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15 July 2026 332 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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After Spain’s superb victory over France on Tuesday, the second FIFA World Cup semi-final sees England face Argentina.

Kick-off at the Atlanta Stadium is at 20:00 BST.

TEAM NEWS

Thomas Tuchel kept us guessing right until the teamsheets dropped, with contrasting reports suggesting anywhere between one and three changes.

It is indeed three alterations, one of which sees Morgan Rogers ($7.2m) make his first start of the knockout rounds in place of Noni Madueke ($6.1m).

It’s all change at full-back, too, with Reece James (£5.2m) and Djed Spence ($4.5m) in for the benched Ezri Konsa (£4.8m) and Nico O’Reilly ($4.7m).

Declan Rice ($7.0m), who was visibly struggling with illness before being taken off at half-time in the quarter-finals, is fit enough to start.

The Argentina team news is a bit more straightforward.

Lionel Scaloni has made only one tweak, bringing in Giuliano Simeone ($5.6m) for Rodrigo De Paul ($5.9m).

Julian Alvarez ($8.6m) once again gets the nod over Lautaro Martinez ($8.8m), while Nicolas Tagliafico ($4.3m) is again preferred to Facundo Medina ($4.0m).

LINE-UPS

England XI: Pickford, James, Stones, Guehi, Spence, Anderson, Rice, Rogers, Bellingham, Gordon, Kane.

Subs: Trafford, D Henderson, O’Reilly, Konsa, Saka, Rashford, Chalobah, Burn, Mainoo, Watkins, Madueke, Eze, Toney.

Argentina XI: E Martinez, Molina, Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Tagliafico, Paredes, Simeone, E Fernandez, Mac Allister, Messi, Alvarez.

Subs: Musso, Rulli, Senesi, Montiel, Barco, Lo Celso, Palacios, Gonzalez, Almada, De Paul, Paz, Otamendi, Lopez, Lautaro Martinez, Medina.


332 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Hughes Your Daddy
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    T Rex arms Pickford again

  2. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Tuchel set England up like they were down to 10 men. terrible coaching.

  3. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    That’s what you get for just sitting back and letting the best in the world attack you.

    Lunacy.

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Really dumb by England... and didn't bring on any speedy attacker for the counter.

      1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Exactly

  4. lilmessipran
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Lmao Stones with insanely comical timewasting

    1. Feanor
      • 17 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      None wasted. 9 mins of stoppage time.

  5. SM001
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Terrible defending by England. Enzo had all the time he needed.

  6. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    1-1 Fernandez goal, Messi assist

  7. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Non English players are definitely fitter

  8. lilmessipran
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Let's go!!!!

  9. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    2-1 Argentina

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Lautaro Martinez goal, Messi 2nd assist

  10. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Tuchel did the same with Bayern in the Bernebau, went all out defence and when it backfires they are no longer in a position to attack the game again. England are done.

  11. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Wow. Real champions argentina!

  12. Thanos
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    England coming home

  13. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    If ever a winning goal was coming

  14. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Oh silly silly England.. really tried to defend for that long against Messi

  15. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Vamos

  16. Nomar
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Messi is truly something else!

  17. thegame983
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    The big criticism of Southgate was that he was too pragmatic and negative. Tuchel has done the exact same thing.

  18. Thanos
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Absolute stupidity from Tuchel to think they could sit this one out.

  19. OverTinker
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Messi best of all times

  20. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Yeah now you sub on an attacker. -_-

  21. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Messi has to play 2030 wc!

  22. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Finally ENG prepared to attack. Way too late unfortunately.

    1. PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Tuchel ball

  23. lilmessipran
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    I wonder how they will find a way to blame Fifa/referee for this one.

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Finally a game where var shuts its mouth!

  24. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    The level of composure between both teams.

  25. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    England scoring was a big mistake.. all they did was wake up a sleeping giant!

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Scored too early. It was like poking a bear.

  26. OverTinker
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Messi vs Ronaldo debate over

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Probably was over in December 2022

      1. OverTinker
        • 8 Years
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Yes but now it should be for every one

    2. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Heard they might settle Ali vs Frazier soon

  27. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Match over.

    Argentina beats England 2-1 and advance to the final where they will face Spain. England will play in the Bronze match.

  28. lilmessipran
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    The finalissima that never happened, should be great!

  29. Bobby Digital
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    England are bottlers, just like their domestic champions

    1. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      This makes no sense

      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Means Arsenal losing their UCL final.

        1. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          1 month, 16 days ago

          But they won the league and took a billion pound petro state to pens, so no it doesn’t make sense. And I hate Arsenal

          1. CoracAld2831
            • 5 Years
            1 month, 16 days ago

            Fair. But i think that is what they meant rightly or wrongly.

        2. BUZZBOMB ♡
          • 11 Years
          1 month, 16 days ago

          On penalties. To the best club team in Europe right now. Hardly "bottlers".

          1. BUZZBOMB ♡
            • 11 Years
            1 month, 16 days ago

            I hate Arsenal too btw

    2. BUZZBOMB ♡
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Arsenal bottled winning the league they won?

      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Probably meant the UCL final.

  30. Thanos
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Tuchel gifted this with his tactics