England, meanwhile, are chasing their first World Cup final appearance since winning the tournament in 1966.
Manager Thomas Tuchel said his team would embrace the pressure of facing the reigning champions but insisted they were ready for the challenge.
“I don’t feel a burden. We feel the tension and will be nervous but that is normal,” Tuchel said.
“What I like is that I feel the players are really competitive, hungry and excited to play this match.”
Tuchel also confirmed that midfielder Declan Rice, who had been dealing with illness, was fit to start the semi-final.
England’s hopes have been boosted by the form of captain Harry Kane and midfielder Jude Bellingham, who have contributed 12 of the team’s 13 goals at the tournament.
The semi-final will be the first competitive meeting between Argentina and England since the World Cup.
Their rivalry has produced some of football’s most memorable moments, including Argentina’s controversial 2-1 victory in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final, where Diego Maradona scored the famous “Hand of God” goal and a stunning solo effort.
The teams also met in the 1998 World Cup, when Argentina defeated England on penalties after David Beckham was sent off.
The winner of Wednesday’s clash will face Spain in Sunday’s final after the European champions defeated France in a dominant semi-final display.
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente praised his players after their victory, saying their commitment had taken them to the final stage.
“We started almost four years ago with an idea and we’ve been faithful to that idea and it’s brought us here,” De la Fuente said.
“These players deserve everything. Day after day they’ve shown their commitment, their solidarity, their generosity, their talent.”
