England vs Argentina
Hold onto your hats, folks. All World Cup 2026 semi-finals are huge but some just have more edge than others. This is one such encounter.
Amidst the brickbats and bouquets, the red cards, and the rhetoric, Argentina will always have that goal from 1986, a goal frequently adjudged the best; England will always remember Michael Owen’s extraordinary run from the halfway line and finish in 1998.
Now it’s time for the next chapter, however. 40 years on from the former, who can make a name for themselves on the biggest stage of all?
Talking Points
Although I can vaguely remember watching the closing stages of the opening game at Mexico 86, the first ever World Cup match this SBOTOP observer ever saw was the quarter-final between Argentina and England three weeks later.
Little did I know then, as a nine-year-old schoolboy, that I had witnessed a contest that will remain entrenched in the lifelong history of football, long after you and I have shuffled off this mortal coil. It remains famous for two reasons and one man.
VAR won’t allow a repeat of the ‘Hand of God’ moment, but with so much talent on display in Atlanta, who is to say we won’t be treated to another unforgettable chapter like that experienced that night from Diego Armando Maradona.
With a place in the 2026 World Cup Final up for grabs, four decades on, certainly the stakes could hardly be higher.
Since their exciting opening group success against Croatia, there have been both question marks and excitement aplenty about Thomas Tuchel and the make-up of his England squad.
When I predicted there were bigger tests to come, this is exactly the kind of game I had in mind to see if they can deliver World Cup 2026 highlights at the sharp end of the tournament.
On saying that, the holders have not exactly been pulling up trees.
They have simply not played anyone of note yet, so the time to properly judge their class of 2026 will come in the week ahead.
In terms of fighting spirit and character, Lionel Scaloni’s men cannot be questioned, but they were clearly under the cosh against Switzerland in the quarter-finals until the Swiss were rightly reduced to 10 men.
No nation has won back-to-back World Cups since Brazil (1958 & 1962), so the chances of La Albiceleste may seem stacked against them. But the real test of Argentina and Lionel Messi starts now the diet of weaker opposition disappears.
Very evenly matched, both nations will naturally be wary of their opponents.
What will follow should be an utterly compelling spectacle.
History
This will actually be the first meeting between the nations for over 20 years – a 2005 friendly in Switzerland in which Owen scored twice in the final four minutes to seal a 3-2 England success.
Of course, their last competitive meeting was at a World Cup and did go England’s way as captain David Beckham scored the only goal from the penalty spot in Japan.
It was the perfect way for Beckham to avenge his role in England’s exit at the previous competition four years earlier, and ultimately meant they reached the knockout stages while Argentina went home five days later.
Five of the clashes have come in World Cups. The first two went the way of England.
In 1962 in Chile, goals from Ron Flowers, Bobby Charlton and Jimmy Greaves put England into an unassailable 3-0 lead before a late consolation from Argentina. That was in the group stages.
Four years later at Wembley, Geoff Hurst headed the only goal for the hosts in an encounter remembered for the first half dismissal of Argentina captain Antonio Rattin, who initially refused to leave the pitch.
It’s said the incident involving Rattin, who only passed away a few days ago at the age of 89, led to the introduction of yellow and red cards in football matches by the time the next World Cup had come around in 1970.
Betting Tip
Our World Cup 2026 betting odds make England slight favourites, priced at 1X2 @ 2.52, compared to Argentina at 1X2 @ 2.99.
That surprised me, not so much because of squad talent (as there is very little difference between them, but more because I expect the South Americans to be better suited to the conditions in Georgia.
This has all the hallmarks of another World Cup classic, which is why I think there is good value on a range of bets, including Asian Handicap England -0.25 @ 2.19, Argentina -0.25 @ 2.56, over 2.50 goals @ 2.35, Total Goal 0-1 @ 2.54, and 4-6 @ 4.35. Half Time Full Time Draw @ 4.00 has caught my eye, but in the end, my tip is 1X2 Draw @ 2.91. After that, anything can happen.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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