England v Argentina | World Cup Semi Final | 15 July 2026

Callumcafc · July 12

Yes it’s a couple of days early but there’s Argentina chat seeping into the Norway thread just like there was Norway chat in the Mexico thread so thought why not kick it off now?

England expected to play in home whites with Argentina in their black away kit.

Major · July 13

No mercy. They don't like it up 'em

stoneroses19 · July 13

I was nervous for Mexico game, not for Norway, and now back to nervous for Argentina game.

They’re certainly beatable, but will take full team effort, I don’t think we get away with Bellingham and/or Kane single handedly getting us the win.

They’re very much the Messi show at first look, but when you watch how hard the other players work and run to allow Messi the space without running himself, it’s very strong and coordinated. Rice (hopefully fully recovered) and Anderson to be at there best to disrupt there build up play.

CharltonManor1966 · July 13

think we are due a proper performance against the Argies.
The worry is that then becomes our 'final' and we get tonked embarrassingly by the Frogs or Spanish in the final.
We have just had two totally sapping games against Mexico (altitude) and Norway (heat and humudity).
We should have just enough left in the tank for the beating of Argentina, but then nothing left against the French (probably) in the biggest match and footballing spectacle in 60 years.
I do hope I am wrong as I usually am.

O-Randy-Hunt · July 13

I'll be shitting myself come kick off but right now I'm confident we will beat them and be in the final on Sunday.

letthegoodtimesroll · July 13

CharltonManor1966 said:

think we are due a proper performance against the Argies.
The worry is that then becomes our 'final' and we get tonked embarrassingly by the Frogs or Spanish in the final.
We have just had two totally sapping games against Mexico (altitude) and Norway (heat and humudity).
We should have just enough left in the tank for the beating of Argentina, but then nothing left against the French (probably) in the biggest match and footballing spectacle in 60 years.
I do hope I am wrong as I usually am.

Every game England has played so far has been totally sapping and each time they’ve taken a breather and regrouped for the next even more totally sapping game. This squad has been building resilience. We will do the same again after the Argentina game.

I’m not totally convinced it will be France in the final with us.

carly burn · July 13

Saka is key for me. We really haven't seen the very best of him yet.
There was some indication on Saturday night that he's about to enter the party.
Here's hoping

TD_Addick · July 13

Can see this being a 4-3, 3-2 as both haven't been great at defending. Can go ethier way very hard to call.

Covered_End_Lad · July 13

Said from the start I think we get to the Final and lose to France, not changing my mind now.

DamoNorthStand · July 13

Purely from a football perspective, we should win. They have looked poor, and 9 times out of 10 would be home by now. Too much reliance on an (admittedly very good) 39 year old and a lack of pace in the team.

But a game against the Argies never comes down to that.

For any fans too young to see us in a game against them lot in a major tournament, be prepared for spawny play acting, trying to get players injured, flat out cheating, and turning it into a political maelstrom around a load of islands that have fuck all to do with them.

They hate us, we hate them. It was always coming down to this.

And thats before we even get to FIFAs undoubted wish to have their Miami poster boy in a World Cup final on US soil.

I just fear we are up against too much away from the football.... against any other country with their footballing set up and ability and we win comfortably

se9addick · July 13

Surely people don’t actually hate Argentina?

Leuth · July 13

se9addick said:

Surely people don’t actually hate Argentina?

I think there's a divide between people who can remember the 1980s and people who can't

ValleyGary · July 13

Leuth said:

se9addick said:

Surely people don’t actually hate Argentina?

I think there's a divide between people who can remember the 1980s and people who can't

I hate them for their players. I have absolutely zero interest in politics or the 1986 game.

I’m proper nervous as this is the one team I don’t want to lose too. A bunch of racist, whiny, diving and dirty little wankers, who seem to have more luck than talent (Messi aside)

Cmon England.

CaptainRobbo · July 13

DamoNorthStand said:

Purely from a football perspective, we should win. They have looked poor, and 9 times out of 10 would be home by now. Too much reliance on an (admittedly very good) 39 year old and a lack of pace in the team.

But a game against the Argies never comes down to that.

For any fans too young to see us in a game against them lot in a major tournament, be prepared for spawny play acting, trying to get players injured, flat out cheating, and turning it into a political maelstrom around a load of islands that have fuck all to do with them.

They hate us, we hate them. It was always coming down to this.

And thats before we even get to FIFAs undoubted wish to have their Miami poster boy in a World Cup final on US soil.

I just fear we are up against too much away from the football.... against any other country with their footballing set up and ability and we win comfortably

The British first established a settlement there under Captain John Byron in 1764.
Argentina was founded in 1816

soapboxsam · July 13

England v Argentina 🤔

We need Rice to be fit so he can deliver his Arsenal corners opposed to his Charlton Corners which were on show in some of the games so far as he struggles for fitness with a bad back. Declan is a brilliant player and the holy trinity of him, Anderson and walk on water Bellingham have been our dream midfield with Jude being the goal scoring attacking midfielder/10 that is simply World Class.
Those of us at the Valley when 16 year old Jude scored the winner down the Jimmy Seed end could hardly predict what he would become.

As Rice had also been ill for 3 days with a stomach bug before the Norway game that was a big gamble to play him in the hot oppressive conditions of Miami.
Declan just played 45 minutes so let's hope he can recover by Wednesday.

Captain Kane has had his best tournament as Spurs Harry normally fades into the knock out stage as opposed to the Bayern Maestro who has reached new heights.

I have doubts about our defence against Julian Alvarez who has reached a higher level since leaving Man city and his sublime goal against Switzerland showed it's not just the wee man Messi that we need to worry about.

Too many factors come into play in mega matches like a semi final to predict with any confidence.
It's the interpretation of the rules which seem to decide matches in FIFA WC 26.

I want France v England in the final because if it's Spain v Argentina, I would be too gutted to watch.

I would obviously take Spain v England; anyone but Argentina.

letthegoodtimesroll · July 13

se9addick said:

Surely people don’t actually hate Argentina?

I think the problem is more that we don’t hate them which is more disrespectful to those who might be more aggrieved about it than us. We’re England, there isn’t a country on the planet that we haven’t pissed off at some time or other, usually more than once. Argentina are nothing special to us in that respect. They, on the other hand may not yet see it that way.

bobmunro · July 13

se9addick said:

Surely people don’t actually hate Argentina?

Weird I know - how can you hate a land mass? Hate is such a strong word.

I loathed Galtieri - directly responsible for the deaths of 255 UK military personnel and 649 Argentinian military personnel. Argentina has no more of a claim on The Falklands than we do. The people of The Falklands determine their own destiny.

I despise the way Argentina approach football with a history of the dark arts and cheating - but they have had some stellar players over the years.

Of the remaining 46 million Argentinians - apart from a few I have encountered in my life (all great people), I don't know them but I'm sure the vast majority are decent people. How can I hate them?

That said, I hope we grind them into the dirt on Wednesday!

KBslittlesis · July 13

I just feel for the Falklanders every World Cup, they must dread it.

I’ve been a nervous wreck before every England game, this will be no different 🫣

Dugdaleclass · July 13

This is going to be a hell of a match up. Bellingham and Kane are in the form of their lives and our manager is proving to be a shrewd tactician with an astute use of substitutes.

But extra time in the Miami heat and humidity will take a lot out of even the fittest players and some of the team look totally done in. Konza has put in two very good performances and was shattered at the end of the Norway game. Rice is obviously still suffering the after affects of a dodgy tacos. Pickford always appears one mistake away from a breakdown.

Argentina are World Champions but started this tournament looking very ordinary apart from the little man of course. Their other star players are now starting to click and, arguably, the refs are doing them a lot of favours. They let in relatively soft goals but have an attitude of going all out to get two or three back. The trick may well be to get that goal ahead and weather the storm that follows. Get your hard hats on.

man_at_milletts · July 13

I'm quietly confident we can beat the Argentinians. What Gareth Southgate and Tuchel have done over the past years has built up the confidence of the squad and instilled belief in them in their own abilities. This is tournament football, it won't be pretty it's the results that count. Both sides have stuttered in the opening games but come round to win games and I think we have the edge here with Tuchel. He has an almost Dave Brailsford approach of 'aggregation of marginal gains' and his tweaking has got us into the semis. Have faith.

HastingsRed · July 13

Just looking at some old photos of a trip we done back in 2001 to South America, one photo was of the remembrance monument to those that perished on the General Belgrano....was taken more or less 19 years to the day of it's sinking (2nd May 1982). This was when we were visiting the town of Ushuaia which is where the General Belgrano was based. We certainly didn't advertise the fact we were from the UK (remember Jeremy Clarkson's experience down that way on a top gear show in 2014?) in fact we didn't even speak while visiting the monument as there were people there lying fresh flowers down (as it was around the time of the anniversary).

soapboxsam · July 13

This isn't about a war that happened 44 years ago and lasted just shy of 10 weeks.

This is purely about football and the matches we have had against them and the drama that occurred in those games.
Beckham or Owen: Take your pick.
Or Maradona H.O.G which still wakes me up in the night every World cup since.

Ironically, Antonio Rattin died on Saturday at 89 and their Captain was sent off early doors against England in 66 despite the German strict referee not understanding his Spanish ! Maybe it was a hand gesture? The sending off was for contesting free kicks which you see hundreds of times in every match now; how the game has changed.
66 was probably the last time we had any luck against Argentina other than bad luck !

The majority of Argentinan people are decent folk.

The Falklands/Malvinas islands debate isn't for Charlton Life and the polarisation and adversarial words which would ensue.

Just about football ⚽

Chris_from_Sidcup · July 13

CharltonManor1966 said:

think we are due a proper performance against the Argies.
The worry is that then becomes our 'final' and we get tonked embarrassingly by the Frogs or Spanish in the final.
We have just had two totally sapping games against Mexico (altitude) and Norway (heat and humudity).
We should have just enough left in the tank for the beating of Argentina, but then nothing left against the French (probably) in the biggest match and footballing spectacle in 60 years.
I do hope I am wrong as I usually am.

This is true but we definitely can't use it as an excuse. We had 6 days off between Mexico and Norway, and Argentina have gone to extra time twice, and were pushed all the way to stoppage time in the other.

Carter · July 13

I can't remember wanting a win from an International fixture as much as I want us to not just beat Argentina but properly beat them, take their souls.

They have haunted me sonce 1986 and I never forgave that cheating little prick for the handball regardless of how good the other goal was. Chuck in the history with the Falklands and their general behaviour after 1998 and the adulation over Messi walking through the midfields of teams of goat-herders this tournament. I am dangerously up for this game and hope the players are too. I just hate the Argentine football team, this one are an easy team to hate as well. If in any doubt wait until the game to see how they behave

I can fully accept getting beaten by France as much as I think they are flat-track bullies but the idea of losing to those greasy shit monkeys is unbearable. I hope we banish the ghosts of 1986 and 1998.

They aren't a great team aside from Messi and Alvarez and Alvarez blows hot and cold. Certainly not a patch on their teams of the 90s

Elthamaddick · July 13

they are very beatable if we are on our game

nervy win either AET or on pens incoming

soapy_jones · July 13

There was one Argie cruiser in the sea...

This is about football, and my disdain for their football team, means I want us to stuff them. We will have to put in a performance of Croatia proportions to beat these cheating barstewards. Not for the faint hearted but C'mon England!!!

HastingsRed · July 13

soapboxsam said:

This isn't about a war that happened 44 years ago and lasted just shy of 10 weeks.

This is purely about football and the matches we have had against them and the drama that occurred in those games.
Beckham or Owen: Take your pick.
Or Maradona H.O.G which still wakes me up in the night every World cup since.

Ironically, Antonio Rattin died on Saturday at 89 and their Captain was sent off early doors against England in 66 despite the German strict referee not understanding his Spanish ! Maybe it was a hand gesture? The sending off was for contesting free kicks which you see hundreds of times in every match now; how the game has changed.
66 was probably the last time we had any luck against Argentina other than bad luck !

The majority of Argentinan people are decent folk.

The Falklands/Malvinas islands debate isn't for Charlton Life and the polarisation and adversarial words which would ensue.

Just about football ⚽

The ones we met on our trip were fine, generally they were around our age or younger and had no beef with us being from England. Hope we can match their support (both vocally and in terms of numbers) on Wednesday.....though that won't be easy they always seem to have massive support.

CharltonManor1966 · July 13

Dugdaleclass said:

This is going to be a hell of a match up. Bellingham and Kane are in the form of their lives and our manager is proving to be a shrewd tactician with an astute use of substitutes.

But extra time in the Miami heat and humidity will take a lot out of even the fittest players and some of the team look totally done in. Konza has put in two very good performances and was shattered at the end of the Norway game. Rice is obviously still suffering the after affects of a dodgy tacos. Pickford always appears one mistake away from a breakdown.

Argentina are World Champions but started this tournament looking very ordinary apart from the little man of course. Their other star players are now starting to click and, arguably, the refs are doing them a lot of favours. They let in relatively soft goals but have an attitude of going all out to get two or three back. The trick may well be to get that goal ahead and weather the storm that follows. Get your hard hats on.

Maybe Tuchel should talk to NJ to get some tips?

CaptainRobbo · July 13

soapboxsam said:

This isn't about a war that happened 44 years ago and lasted just shy of 10 weeks.

This is purely about football and the matches we have had against them and the drama that occurred in those games.
Beckham or Owen: Take your pick.
Or Maradona H.O.G which still wakes me up in the night every World cup since.

Ironically, Antonio Rattin died on Saturday at 89 and their Captain was sent off early doors against England in 66 despite the German strict referee not understanding his Spanish ! Maybe it was a hand gesture? The sending off was for contesting free kicks which you see hundreds of times in every match now; how the game has changed.
66 was probably the last time we had any luck against Argentina other than bad luck !

The majority of Argentinan people are decent folk.

The Falklands/Malvinas islands debate isn't for Charlton Life and the polarisation and adversarial words which would ensue.

Just about football ⚽

Well said

Fuck em anyway

thai malaysia addick · July 13

HastingsRed said:

soapboxsam said:

This isn't about a war that happened 44 years ago and lasted just shy of 10 weeks.

This is purely about football and the matches we have had against them and the drama that occurred in those games.
Beckham or Owen: Take your pick.
Or Maradona H.O.G which still wakes me up in the night every World cup since.

Ironically, Antonio Rattin died on Saturday at 89 and their Captain was sent off early doors against England in 66 despite the German strict referee not understanding his Spanish ! Maybe it was a hand gesture? The sending off was for contesting free kicks which you see hundreds of times in every match now; how the game has changed.
66 was probably the last time we had any luck against Argentina other than bad luck !

The majority of Argentinan people are decent folk.

The Falklands/Malvinas islands debate isn't for Charlton Life and the polarisation and adversarial words which would ensue.

Just about football ⚽

The ones we met on our trip were fine, generally they were around our age or younger and had no beef with us being from England. Hope we can match their support (both vocally and in terms of numbers) on Wednesday.....though that won't be easy they always seem to have massive support.

And I thought Argentinians were famous for their beef.

bobmunro · July 13

thai malaysia addick said:

HastingsRed said:

soapboxsam said:

This isn't about a war that happened 44 years ago and lasted just shy of 10 weeks.

This is purely about football and the matches we have had against them and the drama that occurred in those games.
Beckham or Owen: Take your pick.
Or Maradona H.O.G which still wakes me up in the night every World cup since.

Ironically, Antonio Rattin died on Saturday at 89 and their Captain was sent off early doors against England in 66 despite the German strict referee not understanding his Spanish ! Maybe it was a hand gesture? The sending off was for contesting free kicks which you see hundreds of times in every match now; how the game has changed.
66 was probably the last time we had any luck against Argentina other than bad luck !

The majority of Argentinan people are decent folk.

The Falklands/Malvinas islands debate isn't for Charlton Life and the polarisation and adversarial words which would ensue.

Just about football ⚽

The ones we met on our trip were fine, generally they were around our age or younger and had no beef with us being from England. Hope we can match their support (both vocally and in terms of numbers) on Wednesday.....though that won't be easy they always seem to have massive support.

And I thought Argentinians were famous for their beef.

It blew my mind when I first saw the town Fray Bentos on a map of Argentina - I just thought it was the name of corned beef!

England v Argentina | World Cup Semi Final | 15 July 2026

Comments

Categories