Argentina and England will star in one of the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup, which stands out not only for the performance of both teams, but also for the memorable matches they have played throughout history.
The English just eliminated Norway, one of the favorites to advance in the tournament, while the Albiceleste suffered again against Switzerland, although they resolved the match in the last minutes thanks to Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez.
Expectations are through the roof, not only because of knowing the second finalist of the 2026 World Cup, but also because of the historical rivalry between both countries.
One of the most remembered antecedents is the 1986 World Cup, when Diego Armando Maradona, precisely against England, starred in one of the most memorable performances in the history of football by scoring “The Hand of God” and “The Goal of the Century.”
Due to this historical burden, the game on July 15 generates great expectations. Therefore, one of the questions posed to the Argentine coach, Lionel Scaloni, was what this meeting means for both countries.
At the press conference after Argentina’s match against Switzerland, a journalist asked Scaloni what the semifinal against England represented, especially because of the historical context.
Scaloni, true to his style, lowered the revs and stated that the match between England and Argentina “is just a football match.”
“The message is that it’s a football match. Let’s not look for anything else. It’s a football match against a great team and a great coach, whom I appreciate a lot. It’s just a match. Period,” Scaloni said.
With these statements, the Argentine coach reduced the expectations of the match solely to the sporting field.
Everything is ready for next Wednesday, at 1:00 p.m., both teams will face each other in Atlanta and define the second finalist of the World Cup.