For all the history between these two, and there is a lot of it, Lionel Messi has somehow never faced England. Twenty-one years an Argentina international, four World Cups, and not one minute against the old enemy. That ends on Wednesday in Atlanta, in a World Cup semi-final, with a place in the final on the line.
Messi turns up at 39 with the record already banked. His eight goals at this tournament, plus two assists, have taken his career World Cup tally to 21, past Miroslav Klose's 16, per ESPN and Al Jazeera. By most people's reckoning it is his last World Cup, though the man himself has not said so. England get their only look at him, and it could hardly come later.
Kickoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is 3pm ET, 8pm BST, with the USA's Ismail Elfath in the middle, per ESPN. Spain are already in the final after seeing off France 2-0, so this is a straight shootout: win and you meet them at MetLife on 19 July, lose and it is the third-place match in Miami.
No cameo for England
The temptation is to bill this as the Messi show. It is not, or not only. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have six goals apiece at this World Cup, chasing Golden Boot leaders Messi and Kylian Mbappe, per Sky Sports. Bellingham scored both as England came through 2-1 after extra time against Norway in Miami, having earlier survived 3-2 against Mexico with ten men.
Thomas Tuchel has a settled shape but a patched-up back line. Jarell Quansah is suspended, serving the second match of a two-game ban for his red card against Mexico, per ESPN. Jordan Henderson is out too, having broken his wrist celebrating that win and gone under the knife, per Sports Mole. Ezri Konsa, who limped off with hamstring cramp against Norway, is expected to slot in for Quansah. Declan Rice, withdrawn at half-time in Miami with a sickness bug, is expected to be fit. None of that is confirmed until the teamsheets land about an hour before kickoff.
Champions who do it the hard way
Argentina arrive as reigning champions and as a side with a taste for the scenic route. Lionel Scaloni's team beat Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in Kansas City, Alexis Mac Allister, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez on the mark, and in the last 16 they came from two down to see off Egypt 3-2, per FOX Sports. Scaloni has a full squad. Whether Alvarez starts ahead of Lautaro is the tip, not the team.
The rivalry needs little introduction. This is the first meeting in almost 21 years, since a friendly in November 2005 that Argentina won 3-2, and the last competitive one was the 2002 World Cup group stage, settled by a Beckham penalty. Above all of it still sits Mexico 1986, the Hand of God and the goal that followed. A different Argentina, a different England, but it colours the fixture all the same.
What is at stake
For England, it is a shot at the final and a first look at a player they have spent two decades avoiding. For Argentina, it is a chance to defend the crown, with Messi one win from another final on what is widely expected to be his last World Cup stage.
Spain are waiting either way. Whoever comes through Atlanta gets three days to recover before East Rutherford on Sunday. First, 90 minutes, and maybe more, to decide who joins them.
Sources
- ESPN (how to watch, line-ups, team news)
- ESPN (Messi's first match vs England)
- ESPN (Quansah suspended two matches)
- Sports Mole (England injury and suspension list)
- Sky Sports (Golden Boot race)
- Al Jazeera (Messi breaks all-time World Cup scoring record)
- FOX Sports (England v Argentina semi-final confirmed)
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