The World Cup semifinal between England and Argentina is a tactical chess match with a rich history. The Three Lions have a strong overall record, but their two losses were iconic: the 1986 "Hand of God" and the 1998 penalty shootout after David Beckham's red card.
Both teams are heavily reliant on their superstars. For England, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane each have six goals, scoring 12 of the team's 13 total. For Argentina, Lionel Messi has eight of their tournament-high 17 goals.
Experts believe the match will be decided in two key areas: the midfield and the wide channels. The central battle between England's Declan Rice and Argentina's Leandro Paredes and Enzo Fernández will control the game's tempo. Out wide, England's wingers, like Anthony Gordon, will look to exploit Argentina's narrow shape.
Argentina will need contributions beyond Messi from players like Julián Alvarez. Ultimately, while tactics set the stage, the outcome may hinge on pure determination and which side is willing to sacrifice more for victory.