Argentina stands two wins away from making history that hasn't been seen in over 60 years, but standing in their way is an England squad desperate to bring the World Cup trophy home for the first time in six decades. If Lionel Messi and Argentina pull off this semifinal win, they will be the first repeat World Cup champions since Brazil did it way back in 1958 and 1962. England, meanwhile, is chasing a spot in the final, a place they haven't touched since their own World Cup win in 1966. Talk about high stakes, right?
Road to Atlanta Was Anything But Easy
You gotta hand it to both these teams, their paths to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta were wild. Argentina barely survived a massive scare against Switzerland in their last match, needing extra time before Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez finally sealed the deal with late goals. Seriously, my heart was pounding watching that! England's match against Norway was just as dramatic, maybe even more so. Jude Bellingham, what a legend, scored a brace, including a jaw-dropping 93rd-minute winner that proved absolutely decisive. The kid is just on another level right now, playing with pure fire.Messi vs. Bellingham: A Golden Boot Clash and a Long-Standing Rivalry
Bellingham's heroics have launched him right into the Golden Boot race with six goals, tying him with his countryman Harry Kane for fourth overall. But guess who he's up against in this semifinal? None other than Lionel Messi, who is tied for first with an insane eight goals. This isn't just about a World Cup final spot, it's a battle of titans for the top scorer title too! When you look at the history, England actually has an edge on paper. The Three Lions hold a 3-1-1 record over Argentina in World Cup play and a 6-5-2 advantage in all-time friendlies. Here's the kicker though: it's been over two decades since England last beat Argentina. That's a serious mental hurdle, isn't it? All that history goes out the window when Messi is on the pitch. This massive World Cup semifinal kicks off Wednesday, July 15, at 3 p.m. ET, which means 12 p.m. for us on the West Coast. You can catch all the action live on FOX, or stream it on fubo, Fox One, or the Fox Sports app/website. Can Messi lead Argentina to history, or will Bellingham and England finally end their 60-year wait? You definitely do not want to miss this one.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.