^ ^ FIFA confirm World Cup decision after Argentina make ‘special request’ for England showdown

Argentina are set to wear their second strip against World Cup semi-final opponents England (Picture: Getty)

FIFA have confirmed that Argentina will wear their navy blue strip against England after receiving a ‘special request’ from the World Cup holders ahead of Wednesday’s semi-final.

Argentina booked their place in the final four of this summer’s spectacle with a 3-1 victory over Switzerland, in which both Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez struck in extra-time to put an absorbing tie to bed.

Lionel Messi and Co have not made life easy for themselves in the knockout stages, having already survived almighty scares versus Cape Verde and Egypt in their two previous contests prior to Saturday’s quarter-final.

Their next opponents, England, overcame Norway to advance through in Thomas Tuchel’s first tournament at the helm, with Jude Bellingham inspiring the Three Lions to a 2-1 win in Miami.

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In two days’ time, Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium will stage what will be the sixth clash between the two nations at World Cups. England have come out on top on three of those occasions, most recently in Japan back in 2002.

The rivalry, one steeped in history both on and off the pitch, naturally throws up memories from the teams’ various meetings down the years, perhaps most notably in 1986 when Diego Maradona scored two iconic goals – including the infamous ‘Hand of God’ – to eliminate England.

With so much at stake, Argentina have turned to the past and taken an unconventional approach in an attempt to gain a psychological edge, asking to play in the colour worn by Maradona all those years ago.

Argentina donned their iconic light blue and white stripes versus Switzerland (Picture: Getty)

Maradona was wearing navy blue for the infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal in 1986 (Picture: Getty)

According to journalist Gaston Edul, this was a ‘special request’ from the Argentinian camp.

Argentina – who typically play in white and light blue stripes – also donned navy blue when they knocked England out of the 1998 World Cup, the bad-tempered game which saw David Beckham sent off for a petulant kick on Diego Simeone.

FIFA’s official Match Colour Designation release confirms that Argentina have been given the green light to wear their second strip, with the accompanying white shorts and red socks.

Argentina will wear their navy blue strip in Atlanta (Picture: FIFA)

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The 2022 champions have used their navy blue kit on only one prior occasion at this year’s World Cup, when they defeated Jordan in the group stage.

England, meanwhile, will take to the field in their white strip barring Jordan Pickford, who is set to pull on the same yellow kit that he wore for the side’s quarter-final victory over Norway.

The Three Lions have not locked horns with Argentina since as far back as 2005, when Michael Owen struck twice late to inspire a Sven-Goran Eriksson-led team to victory in an entertaining friendly.

Argentina were wearing their second strip when they knocked out England in 1998 (Picture: Getty)

Remarkably, should Messi feature on Wednesday, as expected, it will mark the first time ever that the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will have faced off against England.

‘The truth is, yes, it is always special to play against the big teams,’ Messi said of Argentina’s eagerly anticipated showdown with England.

‘It never happened to me against England, it’s the first time, so it’s going to be a special match, a World Cup semi-final.

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‘Now we’ll rest and prepare for that. We’ve come from a lot of effort, playing a long game and, well, sometimes is shows.’

The legendary 39-year-old forward added: ‘Obviously, everything I saw and remember is from videos and images that Argentinians constantly watch and relive [from 1986]. But I think this group is used to playing football matches regardless of the opponent.

‘Obviously, playing against England is special because they are a powerhouse, and matches against powerhouses are always special.

‘Personally, it’s the first time I’m going to play against them. I’ve played against everyone except England, so it’s going to be nice for that reason too.

‘And to experience it for what it is – a World Cup semi-final against a powerhouse, a great team, and we will try to arrive in the best possible shape to compete again.’

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^ ^ Michael Owen ‘unimpressed’ by some England stars at World Cup

Not all of Thomas Tuchel’s players have been shining at the World Cup (Picture: Getty Images)

Michael Owen expects England to improve against Argentina after being ‘played off the park by Norway’ as he points out parts of Thomas Tuchel’s team that have not been firing.

Two Jude Bellingham goals saw the Three Lions beat Norway 2-1 on Saturday in Miami, but they needed extra time to do it.

That victory – and Argentina’s 3-1 extra time win over Switzerland – set up a blockbuster semi-final on Wednesday, with France taking on Spain in the other half of the draw on Tuesday.

England are into the last four without performing at their best for much of the tournament, with only quite short periods of excellence against Croatia and Mexico.

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There have been underwhelming spells against Ghana, Panama, DR Congo and for a lot of the win over Norway.

Owen, who scored 40 goals in 89 England caps, thought England were not great in the win over Mexico and poor again despite beating Norway.

However, he believes there will be an improvement when they take on the Lionel Messi-led Argentina on Wednesday.

England edged past Norway in extra-time in the quarter-finals (Picture: Getty Images)

‘I went against the grain after Mexico when I highlighted the technical flaws of the team performance and explained why a lot of what I saw that night concerned me,’ Owen wrote in the Daily Mail.

‘Not everyone agreed and some thought I was being negative. I wasn’t. I thought it was important to look beyond the drama and entertainment, because that informs what happens next. What did happen next? They were played off the park by Norway for large periods and couldn’t get control of the game. It was exactly as I feared.

‘I hear a lot of people now saying it will just have to be this way: England winning ugly. I don’t buy that, and I haven’t given up on England being better against Argentina.’

Michael Owen expects more in the semi-finals (Picture: Getty Images)

Owen feels Argentina’s willingness to attack will help England, where they have struggled against more defensive sides.

He also sees star men Bellingham and Harry Kane as likely to be at top form yet again, although has questioned those around them.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker has hit out at the lack of goals from the wingers at the World Cup, while criticising the midfielders’ ability to keep hold of the ball.

‘The scary thought is, I believe we will see another level again to Bellingham in Atlanta,’ he said. ‘If any player will rise to that occasion, it will be him. What we need is everyone else to go with him. Kane is a guarantee — but can the wingers finally chip in with some goals? Can the midfield keep the ball for more than a few passes?

Noni Madueke has struggled to make an impact on the right wing (Picture: Getty Images)

‘I’ve been fairly unimpressed by a lot of what I’ve seen from England so far, but I also know how football works. The biggest games have a habit of bringing the biggest performances, especially from the biggest players. That is why Tuchel was right not to sugar-coat Norway.’

Tuchel was critical of his team’s quality against Norway, saying they were lucky, and Owen reckons that was the right thing to do.

‘His players didn’t need protecting. They needed reminding that there is another level. Criticism isn’t always a warning. Sometimes it’s a challenge. England can answer that against Argentina.’

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^ ^ Lionel Messi makes ‘special’ England claim ahead of World Cup semi-final

Lionel Messi is looking forward to Argentina’s ‘special’ World Cup clash with England (Picture: Getty)

Argentina superstar Lionel Messi says he is relishing the opportunity to face ‘big team’ England for the first time in his career ahead of the sides’ ‘special’ World Cup semi-final.

The holders had looked to be cruising towards a comfortable victory over Switzerland after Alexis Mac Allister headed home Messi’s tenth-minute corner to open the scoring in Kansas.

Switzerland dug deep and found an equaliser midway through the second half as Dan Ndoye beat Emiliano Martinez from a tight angle, only for Breel Embolo to get sent off for a second bookable offence just five minutes later.

Granit Xhaka and Co clung on to take the absorbing quarter-final contest to extra-time, but it was Argentina who prevailed after the added 30 minutes, with Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez both netting in a dramatic finish.

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The 2022 champions will do battle with England in an intriguing semi-final clash steeped in history, with a Jude Bellingham-inspired Three Lions coming from behind to defeat Norway earlier in the day.

A place in this year’s final against one of Spain or France awaits the victor.

‘The truth is, yes, it is always special to play against the big teams,’ Messi said in his post-match interview with ESPN.

Alvarez scored a stunning goal to help send Argentina on their way (Picture: Getty)

‘It never happened to me against England, it’s the first time, so it’s going to be a special match, a World Cup semi-final.

‘Now we’ll rest and prepare for that. We’ve come from a lot of effort, playing a long game and, well, sometimes is shows.’

Facing the media shortly after Argentina’s win, Lionel Scaloni said his side would be giving ‘every last drop of sweat’ to get a past a ‘very tough’ and reach the final.

‘What this team has achieved is historic, even though we could have played better,’ the Argentina head coach told reporters.

Messi and Co will lock horns with England in the final four (Picture: Getty)

‘It’s historic to be in a semi-final again.

‘It’s a privileged space in football, not an easy feat. We’re happy and excited now.

‘We will try to make it to the end with every last drop of sweat.’

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Argentina’s jubilant squad were pictured celebrating with their adoring supporters in the immediate aftermath of their win, with chants of, ‘Anyone who doesn’t jump is an Englishman,’ heard both on the pitch and in the stands.

But despite the age-old rivalry between the two nations, dating back to the Falklands War in 1982, Scaloni insisted Wednesday’s semi-final is simply ‘a football game’ versus a ‘very tough opponent’.

‘The message is this is a football game. That is what I can say,’ he added.

‘We will be playing against a very tough opponent, they have an excellent coach, it is a football game and that is all.’

Argentina’s upcoming clash with England is just a ‘football game’, says Scaloni (Picture: Getty)

Scaloni – who steered Argentina to glory in Qatar four years ago – hopes his squad will have learned a ‘big lesson’ from their edgy and ‘very difficult’ quarter-final with Switzerland.

‘It was very difficult for us to win the duels but ultimately we always find the solutions,’ he went on.

‘In the end we made it possible but it was a big lesson for us as we know what we will be facing.’

It was heartbreak for the Swiss in Kansas (Picture: Getty)

Jose Lopez provided the assist for Alvarez’s stunning 112th-minute effort after coming on in place of Leandro Paredes just moments earlier.

Facing the media shortly after the final whistle, the Palmeiras forward vowed to ‘leave our lives on the field’ against England and fight ‘until the last second’.

‘Obviously inside and outside the four lines of the pitch it’s a matchup that has a lot of history there, a lot of pain and a lot of things behind it,’ he said.

‘I think we are professionals and we’re going to play it like we play every game: until the last second, leaving our lives on the field.’

England’s eagerly anticipated semi-final clash against Argentina takes place at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday, 15 July at 20:00 BST.

Remarkably, it will represent the first time that the great Messi will line up in an international fixture against the Three Lions in what will be the forward’s 206th appearance for his country.

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^ ^ 11.07.26

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^ ^ ‘Foolishness!’ – Ian Wright and Roy Keane hit back at ‘sour grapes’ from Erling Haaland’s dad after England win

Alf-Inge Haaland watched Norway’s defeat to England alongside John Arne Riise (Picture: Getty)

Ian Wright and Roy Keane have hit back after Erling Haaland’s father, Alfie, sarcastically congratulated referee Clement Turpin following England dramatic World Cup quarter-final victory over Norway.

Norway drew first blood in a tense but absorbing contest as Andreas Schjelderup beat Jordan Pickford from the tightest of angles to open the scoring in the 36th minute at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.

But England found an equaliser on the stroke of half-time through an inspired Jude Bellingham, who fired a composed left-footed finish beyond Orjan Nyland to cue rapturous celebrations amongst the Three Lions’ travelling support.

There was a huge moment of contention after the restart as Torbjorn Heggem appeared to restore Norway’s advantage with an emphatic close-range effort from a corner, only for the goal to be disallowed for a shove on Elliot Anderson from Haaland in the build-up.

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The Manchester City striker looked apoplectic as referee Turpin confirmed his decision, before Bellingham saved England again with 93rd-minute strike on the rebound to send Thomas Tuchel’s men through to the semi-finals.

England will do battle with Argentina for a place in this year’s final after Lionel Messi and Co advanced through courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Switzerland in Kansas.

Bellingham inspired England to victory in Miami (Picture: Getty)

Haaland cut a frustrated figure up front for Norway (Picture: Getty)

Haaland’s dad, Alfie, was an ever-present figure in the stands throughout Norway’s unforgettable campaign and was once again pictured going through all the emotions on Saturday night.

Shortly after the game, he wrote on X, ‘Well done Bellingham and referee,’ in response to Fabrizio Romano’s tweet about the game.

Five hours later and it was clear Haaland snr was still not over the result, with the 53-year-old suggesting Norway had been ‘robbed’ of a place in the semi-finals.

‘Really? Saved by the referee,’ he said in response to Henry Winter’s tweet praising England match-winner Bellingham.

‘Hope you win the WC now. But feel we got robbed today.’

Haaland snr suggested Norway had been ‘robbed’ (Picture: X)

Reacting to Alfie Haaland’s remarks on Stick to Football, ex-England and Arsenal striker Wright was less than sympathetic, insisting Norway only had themselves to blame after a series of big ‘mistakes’.

‘Is that sour grapes from Alf-Inge Haaland, saying well done to Bellingham and the referee?’ he asked.

‘I think that was just a bit of a low blow from him.’

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On Heggem’s disallowed goal, Wright continued: ‘He can’t surely be referring to that because that was just a ridiculous push [from Haaland].

‘In that particular moment, he’s like six or seven inches taller, why does he need to be that aggressive with him?

‘It’s a massive foul. You can’t be talking that.’

England won fair and square, says Wright (Picture: Getty)

Shortly after the final whistle, an official statement from FIFA stressed that there was ‘no evidence’ to back up Norway’s claims that one of the Spidercam wires had been struck by the ball in the build-up to Bellingham’s equaliser.

‘If they’re the governing body and they’re saying that’s it,’ Wright responded.

‘I’m not saying that FIFA are holier than thou, but if there’s not enough in it for them to overturn it, what we gonna do here.

‘If their goalkeeper had an unbelievable game, a blinder, this and that, doesn’t make that mistake… if [Alexander] Sorloth squares it, they’re 2-0 up before half-time, you’re not saying none of this!

‘They lost this game because they made mistakes in that game. It’s not because of the referee, the ball hitting the wire or whatever else they’re saying. Foolishness!’

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Roy Keane felt Norway had a right to feel slightly aggrieved as a result of the officiating on show in Miami.

However, the former Manchester United captain suggested Haaland snr let emotions get the better of him with his reaction on social media.

‘I think the referee was giving England a lot of calls, 50-50s. I’m not talking about the major ones,’ Keane said.

‘He seemed to be just on the side of England which can happen in a game.

‘I’m not sitting here going, “He’s cost Norway”, absolutely not. But there was calls when you’re going… it could have gone the other way.’

Haaland scored seven goals in an extraordinary debut World Cup (Picture: Getty)

He later joked: ‘Will he remember the game? Because he always seems to be drinking alcohol at the matches, the dad.

‘No, he does! If you’re having a drink then you’re seeing the game differently.

‘Listen, I’ll always be trying to go the other way [against England] a little bit, if it’s 50-50, but the push is a push and then he heads it, so there you go.

‘Families and fans after games, we saw the interviews with the England manager, Bellingham, family members, they’re all a bit emotional so you try and give them the benefit of the doubt.

‘But when people wake up tomorrow morning, you won’t be sitting there going, “The referee’s cost us”, you can’t.

‘You can argue a couple of decisions but you can’t say, “He’s cost us”, no.’

Kane and Co are two games away from the promised land (Picture: Getty)

Former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville echoed Keane’s comments, adding: ‘No, I didn’t think it was a game where, as an England fan, that I thought we were lucky because of the referee.

‘I thought against Ghana we were lucky, when Ezri Konsa’s penalty wasn’t given, and that’s when you are lucky, when you think you’ve got away with one.’

Wright singled out Marc Guehi for special praise, applauding the defender for unsettling Haaland and refused to get ‘bullied’ by his Manchester City team-mate.

‘If one of the Ghanaian’s dads, if that fella’s [tackled by Konsa] dad said well done to Bellingham and the referee, I would have said, “You can’t argue with that!”‘ he said.

Tuchel’s men face Argentina in the semi-finals (Picture: Getty)

‘He [Haaland] must be carrying something. But you know what happens sometimes when you’re playing against a team-mate? Things happen sometimes when you totally dominate them or it goes the other way.

‘And I thought that Marc Guehi, in every type of interaction, I thought he was amongst him, he didn’t get bullied off it, he fought for it.’

Haaland appeared frustrated as he was substituted for Jorgen Strand Larsen in the closing stages, bringing an end to an exceptional debut World Cup for the centre-forward, in which he finished with seven goals to his name.

According to Keane, Haaland was let down by a lack of ‘service’ and Norway were ultimately beaten by a team with a ‘bit more quality’.

The Three Lions came from behind to advance through (Picture: Getty)

‘I wouldn’t say he had a bad game!’ he said of Haaland’s performance.

‘Before the game, we were saying about how he scores every 14 touches, so the fact is in general play…

‘And also, for the other lads playing against him, obviously it depends on a bit of service.

‘You look at games, you get to a quarter-final and they’ve done brilliant… you’ve ran your race, they’ve just ran their race.

‘You just couldn’t imagine Norway in the semi-finals, could you? And England have one or two players with a bit more quality than Norway.’

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