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Cricket and football met up in a special way this week, you know, as England’s cricketers get set for the ODI series against India, while the country’s football side is gearing up for that huge FIFA World Cup semi- final against Argentina.

 

Ahead of the big thing in Atlanta, the Stick to Cricket podcast asked a handful of pretty known cricket names to guess how the England against Argentina clash might go. The answers, honestly, had all sorts of little funny bits, big bold scoreboards and a lot of certainty. And yeah, everyone who answered went with England, saying they’ll win and then somehow reach only their second FIFA World Cup final.

 

Ravi Shastri’s Funny Prediction steals the spotlight

 

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri dropped one of the most talked-about guesses. He said he’s backing England to win, but then he basically blended the names of two of England’s biggest football guys into one person.

 

Ravi Shastri said:

 

"2-1 England. Kane Bellingham for England. Messi Argentina."

 

People started talking fast, mostly because he turned Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham into “Kane Bellingham”, like it was one player or something.

 

Michael Vaughan said:

 

"3-2 to England."

 

Vaughan predicted, looking for an open and lively game, with plenty of goals.

 

Phil Tufnell, meanwhile, looked back at England’s rough night in the 1998 World Cup, the one with that penalty shootout loss to Argentina, then he tossed out his own line.

 

"2-2 pens, England wins," Tufnell wrote, like the whole thing was basically scripted.

 

Even England quick bowler Mark Wood joined in, doing it in a playful way.

 

Mark Wood said:

 

"1-0. Tuffers, penalty."

 

Wood joking that Tufnell would be the one to bang in that winning spot kick.

 

Also Read | Australia's World Cup Winners Set to Feature in WNCL 2026-27 Opening Round

 

England should get ready for a tough test though

 

Even if the cricket people are backing England, the semi-final is expected to be super tight.

 

Opta’s supercomputer has England at 52.3 percent odds of reaching the final. And Harry Kane, along with Jude Bellingham, have each found the net six times in the tournament, making them the very first two from the same country to both hit that number in a single FIFA World Cup.

 

But Argentina have looked sharp, and steady, the whole run. Lionel Messi has scored eight goals across six matches, plus the defending champions have won every match on their way to this semi-final.

 

Now Argentina are aiming to become the first team since Brazil back in 1962 to successfully defend the FIFA World Cup trophy.

 

A rivalry packed with big moments

 

England and Argentina have had plenty of memorable World Cup meetings over the years.

 

It includes Diego Maradona’s famous "Hand of God" strike in 1986, and also David Beckham’s red card when the teams crossed paths again in 1998.

 

Those moments make every new meeting feel extra, and this semi-final seems like it’ll add another chapter to the story.

 

So yeah, while cricket stars are showing real trust in England, Thomas Tuchel’s team still has work to do. If England can get past Argentina, they’d be back in a FIFA World Cup final for the first time since 1966, and take another step toward breaking that 60-year wait for another world title.