England face reigning champions Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals in Atlanta tonight as the Three Lions bid to compete on football’s ultimate stage for the first time in 60 years.
Thomas Tuchel’s men have laboured to victory at times in this tournament, making harder work of wins over Norway and DR Congo than some – including the manager – may have liked.
Yet a combination of gritty determination plus starring performances from the likes of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham has seen England through to a second World Cup semi-final in eight years and a third since 1966, the year the nation last lifted this coveted trophy.
Argentina, still led by the now 39-year-old but no less magical Lionel Messi, have appeared vulnerable themselves since the knockout stage began, taken to extra-time by Cape Verde and 10-man Switzerland either side of a comeback win over Egypt.
Still, Lionel Scaloni’s troops will stop at nothing in their quest to defend the title they won four years ago, especially if it means helping their own talismanic maestro clinch the beautiful game’s top prize once more.
