England are set to make a late call over the fitness of key figure Declan Rice as they gear up for a massive World Cup semi-final against Argentina.
Rice was forced off early in the quarter-final win over Norway having been struggling with illness, and has also dealt with a hamstring issue during the course of this tournament. His possible absence from the semi-final in Atlanta would have been a huge blow, but it appears that the midfielder is likely to be available to Thomas Tuchel – who also faces selection headaches defensively with Reece James perhaps coming under consideration for a start after his recovery from his own hamstring problem.
The encounter will be the latest chapter in a storied World Cup rivalry, though England and Argentina have not met in a fixture of any kind since a friendly in 2005. Security has been increased in Atlanta for their first meeting in 21 years. It means Lionel Messi will take on Tuchel’s side for the first time – though goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has insisted that they risk letting others hurt them if they focus overly on the Argentina captain.
Follow all of the latest ahead of England vs Argentina with our live blog below:
15-minute warning before Tuchel time
Thomas Tuchel will be speaking to the media in 15 minutes – we will bring you everything he says as he says it.
Expect his post-match interview from the Norway win and Jude Bellingham’s response to that to come up, along with any team news updates.
Stay tuned!
The most exclusive thing about England’s face-off with Argentina
From Tuchel’s outcast to England’s kingpin, how Jude Bellingham silenced his critics at the World Cup
Jude-fever. Bellingham-mania. No one has come up with a catchy name for it yet, but it’s happening. A London train stop called Bellingham station has been renamed “Jude Bellingham”. West Midlands Railway is offering free train rides for anyone named Jude. “Hey Jude” is on the playlist after every England win with “Three Lions” and “Wonderwall”, the only player with his own ballad.
Only a couple of weeks ago, this World Cup felt like it would be Harry Kane’s tournament. It could yet be Kane’s pinnacle at the end of an extraordinary season of 72 goals and counting, a tally bettered only once, by Lionel Messi. If Messi is one of football’s deities, then Kane is the greatest mortal ever to do it. Win the World Cup on Sunday, and he will surely end the year on stage in Paris, wearing a shiny suit and holding a golden orb.
But increasingly, this tournament looks like the World Cup of Jude Bellingham. It was his goal against Croatia that sparked England’s best 45 minutes so far, his goal against Panama that broke the deadlock, his rapid double that briefly silenced the Azteca, a feat in itself. Bellingham’s first goal in the quarter-final against Norway was a moment of elite technical skill amid a shower of incompetence, his second a display of heightened instincts that earned England a victory they scarcely deserved.
What time is Thomas Tuchel’s press conference?
England boss Thomas Tuchel will be speaking ahead of the tomorrow’s World Cup semi-final with Argentina later on tonight.
His press conference is due to begin at 10:45pm BST and we will be providing live updates of everything the German says.
Argentine war veterans urge fans to focus on football over Falklands tension
An Argentine war veterans federation has called on supporters to focus on football ahead of their World Cup semi-final against England rather than use the match as a platform to push sovereignty claims over the Falkland Islands.
“The semi-final match is a sporting event of global significance, not an armed revenge or historical compensation,” the statement from the April 2 War Veterans Federation read.
“Sovereignty is defended in international forums, through diplomacy, historical truth, and the peaceful and inalienable claim established by our National Constitution.”
France v Spain: Who would England prefer in World Cup final?
The first World Cup semi-final is just kicking off and England will be watching closely. If they beat Argentina tomorrow, the winner of France v Spain will stand between them and a first World Cup since 1966.
But which of the pair would Thomas Tuchel’s team rather face if they reach the final? Our experts have their say…
Do it for Justin!
Footballers aren’t the only sportspeople with a stake in the World Cup…
Justin Rose is hoping England win their semi-final against Argentina without the need for extra time so it does not interfere with his preparations for The Open.
“I was kind of hoping for a later tee time,” he said. “I’d take a win on penalties if it happened but obviously we’re looking for a short, sharp match and a reasonable bedtime.
“Obviously we’re going to be watching, but at the same time I’m going to watch it with an eye on what’s important for me as well and not get too high and low and keep my own emotions in check.
“It’s probably a futile kind of exercise, isn’t it? It’s going to be a hard-fought game and it’s going to probably be a nail-biter. I can only try though.
“We’ve got big things as well to do this week, but at the same time, it’s a match where if you think that you’re not going to watch it, you’re probably kidding yourself.”
Harry Kane urges England to forget about history with Argentina
Harry Kane has stressed England cannot get drawn in too much on the emotional baggage of a semi-final clash with storied rivals Argentina.
Asked if there is an extra need to manage the occasion and be disciplined, captain Kane said: “Yeah and no. I think it’s not something you want to focus too much on, surrounding the history.
“Yeah, that’s all part of it and that’s what you guys (in the media) will talk about, the fans will be involved in.
“But from a player’s point of view it’s us against a great team, who are smart, who are tactical, who know how to buy fouls, know how to slow the game down. Like many different teams you come up against throughout your whole career.
“So, it’s England versus Argentina, it’s two of the biggest nations going toe to toe. Two giants in the semi-final of a World Cup. The rest of it is just a small part.
“For us, we have a focus, we have a preparation that we do in every moment, in every game and this game is no different.
“The most important thing is that we back ourselves to be successful on this stage.”
Copa Independent: The best World Cup semi-finals….ever?
On the latest episode of Copa Independent, Lawrence Ostlere is joined by Miguel Delaney in Atlanta and Kieran Jackson to preview the World Cup semi-finals: England v Argentina and Spain v France, a last four featuring the top four ranked teams and four previous winners.
England’s win over Norway is assessed through the Miami heat, Jude Bellingham’s form and Golden Boot push, Harry Kane’s fatigue, Declan Rice’s fitness, Tuchel’s substitutions, and the Tuchel–Bellingham media flashpoint.
They also explore the deep history and political context of England–Argentina, Messi facing England for the first time, and the tactical contrast of Spain’s positional play against France’s attacking freedom, plus how rest days and VAR could shape the run-in.
England vs Argentina will be the ultimate Falklands grudge match
Ihave the uncomfortable feeling that many otherwise patriotic British people – perhaps rather too many of them – would happily trade the Falkland Islands in a heartbeat for a place for England in the final of the World Cup.
Obviously, as a devoutly cakeist nation, we’d rather that we beat the Argentinians fair and square on the pitch, as we once did in the South Atlantic.
But, if faced with the choice of ending 60 years of hurt or coming to a sensible sovereignty-sharing arrangement with Buenos Aires to resolve a long-running colonial dispute, well… who wouldn’t prefer to see Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Jordan Pickford and the lads lifting the gleaming Jules Rimet trophy? All this – and a bank holiday, too.
