The pre-match narrative for the World Cup semifinal between Argentina and England was seized by a single, unvarnished declaration from a former England international. Speaking on a Netflix football podcast, ex-winger Joe Cole insisted his nation would “put Lionel Messi to bed” and reach the final, a statement that ricocheted through Argentine and international media. Cole’s confidence, delivered alongside fellow pundits Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, was met with immediate on-air pushback from Richards, who urged caution, but the former Chelsea midfielder doubled down: “I’m saying it now, we’re going to the World Cup final.” The remarks, widely reported in Buenos Aires as a deliberate provocation, have sharpened the edges of a fixture already freighted with history.

The two sides arrive at the semifinal via contrasting but equally demanding routes. Argentina, the defending champions, required extra time to overcome Switzerland 3-1 in the quarterfinals, with goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez finally breaking Swiss resistance after a 1-1 draw in regulation. It was the third consecutive knockout match in which Lionel Scaloni’s side needed more than 90 minutes, having previously rallied from two goals down to beat Egypt and edged debutants Cape Verde. England, meanwhile, also needed an extra-time double from Jude Bellingham to defeat Norway 2-1, after a group stage that included a draw with Ghana. Both teams maintain perfect records in the tournament when counting extra-time victories, but the physical toll is evident.

In Kansas City, the Argentine camp has focused squarely on recovery. On Sunday, Scaloni split his squad: starters from the Switzerland match undertook regenerative gym work, while substitutes and those with limited minutes completed a field session emphasising defensive transitions and high-press drills in confined spaces. The session, held at the Sporting KC Training Center, was closed to media. The squad will hold a final training session on Monday morning local time before flying to Atlanta, where they will have one more practice on Tuesday. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has also submitted a formal request to FIFA to wear their alternative kit, as they did against Jordan, with a decision expected when the match officials designate the home team.

The historical backdrop is inescapable. This will be the sixth World Cup meeting between the nations, and the first for Messi against England. The rivalry includes the infamous 1966 quarterfinal, Maradona’s twin strikes in 1986, and David Beckham’s penalty winner in 2002. British analysts, while acknowledging Argentina’s resilience, have pointed to the perceived vulnerability of the central defensive pairing of Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez, with Gary Neville describing them on the same podcast as “the best-worst centre-back partnership in the world” for their oscillation between brilliance and lapses. Argentine outlets, in turn, have highlighted the speed of England’s attack as the primary threat, while noting that Cole’s own World Cup career never progressed beyond the quarterfinal stage.

The match will be played on Wednesday 15 July at 16:00 Argentine time (20:00 BST) at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The winner will face either France or Spain in the final.