England are within touching distance of a first World Cup Final appearance since 1966, but an old foe stands in their way.
Lionel Messi and Argentina are reigning champions and have shown throughout the knockout stages of this World Cup that they will not go down without a fight.
Tonight’s match-up promises to be a game for the ages, contested by two sides at the peak of their powers.
England vs Argentina predictions
The Three Lions found a way past Erling Haaland‘s Norway in the quarter-final but will need to be at their very best to navigate the challenge posed by another superstar: Lionel Messi.
England and Argentina have plenty of shared history, on and off the pitch, which makes this fixture something of a grudge match – even if players and staff insist they are focused squarely on the task at hand.
Argentina have not been at their 2022 World Cup-winning best this tournament but still find themselves in with a chance of lifting the trophy for a fourth time.
La Albiceleste have been, to an extent, carried by their evergreen protagonist Messi and in all likelihood will call on him again this evening.
England, meanwhile, have relied on Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham to score the vast majority of their goals with the latter netting braces in consecutive matches against Mexico and Norway to help set up this tie.
For many, this match-up is too close to call because even if Argentina aren’t at their best, there is still the ‘Messi effect’ to take into account. England don’t quite have a player of the same individual calibre, but Bellingham and Kane certainly go close.
The Three Lions certainly appear the more organised unit but all that can change in the span of 90 minutes in Atlanta.
England vs Argentina score prediction
Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni has been here before but there’s something about his team this time around that doesn’t convince FourFourTwo.
No matter what, this fixture will be a close-run affair but we can see England edging it with a winner in extra time.
- Score prediction: England 2-1 Argentina (AET)