Xolos and Tigres open Apertura 2026 in Caliente

ATLANTA, EU.- The history between Argentina and England adds a new chapter. This time, the event is in the World Cup semifinals and a ticket to the final is at stake. Lionel Scaloni, Argentine coach, tried to tone down: “it’s just a soccer game.”

But the weight of the antecedents says otherwise.

Rivalry that transcends

The confrontation is loaded with memorable episodes. From the expulsion of Antonio Rattín and the gesture towards the English pennant in 1966, to the “Hand of God” and Maradona’s “goal of the century” in Mexico 1986. Then came the clash between Simeone and Beckham in France 1998, and the Argentine elimination in English hands in 2002. All of this marked by the context of the Falklands conflict.

It will be the sixth time that both teams meet in a World Cup, and the first in the semifinals. Atlanta will be the setting.

The voices of the protagonists

Thomas Tuchel, English strategist, declared:

“It is a great rivalry between two great football nations, everyone knows about this relationship and what it brings, so we expect an intense and emotional match.”

Scaloni, true to his measured style, added:

“We are still hopeful and grateful to these players who have once again led us to play in the World Cup semi-final. We will face a great rival and I hope we have the chance to advance.”

The match promises strong emotions, beyond sports. The fans of both sides know that this is not just any game.

The pulse between Messi and Bellingham

The World Cup semi-final between Argentina and England has a duel that attracts all eyes: Lionel Messi against Jude Bellingham. The 39-year-old Argentine and the 23-year-old Englishman are the pillars of their teams.

Messi is playing in his sixth World Cup. He has eight goals and two assists. He is the all-time leading scorer in the World Cup with 21 conquests. Bellingham is playing in its second World Cup and its fourth major tournament with England.

Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni hopes his team recovers good football. “They have to respond to us and they have plenty of desire. We have to get back to playing football, playing ball,” he declared at a press conference. “We need the players who led us to play great football.”

English goalkeeper Jordan Pickford anticipates the duel: “We all know Messi’s excellence, although we also know Argentina’s excellence. He has scored many goals. It’s great to finally be able to face Messi after having seen him play since I was a child.”

England coach Thomas Tuchel also praised the Argentine captain: “There are truly no words to describe what he has shown time and time again throughout this tournament. He is a true leader and is the key player in every team he plays in.”

This will be the sixth time that Argentina and England meet in a World Cup. The record favors the English with three victories. The last was in 2002, a 1-0 that eliminated Argentina in the group stage.

Argentina will wear its blue away jersey. With that kit he had positive results in the 1986 and 1998 World Cups, when he won on penalties after David Beckham was sent off.

The game is played Wednesday in Atlanta. Messi will face England for the first time in his career. Bellingham, for its part, seeks to establish itself as the new talisman of the Three Lions.

Mbappé takes the blame

French forward Kylian Mbappé will not play in his third consecutive World Cup final. His team lost 2-0 to Spain in the semifinals of the tournament.

“As captain, I have to take full responsibility. I have no problem with that,” Mbappé declared. “We wanted to go to the final and we didn’t make it.”

Mbappé remains tied with Lionel Messi in the fight for the Golden Boot, with eight goals each. Messi and Argentina face England in the other semifinal.

“In the end, you get all the glory when you win. When you don’t win… it’s part of the game,” added the Frenchman.

France will face the loser of that matchup in the third-place match on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida. Spain will play the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Mbappé had little influence on the match. In the first half he registered only 15 touches, the fewest among the attackers. His most notable play was trying to convince the referee to annul the penalty that led to the first Spanish goal.

His best chance came in the 67th minute, when his shot deflected off defender Marc Cucurella and went just wide. By then, France was already losing 2-0.

“Spain is a team that loves control of the game and the ball. That’s what we allowed them to do. We gave the midfield too much time to play and, in the end, they had the quality to do it. Against Spain, it’s difficult when you don’t change their game. We weren’t at the level that would allow us to reach the final,” Mbappé explained.

The 27-year-old Frenchman received a yellow card in the 86th minute after colliding with Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón.

Mbappé started in the semifinal after being substituted in the quarterfinals against Morocco, where he scored his eighth goal of the tournament. Four years earlier, in Qatar, he also scored eight goals, although France lost the final to Argentina on penalties.