Argentina and England will face each other this Wednesday July 15 in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup, in a new edition of one of the most emblematic duels in the history of the World Cups. It will be a clash full of history, rivalry and expectation, since both teams will meet again in a World Cup event for the sixth time.
Previously, Argentines and English faced each other in the World Cups in Chile 1962, England 1966, Mexico 1986, France 1998 and Korea-Japan 2002. On all of those occasions they met in the group stage, the round of 16 or the quarterfinals. However, this will be the first time they have played a World Cup semi-final, with the added attraction that the winner will get the ticket to the final, scheduled for July 19 in New Jersey.
A match is expected in which the tactical aspect will be decisive for both teams. The Argentine team, led by Lionel Scaloni, will seek to get the most out of their figures in a match that promises to be very demanding.
On the other hand, German coach Thomas Tuchel will have the mission of finding the formula to return England to a World Cup final, so the choice of his starting eleven and the management of his variants during the match will be key factors.
Guardian points out possible weaknesses of Argentina
In the run-up to the expected confrontation, the British newspaper Guardian published an analysis in which it identifies some alleged tactical weaknesses of the Argentine team that could be taken advantage of by England.
Among the aspects highlighted, the dependence that the Albiceleste would have on Lionel Messi, 39, who, in addition to sharing the scoring leadership with Kylian Mbappé, continues to be the main game generator of the world champion team. He also mentions certain limitations in the Argentine midfield, which he considers more oriented towards work and recovery than creation, as well as the vulnerability of the right sector of the defense, occupied by Nahuel Molina.
The English media’s analysis highlights from the beginning that Messi continues to be Argentina’s main offensive threat. “Much of Argentina’s strategy is designed to place Messi, whose limited participation without the ball is reflected in every play, in optimal positions to wreak havoc.”
Likewise, the report suggests that the team led by Thomas Tuchel will try to close the spaces in the center of the field, just as Switzerland did in previous rounds, with the aim of preventing the Argentine captain from finding passing lines or comfortable positions to finish.
Nahuel Molina, under the magnifying glass
Another of the concerns expressed by Guardian It focuses on the Argentine right back. Nahuel Molina’s performance came under observation after suffering from the speed of Swiss winger Dan Ndoye during the quarterfinals, a situation that led Lionel Scaloni to replace him in the 85th minute with Gonzalo Montiel, who played in extra time. It should be noted that Montiel has also had physical problems for several months.
The British media warns that fast footballers like Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon could take advantage of that area of the field, especially because Molina does not always receive enough coverage from Rodrigo De Paul. “Rashford and Gordon could rub their hands” in a sector that, according to the analysis, offers exploitable spaces for players with speed and the ability to unbalance.
The Argentine engine room, another point of debate
On the other hand, the newspaper also focuses part of its analysis on the Argentine midfield. Although he recognizes the technical quality of his midfielders, he considers that the team could suffer under sustained high pressure. “When given time and space, Argentine midfielders can weave associations and manage the timing of the game.” However, he adds: “Their weak point is that they simply don’t run as much as the others.”
According to this approach, England could try to impose an intense pace through players such as Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Elliot Anderson, with the aim of constantly putting pressure on the Argentine exit and cutting connections with Messi. The physical capacity of the English midfielders allows them to cover large sectors of the pitch and sustain high pressure for long periods, which could make the transitions difficult for an Argentina that relies more on possession and slow development before vertigo.
The analysis concludes with a warning: “When Argentina loses control in the center of the field, it is very difficult for them to recover it.” And he concludes by pointing out: “Argentine midfielders simply don’t run as much as the others,” a statement with which the newspaper suggests that Rice and Bellingham could find spaces to break lines and create danger when the Albiceleste loses possession.
Argentina’s hierarchy, the great differential factor
Despite these observations, Guardian He also recognizes the Argentine team’s ability to react in decisive moments. The report highlights that the team led by Lionel Scaloni has players capable of solving any match with individual action. “Argentina is a team of moments and individual genius.”
The publication points out that players like Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez and Lionel Messi have the ability to unbalance any match, even when the team is going through collective difficulties. “The concern for England is that Argentina may be adrift in a match, with their scoring routes blocked and rhythm disrupted, only for one of their big names to score a great goal.”
Therefore, although the analysis identifies several aspects that England could exploit, it also recognizes that the individual quality and competitive experience of the world champions make the Albiceleste an extremely dangerous rival in any circumstance.