England are just one win away from reaching their first World Cup final in 60 years, but standing in their way are defending champions Argentina and Lionel Messi. The two teams meet in the semi-final on Wednesday at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with Spain already waiting in the final.
Here are the key battles that could decide the match.
Lionel Messi vs Marc Guehi and Nico O’Reilly
At 39, Lionel Messi is chasing back-to-back World Cup titles with Argentina. While age has slowed him down, he remains the team’s biggest threat.
Messi usually operates from the right side of attack before drifting into central areas, where he can create chances or score himself.
England defenders Marc Guehi and Nico O’Reilly are expected to have the difficult job of keeping him quiet. England’s backline has looked vulnerable at times during the tournament, making this one of the biggest challenges they have faced.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He’s coming towards the end of his career. For me, personally, he’s the best player to ever touch a football pitch,” O’Reilly told the BBC.
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham vs Cristian Romero and Leandro Paredes
England captain Harry Kane knows Argentina defender Cristian Romero well from their time together at Tottenham Hotspur.
Romero will be one of the players responsible for stopping Kane, but it won’t be an easy task. The England striker often drops into midfield to help create attacks, making him difficult to mark.
Midfielder Leandro Paredes is also expected to play an important role by protecting Argentina’s defence and trying to limit the influence of Kane and Jude Bellingham.
The midfield battle
England hope Declan Rice will recover in time to partner Elliot Anderson in midfield, with Bellingham providing support further forward.
Argentina are expected to use a diamond midfield featuring Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez. The group combines hard work with plenty of quality, and controlling midfield could be crucial to deciding the result.
“I think it will be a game played with a lot of intensity and obviously a lot of jitters on both sides,” Mac Allister said.
Jordan Pickford vs Emiliano Martinez
Both goalkeepers know each other well from the Premier League.
Jordan Pickford has produced several important saves for England during the tournament, especially in the last-16 win over Mexico. Although he faced criticism after conceding against Norway in the quarter-finals, he also made his 18th World Cup appearance, becoming England’s most-capped player in the competition.
Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez was one of the heroes of their 2022 World Cup triumph, winning the Golden Glove award as the tournament’s best goalkeeper.
He has conceded goals in recent knockout matches, but his experience and ability to deliver in big moments make him a key player for Argentina.
Lionel Scaloni vs Thomas Tuchel
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has enjoyed incredible success since taking charge in 2018. He guided his country to the 2022 World Cup title and consecutive Copa America trophies, despite having no previous club coaching experience.
England manager Thomas Tuchel, meanwhile, built his reputation in club football, winning the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea before taking over the England job in late 2024.
Now, both managers are just one win away from leading their teams into the World Cup final. Tuchel will hope to guide England to their first major tournament final in six decades, while Scaloni aims to keep Argentina on course for another world title.
