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

I think we will win because Tuchel has set the team and squad up to be powerful and resilient. We jettisoned the frilly players and we have a team of powerhouses and this is gonna be a physically gruelling encounter and we have the upper hand on that. They are crafty and they have Messi but man for man we are stronger. We need Rice and Saka to get up to their level but if everyone else is on it as well, we will get through this. I see it being like the Mexico game but even more partizan - the argie team and fans won't go down without doing something outrageous i'm sure but we will prevail.  

And to think this was just a 'friendly'....... Featuring a certain Mr Luke Young!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1WHQNncMzE

JohnBoyUK said:

jimmymelrose said:

DamoNorthStand said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re4aDJL3heA&list=RDRe4aDJL3heA&start_radio=1

This is the first tournament since that song came out during which I’ve avoided all England songs. It started because I didn't want to pump myself up to then be disappointed as usual. Now it’s become a superstition, you know, the kind where you think that perhaps I’m being tested, and if I maintain it...............say no more🤫

I'm like that.  I didn't wear my England shirt for the first game (because I couldn't find it since my house move).  Have since found it but haven't worn it as don't want to change the momentum haha.  Its like I hate it when people come into a room when there's 10-15 mins left and whatever team I'm supporting is winning.  If they end up condeding, its down to the person that came in and sat down.   You either sit there for a full 45 mins + injury time or you don't come in at all until the ref blows his whistle.  Everyone in the house knows it, tha'ts why I go watch the football in my man cave on my own.  I can't watch a game in a pub anymore.  I just can't do it.

And god help anyone walking into the room and talking about anything but the game.

I have had the same England top on for each game. The Mexico game was a bit chilly so had Oasis socks on, they have been on each game since regardless of weather. We had neighbours over for the Panama game and I had to reluctantly move from my spot on the sofa to a new position. The new position has been my spot for every game since Panama and will be tonight. The neighbours have got a huge screen and projector to show the game out the front tonight, I have turned the invite down as I need to sit on that place on the sofa, I did get an odd look haha! 

CAFCOlly said:

No idea how the result will go. All I know is: 

1. There will be at least one extremely controversial decision that goes Argentina's way that just screams corruption (red card, penalty, disallowed goal, etc).
2. It will go to extra time and potentially pens. We never do it the easy way like Spain last night. What I would pay for a boring anticlimactic 2-0 win. 
   
   

We'll be playing against Argentina, the referee and VAR tonight so we will have to be extremely disciplined and at 100%. I have faith that we can convincingly beat Argentina in a fair game. However, tonight will be far from a fair game.

Bellingham red card?

man_at_milletts said:

The farting has died down a bit now, so I plan to my England shirt on about 7pm and soak up the atmosphere. What time you all getting changed, and are there any full kit wankers on here?

You might need The Holmesdale Online. 

CAFCsayer said:

Gribbo said:

Win lose or draw, it would just be nice to see em all give 100% and no controversy. 


Going 5-0 England 

Id rather win 1-0 with a highly contentious goal that kane has punched into the net after he should have been sent off for dropkicking messi

I feel you

Only 4 hours to go

I feel as confident about a win tonight as I have done Charltons last two play-off campaigns. 

I genuinely believe we are going to blow them away 3 nil or 3-1. 

Cannot wait.

Braziliance said:

You take Messi out of this team, and it is very ordinary. The 3 best squads going into this tournament were Spain, Portugal and us, only two remain. If play our best,  and Argentina don't get any dodgy decisions, we will win. They can't match us.

Beg to differ in terms of Alvarez and Enzo (who I think is top drawer). Main area I think we can hurt them is on set pieces as they are tiny. 

Fernades is a quality player, Messi is Messi, Alvarez is decent too but he needs to be in the game. McAllister has been shit last season so watch him play out of his skin tonight 

I wouldn't take any of their defence over ours. 

man_at_milletts said:

The farting has died down a bit now, so I plan to my England shirt on about 7pm and soak up the atmosphere. What time you all getting changed, and are there any full kit wankers on here?

Afternoon off for me for this one. Picking Child #1 up from her Gymnastic summer camp at Noon and then heading home to meet the wife for the 1pm Alberta time Kick Off. Bought the family England kits off one of those hooky Chinese websites which showed up at almost precisely at kick off time on Saturday. 3 of them were great but mine came in the wrong size. Child 1 will be a full kit wanker (weirdly they sent the away shorts), but I will be wearing one of these bad boys as I did at Wembley in 2025 and on Saturday for the Norway game. Can't risk changing it now!

DamoNorthStand said:

Braziliance said:

You take Messi out of this team, and it is very ordinary. The 3 best squads going into this tournament were Spain, Portugal and us, only two remain. If play our best,  and Argentina don't get any dodgy decisions, we will win. They can't match us.

Beg to differ in terms of Alvarez and Enzo (who I think is top drawer). Main area I think we can hurt them is on set pieces as they are tiny. 

Alvarez wouldn't start for us, would be fulfilling the Watkins role, Enzo wouldn't get in over Jude, Rice or Anderson imo, argument for him, but he's on par at best. That just leaves Messi who is still the man. 

Shocking defence. If we can't take advantage of it, it's our own fault. Tagliafico is bang average and ancient, Romero is a calamity, Martinez is the same size as my shits and Molina is also incredibly average. 

It's our night 

Heard on the Football Ramble podcast today that Messi's average speed at the tournament is 2.7 mph and that he's walked for 47% of the tournament.

Apparently he's never played vs. England before either. He's, now, pretty much undisputed as the best ever and he's won the lot, but, as an Argentinian, he doesn't yet have a devastating performance vs England on his CV, like Maradona does from 86. That worries me (a lot!) that he's going to step up and have one of those magical Messi games.

However, all that being said, England must not get in their own heads about Messi. Argentina are set up completely around him, but he's not the only one in their side with the talent and ability to hurt England. And, on the flip side, he's a passenger when they don't have the ball and that is something England can exploit if they are brave.

We need big games from Rice, Anderson, and, in particular, the two wingers. I doubt he will start, but maybe today the stage is set for Madueke, as a sub, to justify his controversial inclusion in the same way Burn and Spence did in circumstances that suited them in the last two games. Fingers crossed.

MrOneLung said:

THREE HOURS PEOPLE

THREE HOURS