England and Argentina meet at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium on 15 July, with the winner facing France or Spain in the final on 19 July. The sides have not played a competitive match since the 2002 group stage, their only meeting since then a 2005 friendly that England won 3-2.
Argentina arrive as defending champions with a perfect semi final record at this tournament and an unbeaten run stretching beyond 13 matches, while England are chasing their first World Cup final appearance since 1966. There is also a Golden Boot subplot running beneath everything else: Messi leads on eight goals while Kane and Bellingham are both on six.
Thomas Tuchel took charge of England late in 2024 and extended his deal through Euro 2028, though the occasional friction around managing Bellingham's role is worth watching here. Lionel Scaloni has been Argentina's coach since 2018, long enough to have shaped their identity entirely, a pragmatic setup built around the ability to come from behind and grind out results when the game turns against them and the two managers have no prior meetings to draw on.
England came through a genuinely tough knockout path, beating Mexico 3-2 in the round of 16 before edging Norway 2-1 in extra time in the quarter final, with Bellingham scoring twice in that one. They have conceded in most matches and Tuchel admitted after the Norway game there were sloppy moments he wasn't happy about, which will matter against Argentina.
Argentina came from behind to beat Egypt 3-2 in the round of 16 before Alvarez sealed a 3-1 extra time win over Switzerland in the quarter final, going more than 13 matches unbeaten across the tournament. They are also at their most dangerous when behind and they have shown it repeatedly enough that it reads less like a coincidence and more like a method.
England's right back situation is unresolved: Quansah is suspended, James is doubtful with an injury and that leaves Konsa or Spence as the likely options, while Henderson is also a doubt after wrist surgery following the Mexico match and Rice is recovering from illness but should be available. Their probable 4-2-3-1: Pickford, Konsa, Stones, Guehi, O'Reilly, Rice, Anderson, Saka, Bellingham, Gordon, Kane.
Argentina have no fitness concerns, with the toughest call Scaloni faces being which striker to pair with Messi, both Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez pushing for the spot. Their likely 4-1-3-2: E. Martinez, Molina, Romero, L. Martinez, Tagliafico, Paredes, De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister, Messi, Alvarez.
England will look to press high and exploit transitions through Bellingham's driving runs into the channels behind Argentina's midfield line and Kane's movement against Romero and Lisandro Martinez. Rice and Anderson are tasked with tracking Messi, who tends to drop into midfield rather than stay pinned up front and it is not obvious how England's shape absorbs that when he finds the space between the lines. De Paul, Fernandez and Mac Allister carry, press and break lines in midfield and the high defensive line England use has been their biggest vulnerability all tournament.
England lead the overall head to head record with six wins from 14 meetings to Argentina's three, with five draws. Their World Cup encounters have gone 3-2 in England's favour, taking in the 1966 quarter final, the 1986 Hand of God quarter final and the 1998 penalty shootout.
Kane against Romero is where a great deal will be decided: Romero wants to step out and win it early while Kane drops deep and holds. Bellingham's driving runs into the channels behind Argentina's midfield line give Tuchel his best route through but Messi dropping into midfield with Rice and Anderson tasked with tracking him is the dynamic England have to solve without a clear answer in their shape. The high lines leave space on both ends, neither side has kept a clean sheet in this tournament and Argentina have shown they can absorb pressure and still score late. We're going 2-2 at full time.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
