World Cup round-up: England vs Argentina, fury as star blames supervisor and FIFA break rule
England are set for a colossal showdown with Argentina in a World Cup semi-final and now the Three Lions know who they will face in the final if they can overcome Lionel Messi and co.
Spain suffocated and dismantled France in a comfortable 2-0 victory against the beaten finalists from the last tournament four years ago in Qatar. The Spanish midfield squeezed the life out of many fans’ favourites to win the trophy in North America, with goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro in each half settling the tie.
That means the Euro 2024 winners could face England – the team they beat two years ago to become champions of Europe – in a rerun of that final. But first Thomas Tuchel’s side must overcome an old enemy. Here’s all the latest news ahead of England’s showdown against Argentina in our daily morning World Cup round-up.
Declan Rice and England are ready to go(Image: The FA via Getty Images)
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Thomas Tuchel’s injury update and England attitude
Thomas Tuchel has confirmed Declan Rice is available to start England’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina following illness, reports the Mirror.
Rice had a stomach problem in the aftermath of the last 16 game in Mexico City 10 days ago, which Tuchel said meant he was confined to his bed for three days in the lead-up to the quarter-final against Norway, during which he was substituted at half-time.
When asked if Rice has fully recovered, Tuchel replied with a grin: “Well, yeah, he’s ready to start and [he is] as good recovered as possible.”
Marc Guehi maintains all the pressure lies with Argentina ahead of their World Cup semi-final clash. The England defender said: “There isn’t pressure on us. What’s the pressure?
“The onus is on them. They’re the World Champions. They need to come out, they need to defend their title. There’s no pressure on us at all.”
Ezri Konsa claimed England have not studied any of Argentina’s matches. He said: “We haven’t managed to watch any of their games.
“I’m sure, when we have the meeting tonight or tomorrow, we’ll see some clips of them and see what we can do to overcome them. I’m sure they’ve got a great mindset, great mentality, and so do we.”
Argentina’s view
Lionel Messi and co await England(Image: LVDIDI/SPP/Shutterstock)
Argentina’s manager Lionel Scaloni has attempted to alleviate potential tensions ahead of tonight’s match.
He has urged his side to focus on football and ignore Argentina’s historic hostility with England over the Falkland Islands conflict in 1982.
The former West Ham defender said: “It was a very sad period in our history, and there isn’t much we can do about it, that’s the reality.
“It is a football match. There’s no getting around that. Things are happening elsewhere in the world, and we criticise the existence of war, so for me to start saying this is anything more than a football match… it seems crazy to me.
“We certainly remember those people, of course. But it is a football match, we shouldn’t confuse the two.”
There are worries that fans from both teams could clash due to the historical rivalry between the nations.
Scaloni previously said: “We’re playing a great team, led by a great coach whom I appreciate and admire a lot. It’s just a football match, nothing else.”
Weather concerns and half-time plan
A general view of the Atlanta Stadium roof aka Mercedes-Benz Stadium during the World Cup.(Image: (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images))
Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium might be one of three venues in the tournament capable of air-conditioning its interior with its retractable roof, but with severe storms predicted in the lead-up to kick-off both teams could face delays in their journey to the stadium.
The current weather forecast in Atlanta is for warm, humid weather and high temperatures of around 29 degrees – which will feel more like 39 degrees.
There is the chance of thunderstorms in the area right around the time of kick-off, at 2pm and 3pm, according to the BBC.
Didier Deschamps fuming
Didier Deschamps blamed the referee(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
France’s manager Didier Deschamps questioned FIFA’s choice to assign referee Ivan Barton for his team’s World Cup semi-final loss to Spain.
The 57 year old vented: “Then I ask a question, and I’m not going to answer it: ‘Is the referee good enough to officiate a World Cup semi-final?'”
Deschamps wasn’t the only person left less than impressed by Barton, with Spain star Rodri saying: “We’re talking about 10 or 15 fouls where the kid [Lamine Yamal] goes to the ground. If the referees do not call them, then the defence will keep doing the same thing.”
In reality, the referee was not to blame for France’s exit. Deschamps, in charge since 2012 and a World Cup winner in 2018, will now step down after the third-placed play-off on Saturday at 10pm against the losers of England v Argentina in Miami.
He said: “It’s not time to talk about the future. It is not important on a personal level whether I leave a competition in a semi-final or final.
“I am extremely happy. I am very proud of everything we’ve done to reach this stage and to win a World Cup – to take the French team to the highest level.
“I have been lucky as a player. I have enjoyed happy moments. Today is not such a moment. We must accept it without forgetting everything we experienced.”
Kylian Mbappe takes aim
Kylian Mbappe blamed his manager(Image: EYE4images/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)
The Real Madrid superstar took aim at Deschamps’ approach and tactics following France’s defeat to Spain. He said: “We were three against two in midfield and against Spain, that’s hard. Fabian [Ruiz] and Rodri had plenty of time to play.
“There was a lack of communication on the press. I think we should have done man-to-man press and force them to run with us.
“When you don’t do what you have to do in a World Cup semi-final, you don’t win. Spain respected their gameplan and what the team usually does.
“They are better than us at controlling a game. We didn’t manage to do it. We were too sloppy technically. We could not hurt them when we could have.”
ITV presenter apology
Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira, Gary Neville and Ian Wright during ITV’s coverage of Spain vs France
Patrick Vieira received an apology from ITV presenter Mark Pougatch following France’s World Cup defeat to Spain.
He said: “Sorry, Patrick, it has been great to have you with us for the World Cup. Since you are not here this weekend, it has been great to have you with us, so thanks very much for your contributions.”
The Arsenal legend was not impressed by his nation. He told ITV: “They haven’t shown up. I was expecting more. There was a big expectations for France to win the World Cup.
“France will all disappointed by the result and the performance. All our top players went missing. Collectively we were really bad.”
FIFA to break rules
FIFA are poised to break a rule as the half-time interval at the World Cup final is anticipated to last around 30 minutes. This will exceed the maximum duration of 15 minutes allowed under the Laws of the Game.
Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay are all scheduled to perform during the interval. Robbie Williams, Tom Cruise and Nicole Scherzinger are set to take part in the Closing Ceremony.
