Messi faces England for the first time ever tomorrow, with a World Cup final on the line

[WearyScholar]

Wednesday's second semifinal in Atlanta brings together two of the tournament's most dramatic survivors. Both England and Argentina needed extra time just to get here, England edging Norway in the quarterfinal and Argentina seeing off Switzerland, and remarkably this will be the very first time Lionel Messi has ever faced England in his career, closing out what everyone knows is his final World Cup

England have not exactly been dominant getting to this point, they have won only two matches by more than a single goal all tournament, but Thomas Tuchel's side has shown real mental toughness, grinding through a red card against Mexico and a comeback against DR Congo to get here. Jude Bellingham has been the story of England's knockout run, scoring in back to back knockout matches, the first player to do that at a single World Cup since Maradona in 1986, while Harry Kane sits on six goals and remains the man England look to when a game needs settling

Argentina's run has been just as rollercoaster, a dramatic comeback from two goals down against Egypt, extra time needed against Cape Verde and again against Switzerland, yet somehow they remain unbeaten across 12 matches stretching back to their 2022 title win. Messi has eight goals and a tournament high 21 chances created, still the focal point of everything Argentina do even at 39 years old and playing in his sixth World Cup

Oddsmakers have this close to a coin flip, with England marginal favorites in most markets, and most predictions lean toward a tight, low scoring game decided by one moment rather than a flood of goals. England have not reached a World Cup final since they won the whole thing in 1966

England and Argentina: All to know about the World Cup second semifinalwww.aljazeera.com