England and Argentina shared a combative begin to their World Cup semi-final on Wednesday because the holders averaged a foul each two-and-a-half minutes to match a report for poor challenges on the 2026 version.
Lionel Messi’s workforce had been punished by referee Ismail Elfath 4 instances in the course of the first 10 minutes in Atlanta – a report solely equalled by Sweden throughout the identical interval of their 3-0 defeat to France within the final 32.
“It’s been too stop-start,” former England striker Alan Shearer informed BBC Sport. “There have been too many fouls.
“I wish to see England add somewhat bit extra tempo to the sport. If they don’t, that’s how [Argentina will] trigger them issues.”
England’s nationwide anthem was drowned out by boos and jeers from the Argentina followers 😮 pic.twitter.com/5hrarWx1Ix
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 15, 2026
World Cup 2026: England vs Argentina stress
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi appeared to query Elfath and England’s Jude Bellingham appeared to inform the official that an elbow had been thrown after one early altercation.
The incident was a painful one for Three Lions midfielder Eliot Anderson, who went down after an obvious shove on the pinnacle from Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez.
“The slower the tempo, the extra it’ll swimsuit Argentina,” warned Shearer. “Like England, they’ve discovered methods to win video games beneath strain.”
The victors within the tie will meet Spain within the World Cup closing in New Jersey on Sunday (20:00 BST), with the losers assembly France within the third-placed play-off a day earlier (22:00).
World Cup 2026: England workforce vs Argentina
England made three modifications, bringing in full-backs Reece James and Djed Spence and midfielder Morgan Rogers for Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly and Noni Madueke.
England beginning XI: Jordan Pickford, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Djed Spence, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon
England substitutes: Dean Henderson, James Trafford, Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly, Trevoh Chalobah, Dan Burn, Jordan Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Ollie Watkins, Noni Madueke, Ivan Toney
World Cup 2026: Argentina workforce vs England
Giuliano Simeone supplanted Rodrigo De Paul as Argentina’s one change got here in midfield.
De Paul sustained a reduce throughout a problem towards Switzerland in the course of the quarter-finals however didn’t look like injured afterwards.
Argentina beginning XI: Emiliano Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Nahuel Molina, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi, Giuliano Simeone
Argentina substitutes: Juan Musso, Geronimo Rulli, Marcos Senesi, Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolas Otamendi, Facundo Medina, Rodrigo De Paul, Valentin Barco, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Nico Gonzalez, Thiago Almada, Nico Paz, Jose Manuel Lopez, Lautaro Martinez
The place to look at England vs Argentina: TV channel, on-line stay stream
Kick-off on Wednesday was at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT). Within the UK, stay TV protection is on BBC One.
Streaming on an unlimited vary of gadgets is out there by way of the BBC iPlayer app and BBC Sport web site.
World Cup 2026: England vs Argentina stats
- England have misplaced two of their 14 internationals towards Argentina, profitable six and drawing the opposite six
- A type of attracts was their penalty shootout defeat within the final 16 on the World Cup 1998 following a 2-2 draw
- Their final loss to La Albiceleste in common time was a 2-1 quarter-final defeat in Mexico Metropolis on the World Cup 1986
- Jude Bellingham has scored twice in every of his final two World Cup appearances, with solely Harry Kane (4) and Gary Lineker (3) ever having extra matches through which they scored not less than two targets for the Three Lions within the competitors
- In World Cup historical past, the one midfielder with to attain not less than two targets in additional video games than Bellingham is Peru’s Téofilo Cubillas (3)
- Argentina are of their sixth World Cup semi-final, progressing from every of their previous 5 ties at this stage
- That is the sixth time Argentina have performed England on the World Cup, solely ever going through Germany extra instances within the competitors. They’ve additionally performed the Netherlands six instances
- Their whole of six wins on the 2026 version represents their longest outright profitable run in match historical past
- Lionel Scaloni’s facet have scored precisely three targets in every of their final 4 matches, guaranteeing they’re poised to grow to be the second facet in World Cup historical past to internet not less than three targets in 5 consecutive matches, after France throughout the 2022 and 2026 editions
- With 17 targets at this yr’s World Cup, Argentina have scored essentially the most of any workforce and are one shy of equalling their best-ever tally of 18, which they managed on the 1930 finals
