Defending champion Argentina will face England in the second semi-final of the FIFA World Cup 2026. England has been waiting for a title for 60 years, and the two teams will face off after 24 years.
Argentina and England will face each other in the second semi-final of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
England has not won a major title in the last 60 years, while Argentina is the defending champion.
Lionel Messi's 9-match goal-scoring streak was broken in the quarter-finals.
Former footballers Wayne Rooney and Micah Richards have described Messi as a major challenge for England.
FIFA World Cup 2026: A Major Showdown in the Semi-Finals
The second semi-final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be played between defending champions Argentina and England. This is expected to be a thrilling match as England has not won a title in the last 60 years.
They will be looking to win this match to secure a place in the final and claim their second World Cup title. Meanwhile, Argentina will take the field with the intention of defending their title. The two teams will face each other in the World Cup after 24 years.
39-year-old Lionel Messi had scored in almost every match of this World Cup. However, he could not score against Switzerland in the quarter-finals.
Thus, his 9-match goal-scoring streak came to an end. Despite this, Messi is among the tournament's top scorers with 8 goals. Messi, who has scored 125 goals in 205 international matches, is set to face England's senior team for the first time.
Rooney Points Out Messi's Strengths and Weaknesses
Former England captain and legendary footballer Wayne Rooney believes that Messi could face a tough challenge from England's aggressive players in the semi-final.
However, Rooney praised Messi's ability to change the outcome of a match with a moment of brilliance. But he also stated that Messi's limited contribution in defense could be detrimental for Argentina.
“Messi can be a defensive liability for Argentina because he doesn't track back to defend. But he has quality like Jude Bellingham. His decision-making is brilliant. Concentration and communication are very important to mark Messi.” - Wayne Rooney
Journey to the Semi-Finals
England reached the semi-finals for the first time since 2018, thanks to two goals from Bellingham against Norway.
On the other hand, Argentina stunned Switzerland with a brilliant 112th-minute goal from Julián Álvarez, and then Lautaro Martínez sealed a 3-1 victory in extra time.
Impossible to Stop the 'Little Genius' Messi
Messi's performance in the quarter-finals was not particularly noteworthy, but former England defender Micah Richards believes it will be almost impossible to stop him.
“England can outrun Argentina, but they have that little genius, Messi. The whole team plays for him. It's impossible to mark Messi because he doesn't track back. He moves into small spaces. His technique, spatial awareness, and shot are the best.” - Micah Richards
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