See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy HARRY BAMFORTH, LIVE SPORTS COVERAGE REPORTER Updated: 15:08 BST, 15 July 2026
Follow Daily Mail Sport's live coverage of the latest updates as England take on old rivals Argentina in a bid to book a spot in the World Cup final for the first time since 1966.The secrets to stopping Lionel MessiBy Tamara PrennSure, Argentina has a grab-bag of recognisable stars that would tempt any top-10 FIFA nation into investigating their illegibility to switch allegiances: Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Cristian Romero, et al. But really, it's a team of one. Despite pushing 40, Messi remains the brightest star in Argentina's firmament, the number-one threat who can still conjure moments of magic as if pulling a rabbit out of a hat. England will try to stop him doing so. Can he be stopped? Daily Mail Sport's JAMES SHARPE says yes, below. Entertaining hypotheticals By Tamara PrennImagine, if you will, that Diego Maradona's infamous 'Hand of God' had been subject to VAR? The sort of open-and-shut-case, you would think, that exemplified a 'clear and obvious' error in officiating.What then? Would Argentina have been able to handle the psychological hammer blow of a disallowed goal? Would England have stolen momentum back? And what would that have meant for the years of hurt? Luckily, game sport presenter Henry Williams has mulled it over for you. Suggestions of other world events which might have been rocked by this change in the timeline in the comments, please. Good afternoon! By Tamara PrennThis is it. The big one! Hello and welcome to Daily Mail Sport's live coverage of England's World Cup semi-final against their foes of old, Argentina. Putting aside the fact that the winner will go on to face Spain in a World Cup final on Sunday, this match should be a feast for the senses. An age-old rivalry. The chance for revenge in North America 40 years on from Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God'. Jude Bellingham versus Lionel Messi. We've got heaps of detail and analysis to share as we count down to kick-off at 8pm at Atlanta, and as we edge closer, there'll be team news, voices from the ground, and more. So settle in, won't you? Key Updates
