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Both England and Argentina have been just about efficient enough to advance through each knockout round of the World Cup, but only one of these historic footballing giants will continue their journey after Wednesday’s clash.

The Three Lions have had to dig deep to reach this stage. Although Thomas Tuchel was not thrilled with his team’s last performance, he praised their determination and fighting spirit, which have kept them alive in the competition.

For Argentina, the story has been much the same. Each knockout match has brought a different kind of challenge, with extra time needed in two of their three encounters. Interestingly, the one game that did not go beyond 90 minutes may have been their closest call yet — a late rally was required to overcome Egypt.

When these two sides meet tomorrow, it promises to be a tight contest. The real question is: which nation’s supporters will be celebrating once the final whistle blows?

It’s been over two decades since England and Argentina last faced each other, but the infamous “Hand of God” incident from 1986 remains etched in football history. Furthermore, the lingering memories of the Falklands conflict add another layer of emotion to this already fierce rivalry.

This encounter has all the makings of a classic!

The semi-final kicks off on Wednesday, 15 July at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Fans can catch the action live on FOX, Telemundo, and fuboTV.

This is not a fixture likely to be decided by possession stats. Instead, it will hinge on which individuals can produce moments of brilliance when it matters most.

For England, that has been the story throughout the tournament. Their top performers have repeatedly rescued them — Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have each scored six goals, while Marcus Rashford is the only other player in Tuchel’s squad to find the back of the net.

Argentina, by contrast, have shared the goals around, with eight different players scoring during the tournament. Nevertheless, Lionel Messi has once again been their driving force, notching an impressive eight goals so far.

This match might not be determined by who plays the more attractive football. England could dominate proceedings yet fall short, while Argentina might control key moments but be punished for defensive lapses.

Predicting a goalless draw would be unrealistic, given both sides’ attacking strength and occasional defensive frailties. England may have kept two clean sheets during the group stage, but none since the knockouts began. Still, their defensive record remains slightly better than Argentina’s, who have looked increasingly vulnerable after a solid start.

Both Cape Verde and Egypt managed to threaten the South Americans’ defence, and Switzerland looked promising until Breel Embolo’s red card shifted the momentum. Goals at both ends seem inevitable in this clash.

One clear change England should make involves dropping Noni Madueke from the starting lineup. The 24-year-old has struggled to make an impact at this World Cup and lags behind Bukayo Saka in terms of technical ability.

Thomas Tuchel may also consider starting Djed Spence after his impressive cameo against Norway. If the Tottenham full-back is selected, he could feature on the left flank, even if that means Ezri Konsa is once again deployed out wide.

Expected England lineup: Pickford; Konsa, Stones, Guéhi, Spence; Rice, Anderson; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.

In contrast, Argentina have maintained stability in their team selection over the last two matches. Lautaro Martínez will hope for a starting berth after scoring against Switzerland, but Julian Álvarez’s stunning stoppage-time goal makes him hard to drop.

Argentina are expected to stick with their 4-3-1-2 setup, which balances midfield control with an effective strike partnership capable of testing John Stones and the rest of England’s backline.

Probable Argentina lineup: E. Martínez; Molina, Romero, L. Martínez, Tagliafico; Paredes, De Paul, Mac Allister; Fernández; Messi, Álvarez.

England have often started games quickly in this tournament, but Argentina drew first blood in their previous outing and could do so again. Lionel Messi will be eager to open the scoring as he chases the Golden Boot.

The Three Lions are expected to respond before half-time, with Jude Bellingham continuing his fine scoring form. The second half may see fewer chances, potentially leading to extra time.

England could take the lead for the first time in the extra period through their captain Harry Kane, but Cristian Romero might equalise from a set piece to make it 2-2. A penalty shootout could then decide the outcome — and Argentina are tipped to edge through to the final.

Wednesday’s semi-final promises drama, goals, and perhaps another unforgettable chapter in the long and emotional history between these two football powerhouses.