FIFA approves special request for Argentina before World Cup semi-final against England
England is getting ready for their fourth World Cup semi-final. Before the big game in Atlanta, FIFA agreed to a special request from Argentina.
The Three Lions earned their spot in the last four after a tight 2-1 win over Norway on Saturday. Argentina also won, beating Switzerland in extra time.
Now, these two long-time rivals will face off for a place in the final against Spain on Sunday. This matchup has given us some unforgettable moments in the past.
One of the most famous was Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal that helped Argentina beat England 2-1 in the 1986 quarter-final—a moment England still wants to get back at. Another is David Beckham’s red card for kicking Diego Simeone in the 1998 tournament.
Back then, Argentina wore navy or dark blue when they won against England. But in 1966 and 2002, wearing their usual blue and white stripes, they lost.
So, it’s no surprise that Argentina asked FIFA if they could wear their blue away shirt again, hoping it brings good luck. FIFA has said yes.
When asked if he knew about the “lucky” shirt, England coach Thomas Tuchel looked puzzled. He said, “You asked the wrong person. I didn’t even know what kit we’d wear until tomorrow’s warm-up. Argentina plays in blue, we play in white. Is it lucky or just their choice?”
Tuchel added, “If I believed in superstitions, I’d do the same as Argentina. But I wasn’t aware. I do have my own routines before games—some call them superstitions—but I won’t share those because they might not work if I do!”
At his sixth World Cup, Lionel Messi, now 39, keeps shining. He has been brilliant on the big stage, putting in some unforgettable performances.
Messi is tied as the tournament’s top scorer with France’s Kylian Mbappe and has also made three assists. England will need to find a way to stop him and Simeone’s “little magician” if they want to reach the final.
Tuchel said, “I thought about marking Messi closely, old school style. Not sure if we’ll do it, but it crossed my mind. Everyone knows where he likes to be on the field. He seems to see things before anyone else.”
That sounds like a good plan, but marking a player as smart as Messi is very tough. He likes to play in the space between the left back and center-back, which means Nico O’Reilly and Marc Guehi have a tough job trying to stop him.
Even though Messi is hard to stop near the goal, he has walked more than any player in the tournament. England can try to use that to their advantage when they get the ball and counterattack.