Predictions of the formation of England and Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals
England meet Argentina in the 2026 World Cup semi-final, with both coaches having to make crucial decisions on their starting lineups. The winner will face Spain in the final on Sunday.
Predictions of the formation of England and Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals
According toSports.
Background
England's squad includes prominent players such as Declan Rice and Morgan Rogers, while Argentina relies on stars such as Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez. The performance of these players in the semi-final will have a major impact on their hopes of progressing into the 2026 World Cup.
Why this matters
England's match against Argentina in the 2026 World Cup semi-final is crucial, with both teams bidding to reach the final. The winner will face Spain, which increases the importance of this match in determining the tournament champion. Performance in this match may also impact the players' season with their clubs, especially with the 2026 World Cup looming.
Key Takeaways
- Predictions of the formation of England and Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals.
- England meet Argentina in the 2026 World Cup semi-final, with both coaches having to make crucial decisions on their starting lineups. The winner will face Spain in the final on Sunday.
- Declan Rice remains central to England's plans.
Thomas Tuchel has almost his full squad, with Declan Rice fully recovered and could start for England after battling illness. England are expected to make at least one change to the line-up, with The Athletic's David Ornstein reporting that Morgan Rogers will start on the right flank, ahead of Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka. The Aston Villa player has only started once so far in this tournament, during the final group stage match against Panama, but he produced an impressive performance when he came off the bench against Norway in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Tuchel faces another big decision regarding the right-back position: Jarrell Quansah remains punished, and Reece James, known for his recurring injuries, may be retained to play later in the game if he is not able to play the full 90 minutes. This means either Ded Spence or Ezri Konsa will start. If Spence is selected, Tuchel will have to choose between Konsa and John Stones to play alongside Mark Guehi at centre-back. A wrist injury is expected to keep Jordan Henderson out of the game, but he did not rule out an appearance later in the tournament when speaking before the win over Norway and he may be involved with a splint.
As for Argentina, the lineup seems stable, as either Julian Alvarez or Lautaro Martinez will start, both of whom have returned to their scoring form with the Argentina national team, alongside Lionel Messi. It will be the first time Messi has faced England, having missed a friendly in 2005 due to a red card for 'anti-football', with Thomas Tuchel admitting he might use individual marking to face the No.10. "I was thinking about how to deal with Messi," Tuchel said in a pre-match press conference. "If we did traditional individual marking, I'm not sure if we would implement that idea, but it came to my mind. Everyone knows the space he wants to appear in. Everyone knows he sees things before others do."
Thiago Almada and Nico Gonzalez provide attacking options in midfield, but Leandro Paredes could provide more defensive cover and is considered favorite to start in Lionel Scaloni's other crucial decision.
England line-up prediction: Pickford; Konsa, Stones, Guehi, O'Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Rogers, Billingham, Gordon; Ken.
Argentina lineup prediction: Emiliano Martinez; Mola, Romero, Martinez, Tagliafico; Paredes; De Paul, Fernandes, McAllister; Messi, Alvarez.
What happens next
After this match, the winner will have to face Spain in the final, which requires great tactical preparation. For England, potential changes to the lineup could affect performance in the final, especially with possible injuries to some players. While Argentina hopes to maintain the stability of its squad to achieve success in the World Cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is the England vs. Argentina match in the World Cup semi-final?
The match takes place tonight in Atlanta.
Who are the players expected to start for England in the match?
Declan Rice and Morgan Rogers are expected to start, as well as other players such as Jordan Henderson and Pukai Ska.
What are the effects of the match on the World Cup schedule?
The winner of the England vs. Argentina match will face Spain in the final.
Are there any injuries affecting the England squad?
Yes, Jordan Henderson could miss the game due to a wrist injury.
Who is expected to start for Argentina in the match?
Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez or Lautaro Martinez are expected to start.
Related articles
- Mundial 2026
- Luis Dias talks about Colombia's victory over Uzbekistan at the start of the 2026 World Cup
- World Cup 2026: How Ghana can reach the round of 32
- A supercomputer evaluates the chances of Portugal and Colombia in the 2026 World Cup match
- Spain scored 49 shots without goals in the last two World Cup matches
Related Articles
England players express their disappointment over Tuchel's tactics in the semi-final
England players expressed their dissatisfaction with coach Thomas Tuchel's tactics in the World Cup semi-final, as they pointed out that the way they played in the last minutes was the reason for the defeat against Argentina.
1h ago

Iraola is reluctant to sign a direct replacement for Salah to avoid 'setting him up for failure'
Iraola talks about Liverpool's search for a new right winger, stressing that the team needs a player to complete the team instead of being a direct replacement for Mohamed Salah, who left the club.
6h ago
Worksham coach Parkinson is looking forward to testing Manchester United
The Worksham team is preparing to face Manchester United in a friendly match, which coach Phil Parkinson sees as an important test for the team.
9h ago