Argentina vs. England Combined XI: Lionel Messi, Harry Kane Lead Dream Lineup

England will take on Argentina in the World Cup semifinals on Wednesday, July 15, at Atlanta Stadium, with both nations competing for a place in the final. It is an intercontinental rivalry shaped by memorable World Cup encounters and intensified by political tensions away from the pitch.

The two countries have not faced each other since 2005, while this will also mark the first time in Lionel Messi’s illustrious career that he has played against England. The Three Lions possess one of the most talented squads in the tournament, while Argentina is filled with players who understand what it takes to win at the highest level.

Below is our combined England-Argentina XI ahead of Wednesday’s World Cup semifinal:

England

Argentina

Both Premier League goalkeepers have been between the posts for their respective nations at multiple major international tournaments, and both have been critical to their national teams’ success in the past and present.

Emiliano Martínez gets the slight nod as the better shot-stopper of the two. He has come up huge for Argentina as they won two Copa América titles and a World Cup, including massive performances in penalty shootouts.

Of course, his most iconic moment came in the final minute of extra time in the 2022 World Cup final, when he made the save of a lifetime against Randal Kolo Muani. That stop kept Argentina alive, and they went on to win the final on penalties.

Verdict: Emiliano Martínez, Argentina

England

Argentina

Nahuel Molina continues to command the right-back position for Argentina and scored a huge goal in the 2022 World Cup quarterfinal against the Netherlands.

But Reece James, despite being banged up at times, gets the nod pretty clearly. When healthy, James is widely