Match Day LIVE
FIFA World Cup Second Semi Finals match
England vs Argentina
Venue- Atlanta Stadium
Date – July 15, 2026.
Time- 8 pm ( Local time).
All is now set for the renewal of hostilities between two arch rivals in the round leather game, this time in the Fifa World Cup second semi finals match in the city of Atlanta stadium Wednesday in USA, when England ttake on Argentina, in a rivalry that has been dormant for the past 20 years.
The three lions as the English national team are called , are whiskers away in their first finals of the Fifa World Cup in six decades
While the Argentines popularly known and called , the Argentines also known as La Albiceleste are the regning champions after their 2022 Fifa World Cup win against the Dutch in the finals, are historically have a 100% hit rate to retain the trophy once again,
For the fourth time since 2018, the three lions have maintained the status quo ante of a semi finals berth and this stands as many times they have made piror to their football history It has not been a smooth sail for the English who came from thick and thin to dismisss both the minnows aa well as the big teams in their uneven group during the group games , most of their casualties to today’s semi finals clash cuts across continents were from Africa with the Black Stars of Ghana match which ended though in a stalemate, narrowly escaping defeat in the hands of the star studded English team, despite their dropping many of their star players in UK , then scrapping past stubborn DR Congo after full and extra time , 2-1., then a magical night in Mexico City where they pummelled co host, Mexico 3-2 this preceded a tough quarter finals clssh in Miami, Florida
With his superb outing at the Azteca stadium in Mexico , that hosted the 1970 World Cup b finals when Pele and his Brazilian team mates lifted the World Cup for keeps, , Jude Bellingham rising profile , scored a brace against the North American hosts 2-0 , helped the English team to bounce back to reckoning after coming from behind to edge out the Vikings Boys from Norway 2-1 at extra time .
The English Coach German ,Thomas Tuchel rode on mother luck to by pass the Nordic dark horses who battled in vein to get the better part of the three Lions but met a brick wall with reference to England tactical superiority, not minding Erling Halaands roaring presence in the team as well as his dare devil scoring prowess with seven goals in four matches
The three Lions are few hours away for another global football finals after their historic 1966 win , six decades ago to meet Spain who quietly humbled the French team in a clean slate , 2-0.
Football fans all over the globe should be reminded of England s four game winnings streak lately and scoring at least two times in each of them , that shows consistency and good works of the Manager who did not waste time to drop big names as well as inactive players who felt that their position are guaranteed and it came as a rude shock to most of them, thats a disciplined Manager so to speak .
Defemsive vulnerabilities is causing Thomas Tuchel sleepless nights, this is where the three Lions have to step up their game against the Argies tinight as there is escape route to havijgt a line up of flat footed rear men who will face Argentine football tactician and play maker , Lionel Messi , ever hungry for more goals , this night might not be different , though now today’s game should Lionel Messi s first big match since this Fifa World Cup 2026 tournament .
He has had a field day over minnows in the group games as well as round of 32 , round of 16 as well as quarter finals when they beat Switzerland via extra time after another yet 1-1 draw’ later 3-1
England “s recent trip to the famous Azteca stadium reminds them of the infamous *hand of God* by Diego Amanado Maradonna match with the English in the 1986 World Cup, it was a bitter memory then and till now so they got a slight revenge on Mexico, waiting to harvest more when they face the real big fish for revenge, Argentina, whose Maradonnas” *hand of God goal in 1986 quarter finals in 1986 World Cup eliminated the three Lions from the tournament, then, no VAR refereee. But now a lot have changed ,if the match is not politicized , England stands a valid 3/4 of a chance just like Argentina to win the semi finals , if Egypt can stroll past two goals against Argentina before they came from behind to win via another extra time after full time at 2-2 , with Egypt, Messi got the winner via a free kick , 3-2 it ended
Their rivalry dates back to 1966 World Cup when they dismissed Argentina in the quarter finals enroute to lifting thr trophy at home turf at Wembley.
The English Squad have only kost two out of 14 games to the Argies , , with the most recent in November 2005 when Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney contributed to the goals . Today’s encounter represents their sixth World Cup tie amd also represents their sixth semi finals berth which they have not failed to qualify for vthe finals, but today *Will history turn its back against the slightly ageing La Alceleste team against the hungry for revenge English side with the Maradonna s famous or infamous *historical *hand of God* Time will definitely tell as Time is a great healer of wounds , Times little Mercies *
To get this stage of the semi finals, it has been a batlle of survival after going through a turf litmus test to qualify for the last four of this campaign after three testing knock out rounds, where they needed an extra time to even best minnows Cape Verde 2-2 at full time , only a extra time reprive gave rhen the needed qualification and Egypt, where they needed a major come nack sfter trailing 2-0 against the Pharoahs who lost concentration when they had every opportunity on their door step to brush aside the Lionel Scaloni aging as well as pension based footballers mostly plying their football trade in the US Major League Soccer which is far far below the average European first division team ..
Thez also survived the Swiss with an emphatic Julian Alvarez goal to took the tide to 1-1 at full time then a relief of extra time gave their berth in today’s make or mar mstch with the English aware of the famous Maradonna s *hand of God in their minds would do everything in the football kitty to disgrace the South American s from the football tourney this night in fsr away Atlanta
Lionel Messi and co have scored in each match which they habe met only half baked opponents, it is today that the big boy football comes into play.
It seeme the fifa draws before the World Cup picthed against mostly minnows who they can run over easily to qualify to get to this stage We will know tonight if they all their winnings so far was a fluke
If they succeed against the three Lions , Scaloni , already i ls a National hero in Argentina nwill go down in history of their football as being the second man to manage two World Cup finals, as they have wobbled and fumbled against tactically deficient African and European teams to get here, after his fellow country man Carlos Billardo, while the England side have b gone through the ramks of qualification of beating well informed teams except a draw with Ghana 0-0 where they not score and did not concede to the West Africans . Only Thomas Tuchel stands in his way to achieve n this feat tonight
Many injury problems will definitely pose a major problem for the English team especially their flat footed defense line with Mark Guehi, John Stones , Eziri Konsa operate Right bsck Recce James with reoccurring injuries will not be risked for a start
Their right back problems continue to rrsr its ugly head with Jarel Ouasahs still suspended , in his place Westham defender , Djed Spence will fill in the gap , while Henderson still nursing injurz sustained against Mexico is totally ruled out
Tuchel hopes that Declan Rice recovers fully with an unknown sickness after their quarter finals trip to the Azteca stadium.
Kane leads the attacking killer sqaud tonighz to torment the aging flat footed Argentina squad thst let in so cheaply two goals against the Pharoahs, I wonder how they will cope with tricky Harry Kane as well as Real Madrid football tactician who always rise up to hid pre – match billing, got two brace against Canada and Norway with ease will partner Kane the Bayern Munich butcher on the night against pensioneer defenders like
Lautaro Martinez as well as Julian Alvarez both of whom scored in their extra time matches will partner Argentine football tactician and play maker , Lionel Messi in the attsck as rhey try to rebact the famous *Hand of God which is now historical as well as painful to the English men who is botter and would love , what the football betting world calls *Straight Win* against an aging retiree Argies team in Atlanta this night
Can they survive the pressure and anxiety of facing a tactically good team of the Three Lions with a good Coach as well???
Its a million dollar qut we maz answer at the end of hostilities in few minutes from now
Prediction s
All said and done , the English side who have been inform all through this World Cup deserve a win against a manageable Argetine team who i know can only boast authoritatively of Lionel Messi, without him , i dont think that Argentina still have any business in this tourney, unless perhaps mother luck is on their side and also if the officiating favours them somehow if not it should a turf match thst may drag into Extta Time after full time
England 2-1 Argentina Or 2-2 , then Extra time and possibly penalties
Happy Viewing and Happy Fifa World Cup 2026 .
Uche Anaba
Email – ucheanaba@gmail.com
Visit – www.worldbeatx.com
Uche Anaba ( C) 2026 .
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