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From Cervantes and Borges to tortilla and asado, flamenco and tango, Argentina and Spain have long shared deep cultural and historical ties. But Sunday's FIFA World Cup final has left many people with connections to both countries struggling to decide where their loyalties lie. The showdown in New Jersey will be the first World Cup final between two Spanish-speaking nations since the inaugural tournament in 1930, when Uruguay defeated Argentina 4-2 in Montevideo. "It feels like being caught between a rock and a hard place," said 75-year-old Juan Manuel Posada, who moved from Spain's Asturias region to Buenos Aires in 1968. Although he has spent decades in Argentina and supports local club Independiente de Avellaneda, Posada said his heart remains with Spain. "It's as if I had arrived just yesterday. My heart is in Asturias, in Spain, and with the Spanish national team," said the lifelong Sporting de Gijón supporter. "If Spain wins, that's wonderful. But if Argentina wins, I won't be unhappy either." The close relationship between the two countries dates back centuries. Buenos Aires was founded in the 16th century by Spanish explorer Pedro de Mendoza, and Spanish influence remained strong even after Argentina gained independence. Large waves of Spanish immigration during the first half of the 20th century further strengthened those ties. Eighty-one-year-old Manuel Fernández Acevedo, who moved from Baiona in Spain's Galicia region to Argentina as a child, said choosing between the two teams is nearly impossible. "My daughter and granddaughter were born in Argentina. May the best team win. If Spain wins, that's great, and if Argentina wins, that's fine too," he said. The close bond between the countries has also shaped football history. Argentine greats Alfredo Di Stéfano and Lionel Messi became legendary figures at Spain's biggest clubs — Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively. Despite their shared football heritage, Argentina and Spain have rarely met on the World Cup stage. Their only previous encounter came during the group stage of the 1966 World Cup, when Argentina defeated Spain. This time, however, the stakes are much higher. Posada recalled a recent conversation with his Argentine grandson, who jokingly proposed a celebration plan depending on the result. "My grandson told me, 'Grandpa, if Spain wins, I'll wear a Spain shirt and carry the Spanish flag while we celebrate. But if Argentina wins, you'll have to wear Argentina's shirt and carry its flag.' I agreed, although I don't think we could go to the Obelisk wearing a Spain shirt," Posada said with a laugh, referring to Buenos Aires' famous gathering place for Argentina's football celebrations. On the other side of the Atlantic, hundreds of thousands of Argentines now live in Spain after emigrating over the past several decades, first during Argentina's military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983 and later because of recurring economic crises. According to Spain's latest census data from January 2025, about 450,883 Argentina-born residents are living in the country. For many of them, Sunday's final carries special significance. "I see Spain as just another opponent, but with respect because we're living in their country and, in the end, we're all like brothers," said 19-year-old Nahuel Barreta, who has been living in Málaga for the past year. "It feels like home here. We'll watch the match with friends at a bar downtown, as we usually do. I've never experienced a World Cup like this." In the run-up to the final, social media has been filled with humorous posts showing Argentine-Spanish couples joking about putting their relationships on hold until after the match, while others have shared playful attempts to persuade their children to support one finalist over the other. For many families with roots in both countries, Sunday's World Cup final is more than just a football match- it has become a true family affair.

Lionel Scaloni paid tribute to Lionel Messi ahead of Sunday's World Cup final, urging fans to cherish what will likely be the Argentina captain's last appearance on football's biggest stage. Argentina will bid to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cup trophies since Brazil in 1962 when it meets Spain in the title decider in New Jersey. "He is pure history. He is a legend," Scaloni told a press conference on Friday. "For him to reach a final at 39 years of age is something unbelievable. That's why I say we must enjoy him." Scaloni said Messi's achievement was made more meaningful by the absence of Diego Maradona, who led Argentina to the title in 1986. Widely regarded as one of the game's greatest players, Maradona died in 2020 at the age of 60. "Sadly, Maradona is no longer with us, so we have to enjoy him. He is a legend, along with this group of players," he said. "It's very difficult to achieve this," he added, alluding to a five-year period that has also included two Copa America triumphs. "This group has achieved something that is unbelievable. I'm deeply thankful, I will be thankful forever. It wasn't easy to reach this final, having competed at such a high level for so long. Even if we don't win, the journey has been unbelievable." Asked whether Sunday's final could be Messi's last match for Argentina, Scaloni declined to speculate. "Ask him. I didn't have any idea. He doesn't stop surprising us," he said. "This is a question you should ask him." The 48-year-old pointed out his side had prepared for the final the same way it had for every other match during the competition. Despite having to rely on late goals to win each of its four knockout matches, against Cabo Verde, Egypt, Switzerland and England, Scaloni said his team was in good shape ahead of the final. "The team has shown very positive things, especially in the second half against England, not just the last few minutes," he said. "I think we're fit, regardless of some aspects. The team is feeling well. We're facing a very tough opponent, and people know how we play, but that's credit to us, and we'll try to win." Scaloni also spoke about the emotional connection between the team and Argentina's fans, describing the unity it had brought among supporters of rival domestic clubs. "We've recovered something that is extremely valuable, that people are watching the national team: A Boca fan hugging a River fan, Newell's fans hugging [Rosario] Central fans," he said. "That makes us really emotional. Especially because unity in a World Cup for the team is essential, we really feel the unity and the support that people are giving us. It's good to express emotions. It's part of life, of who we are, and it makes us more human." On Spain and opposite number Luis de la Fuente, Scaloni said the two coaches were friends but had not discussed tactics. "He knows me from a personal point of view, we're friends. But he doesn't know what I think about when it comes to football," Scaloni said. "We haven't really been talking about our playing style, but those patterns are obviously there when we have possession of the ball. We have similar patterns of play, having the ball and becoming stronger with the ball. I hope the game on Sunday will be a great show that people will be entertained by."

Lionel Messi says Argentina will give everything they have when they take on Spain in Sunday's FIFA World Cup final, as the defending champions aim to retain the title. "We will give it our all," Messi said on Friday during what is expected to be his final public appearance before the title clash in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Messi spoke at Fanatics Fest in New York, where he shared the stage with some of the world's biggest sports stars, including NFL legend Tom Brady, tennis great Novak Djokovic and NBA star Kevin Durant. The event highlighted Messi's global appeal, with the sports icons also taking a group selfie with the Argentine captain. FIFA held its pre-final media event at the four-day sports festival instead of a traditional news conference, allowing hundreds of fans to see the players and coaches up close. Spain captain Rodri praised Messi, calling him the greatest footballer of all time. "It goes beyond words what Messi means as a player and what he means for Argentina," Rodri said. "For me, he's the greatest of all time." Instead of journalists asking questions, the discussion was led by sports stars. Brady asked Messi about a viral photo showing him bathing a baby who later grew up to become Spain winger Lamine Yamal. "What a crazy picture," Messi said. Djokovic asked Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and Messi how they deal with pressure in major tournaments, while Durant asked goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez what winning back-to-back World Cups would mean for Argentina. Scaloni kept the focus on the match itself. "It's one more game," he said. "We cannot really think about the fact that it's a World Cup final." Argentina have reached the final with a perfect 7-0-0 record and remain the tournament's only unbeaten team. Spain are 6-0-1 after drawing their opening match against Cape Verde. Argentina's road to the final has not been easy. They came from behind to beat England in the semifinals after trailing 1-0 in the second half. They also recovered from a 2-0 second-half deficit against Egypt in the Round of 16, while both their Round of 32 match against Cape Verde and quarterfinal against Switzerland went to extra time. "I've said many times: We never stop fighting," Messi said. Messi received a warm welcome from fans at the event, many of whom recorded his entrance on their phones before cheering loudly as he waved. At the end of the programme, players, coaches and celebrities, including actor Kevin Hart, rapper Travis Scott, former England defender Rio Ferdinand and Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, gathered for a group selfie. "Sunday is going to be a great show," Scaloni said. Argentina are aiming to become the first team since Brazil in 1958 and 1962 to win consecutive World Cup titles. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez said the team is determined to make the country proud. "We've got a group of players and coaches working incredibly hard every day to bring happiness to our country," Martinez said. "We're going to give absolutely our best, with Leo and this team, to bring the World Cup back to our country and celebrate with our people."

France and England enter Saturday’s World Cup third-place playoff sharing the same disappointment: neither team expected to be playing for bronze. Both nations entered the tournament with championship aspirations. France was widely viewed as a title favorite, while England hoped to capture its first World Cup crown since 1966. Instead, semifinal defeats left them one step short of Sunday’s championship match, which will feature Argentina and Spain. French defender Ibrahima Konaté acknowledged the team's frustration but emphasized their commitment to finishing the tournament on a positive note. “None of us wanted to play for third place,” Konaté said Friday. “But we have to approach it professionally. France and England have a long football history, and we're looking forward to the match.” Although the game offers only a bronze medal, it represents an opportunity for England manager Thomas Tuchel to end the tournament on a stronger note after drawing criticism for his tactical decisions in England’s semifinal loss to Argentina. “No one wanted to be playing this match,” Tuchel said. “Every one of the semifinalists dreamed of reaching the final. But this is still a World Cup match, and it gives England the chance to achieve its best tournament finish in 60 years. This is an opportunity to show the mentality we've displayed throughout the competition.” Golden Boot Race Still AliveFrance captain Kylian Mbappé remains in contention for the Golden Boot as the tournament’s leading scorer. Mbappé has scored eight goals, matching Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who currently holds the tiebreak advantage with four assists compared to Mbappé’s three. England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham remain outside contenders with six goals apiece. France coach Didier Deschamps confirmed Mbappé is available after participating in Friday’s training session but said several lineup changes are expected. Tuchel also indicated England will rotate players for the match. “We have responsibilities,” Deschamps said. “Our players, coaches, and staff all have a duty to represent France with pride and respect for our supporters.” Deschamps’ Final Match in ChargeSaturday’s game will mark the end of Didier Deschamps’ 14-year tenure as France’s head coach. Konaté said the players are motivated to send him off with one final victory. “He has given so much to French football,” Konaté said. “There have been difficult moments, but he has also brought tremendous success and happiness.” Deschamps guided France to the 2018 World Cup title and another final appearance in 2022, where his team lost to Argentina in a penalty shootout. France’s 2026 campaign ended in the semifinals after Spain successfully contained the attacking trio of Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise. In addition to the World Cup triumph, Deschamps led France to the UEFA Euro 2016 final but fell short of winning another major international title. “This is my final match with the national team,” Deschamps said. “Representing France over these years has been the greatest honor of my professional career. I’ve experienced unforgettable highs and difficult moments, but wearing this jersey has meant everything to me.” England Looking AheadFor England, reaching the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 2018 marked progress, but Tuchel acknowledged the team must continue closing the gap on football’s elite nations. “The other semifinalists almost expect to become world champions,” Tuchel said. “We believed we could, but there’s still a gap to overcome. That journey continues starting tomorrow.” The German coach admitted England became too defensive late in its semifinal against Argentina. After leading 1-0 until the closing minutes, England conceded goals to Enzo Fernández and substitute Lautaro Martínez, prompting criticism of Tuchel’s tactical adjustments. Despite the backlash, Tuchel stood by his decisions. “If someone has to take responsibility,” he said, “then I’ll take it.”   

Mikel Merino can smell and see the smoke from the Canadian wildfires that are making for hazy conditions across large parts of the U.S., including northern New Jersey where he and Spain are set to face Argentina in the World Cup final on Sunday. Merino is trying not to focus on it. It remains unclear how much, if at all, the smoke will affect the final. The World Health Organization forecast calls for an improvement to “moderate” air quality in East Rutherford. “For a game that is as important as a World Cup final, you have to be able to shut out external factors as much as possible,” Merino said Friday. “Luckily, we are being careful with every detail thanks to the federation and the organizers of the World Cup.” Spain practiced outside in hazardous conditions in East Hanover, New Jersey, on Thursday, alarming experts who thought the team should have held the session inside instead. Messages sent to FIFA and the Spanish Football Association asking whether that was considered or possible were not returned. Air quality improved Friday, but the uncertainty lies in what will follow what could be up to 1.25 inches (3.17 centimeters) of rain expected to fall Saturday. “Following that, it looks like there is another smoky air mass following in behind that system, but it’s not clear right now how much or how it might reach New York or New Jersey, when it comes to actually Sunday,” said Mark Parrington, senior scientist at the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service. “If the fire intensity really picks up again through (Saturday), it’s possible it puts more smoke into the atmosphere that then might quickly follow that rain event.” Smoke from wildfires — which are burning more of North America as Earth warms — attacks nearly every system in the body, killing tens of thousands of people a year, numerous medical studies show. It attacks the body immediately, spiking asthma cases with increased ambulance runs within hours. Smoke can trigger inflammation in different parts of the body, often attacking a person’s weakest points, which can then cascade into different effects of an immune system trying to fight a nasty irritant, doctors and scientists say. Parrington said as a general rule the advice is to try to minimize outdoor activity and exercise when the air is full of pollutants. “There’s the obvious sort of respiratory illness, cardiovascular issues, vulnerable people with asthma and things like this,” Parrington said. “Then for sure they’re going to feel the effects.” President Donald Trump is set to meet with FIFA President Gianni Infantino later Friday. Members of the administration, including Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, have been discussing the matter with soccer's governing body and monitoring the wildfire situation, according to a White House official. The person was granted anonymity to confirm internal discussions. Roughly 80,000 fans are expected at the final, which takes place in the large, open-air stadium in the Meadowlands that is home to the NFL's New York Giants and Jets.

From Uruguay's triumph in the inaugural FIFA World Cup final in 1930 to Argentina's dramatic penalty shootout victory over France in 2022, the World Cup final has produced some of football's most iconic moments. Across 22 editions, the championship match has showcased legendary players, unforgettable goals, stunning upsets and moments of sheer drama, shaping the rich history of the world's biggest sporting event. As anticipation builds for every new final, a look back at the previous title deciders highlights the evolution of the tournament and the nations that have etched their names into football folklore. Following is the scoreline of each World Cup final: 1930 Uruguay 4-2 Argentina 1934 Italy 2-1 Czechoslovakia 1938 Italy 4-2 Hungary 1950 Uruguay 2-1 Brazil 1954 West Germany 3-2 Hungary 1958 Brazil 5-2 Sweden 1962 Brazil 3-1 Czechoslovakia 1966 England 4-2 West Germany 1970 Brazil 4-1 Italy 1974 West Germany 2-1 Netherlands 1978 Argentina 3-1 Netherlands 1982 Italy 3-1 West Germany 1986 Argentina 3-2 West Germany 1990 West Germany 1-0 Argentina 1994 Brazil 0-0 Italy; 3-2 pens 1998 France 3-0 Brazil 2002 Brazil 2-0 Germany 2006 Italy 0-0 France; 5-3 pens 2010 Spain 1-0 Netherlands 2014 Germany 1-0 Argentina 2018 France 4-2 Croatia 2022 Argentina 3-3 France; 4-2 pens 2026 Spain vs Argentina  

Lionel Messi has rejected allegations that Argentina benefited from favorable officiating during the FIFA World Cup, insisting the reigning champions earned their place in the final through resilience and consistent performances. Argentina booked a place in Sunday’s final against Spain after staging a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over England, overturning a 1-0 deficit in the closing minutes. The win sparked massive celebrations across Buenos Aires and marked the team's latest comeback in the tournament. UK calls on FIFA to investigate Argentina over Falklands banner at World Cup The champions also fought back to beat Egypt 3-2 after trailing 2-0 late in the match and advanced past Cape Verde and Switzerland in extra time. However, Egyptian and Swiss officials accused referees of favoring Argentina, while social media users claimed FIFA's tournament bracket benefited the South Americans. “We’ve been the best over these past four years,” Messi said. “Nothing was handed to us.” The controversy intensified after Switzerland's Breel Embolo was sent off following a disputed incident involving Leandro Paredes, prompting Swiss coach Murat Yakin to criticize the decision. Egypt’s Football Association also alleged biased officiating. Coach Lionel Scaloni dismissed the accusations, saying VAR makes favoritism difficult. Midfielder Enzo Fernandez said his goal celebration against England was directed at critics. Meanwhile, Britain urged FIFA to investigate Argentina after players displayed a banner declaring, “The Malvinas are Argentine,” following the semifinal victory.

The British government has called on FIFA to investigate Argentina's national football team after its players celebrated a World Cup semifinal victory while holding a banner asserting Argentina's claim over the disputed Falkland Islands. Argentina defeated England 2-1 in the World Cup semifinal in Atlanta on Wednesday. During the post-match celebrations, players displayed a banner handed to them by supporters that read, "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" ("The Malvinas are Argentine"). Argentina refers to the Falkland Islands as Islas Malvinas. The islands became the focus of a 10-week war in 1982 after Argentina's military government invaded the British-controlled territory. Britain regained control following the conflict. UK Business Secretary Peter Kyle described the players' actions as "entirely inappropriate" and said he expected FIFA to conduct a thorough investigation. Under FIFA's disciplinary code, political, ideological, religious or offensive messages displayed at stadiums are prohibited. Violations can result in fines ranging from $5,000 to $20,000. FIFA had not commented on the matter as of Thursday. Argentina defender Lisandro Martínez said the banner carried strong emotional significance. "I can imagine a Malvinas war veteran seeing that banner and crying," said Martínez, who has played for Manchester United in England for the past four years. "I don't know whether there will be sanctions, but the message simply expressed our belief that the islands belong to us." Long-running political dispute The Falkland Islands are a British Overseas Territory with a population of around 3,500 people. They are located about 480 kilometres off Argentina's coast and nearly 13,000 kilometres from Britain. Argentina maintains that Britain illegally took control of the islands in 1833. Britain says its claim dates back to 1765 and that it expelled Argentine forces attempting to establish sovereignty over the territory in 1833. The 1982 Falklands War claimed the lives of 649 Argentine troops, 255 British military personnel and three islanders. The conflict coincided with the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain, where Argentina, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland all competed. British broadcasters declined to televise Argentina's opening match of the tournament, in which the defending champions lost to Belgium. Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes said the banner reflected a painful chapter in his country's history. "It is a sad part of our history for everyone involved, and it still hurts," he said. "We knew we were playing for them as well." FIFA's political neutrality under scrutiny Kyle told the BBC that politics should remain separate from football, adding that the issue was now FIFA's responsibility. FIFA's commitment to political neutrality has faced renewed scrutiny during this World Cup. Critics have questioned decisions by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the governing body's disciplinary panel, particularly after United States forward Folarin Balogun was allowed to play against Belgium in the round of 16 despite receiving a red card in the previous match. Under FIFA rules, Balogun should have been suspended for the next game, but the ban was postponed for one year on probation. Belgium went on to beat the United States 4-1 and advance to the quarterfinals. Infantino is expected to attend Sunday's World Cup final between Argentina and Spain in East Rutherford, New Jersey, alongside US President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei. Similar incidents in the past Argentina's players displayed the same "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" slogan during a World Cup warm-up match in Buenos Aires in 2014. FIFA later fined the Argentine Football Association 30,000 Swiss francs (about $37,000) after that tournament. In another case, South Korean footballer Park Jong-woo received a two-match FIFA suspension after displaying a banner reading "Dokdo is our territory" following South Korea's victory over Japan in the bronze medal match at the 2012 London Olympics. More recently, during the 2022 World Cup, FIFA fined Serbia's football federation 20,000 Swiss francs (about $24,800) after a political banner showing Kosovo as part of Serbia and carrying the slogan "No Surrender" was displayed in the team's dressing room before a match against Brazil.

There was no "Hand of God" this time. Argentina didn't need one. Instead, Lionel Messi's brilliance and the fighting spirit that has defined Argentina throughout this World Cup carried the defending champions into another final. After trailing 1-0 until the closing minutes, Argentina produced a dramatic comeback to beat England 2-1 on Wednesday, with goals from Enzo Fernandez and substitute Lautaro Martinez. "I dreamed it, I swear. I told Alexis (Mac Allister) that I was going to score. I told him that I was going to come on and I was going to win it," Martinez said. "I can tell you this team keeps showing what it's made of." When the final whistle blew, Messi dropped to his knees in celebration as England's players sank to the ground in disbelief. Argentina has once again ended England's World Cup hopes, adding the 2026 semifinal to memorable victories over England in 1986 and 1998. "I'm gutted for the team, the staff, the fans," England captain Harry Kane said. "We worked so hard to be here. The lads have given every bit of blood, sweat and tears. To fall short like we did is just gutting." The defending champions will now face European champion Spain in Sunday's final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, setting up a clash between South America's top team and Europe's best. For England, the defeat is likely to be remembered alongside painful World Cup exits in 1986, when Diego Maradona's controversial "Hand of God" goal helped Argentina advance, and in 1998, when David Beckham was sent off before England lost on penalties. This time, however, there was little room for complaints, despite England looking set for victory after Anthony Gordon put his side ahead in the 55th minute. As the match progressed, England came under increasing pressure. Goalkeeper Jordon Pickford made several crucial saves, while Mac Allister struck the post with a header as Argentina continued to attack. Messi had been largely contained for much of the game, but once again he made the decisive impact. He set up Fernandez, who fired home the equaliser from outside the penalty area in the 85th minute. Then, two minutes into stoppage time, Messi delivered a cross that Martinez headed in for the winner. The comeback seemed to reflect Argentina's resilience throughout the tournament. From matches against Cape Verde to Egypt, Messi and his teammates have repeatedly found ways to recover from difficult situations. "It is a show of the collectiveness, the brotherhood that we are in, the fight to the very end that we've got," Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. "We were ready to go home, sad, knowing that we had left everything on the pitch, but after they scored we really proved ourselves." For England, it was another painful semifinal defeat, following losses to Germany in 1990 and Croatia in 2018. It also continued a recent pattern of surrendering winning positions in major tournaments. England led Croatia 1-0 in the 2018 World Cup semifinal before losing 2-1, and also took a 1-0 lead against Italy in the Euro 2021 final before eventually losing in a penalty shootout. England coach Thomas Tuchel acknowledged that his team's approach changed after taking the lead. "Argentina played with more risk, played with more rhythm, played with the feeling maybe that they have nothing to lose anymore, which freed them up and held us back because we played suddenly with a feeling that we have a lot to lose," Tuchel said. Argentina is now one victory away from retaining the World Cup title. Messi, now 39 and likely appearing in his final World Cup, is also one win away from adding another major achievement to strengthen his claim as one of the greatest footballers in history. "We're going to try to win, we're going to leave everything out there," Scaloni said. "It's very difficult to get people to understand what these players are showing. It's incredible. We are unique, truly, and it's not arrogance, it's from the heart. We are unique."

England and Argentina made key changes for their World Cup semifinal in Atlanta on Wednesday. England coach Thomas Tuchel called in Morgan Rogers in place of Noni Madueke on the right wing and also handed starts to Reece James and Djed Spence in defense. Ezri Konsa and Nico O'Reilly were benched. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni made just one change, picking Gio Simeone in midfield ahead of Rodrigo De Paul. The lineups England: Jordan Pickford; Reece James, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Djed Spence; Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham; Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane. Argentina: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Gio Simeone, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez. A fierce rivalry The game sees England and Argentina resume one of the fiercest rivalries in international soccer. The two teams meet in Atlanta and the winner will play Spain in the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday. "I mean the two shirts are just iconic and the historic matches are iconic," Tuchel said. The World Cup rivalry between the nations dates back to 1962, but it was England's 1-0 win in the quarterfinals four years later that saw it intensify. Argentina captain Antonio Rattin, whose death was announced on Saturday, was sent off in a bad-tempered match. England went on to win the World Cup for the first, and still the only time, in its history. Twenty years on in Mexico, Diego Maradona scored the infamous "Hand of God" goal that helped Argentina to a 2-1 win in the quarterfinals on the way to becoming world champion for a second time. That game also saw Maradona score what many believe to be the greatest World Cup goal ever when he dribbled the ball from the halfway line before beating England goalkeeper Peter Shilton. "That will be forever in our hearts. It was just such a beautiful goal," Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. "Anybody who loves football will remember that in the best way possible." England felt aggrieved again in 1998 when David Beckham was sent off for kicking out at Argentina midfielder Diego Simeone before losing the round-of-16 game on penalties. Beckham got his revenge four years later by scoring a penalty in a 1-0 win that contributed to Argentina being eliminated at the group stage. Given the heated rivalry, Tuchel has tried to manage the emotions of his players ahead of the semifinal. "If a fixture provides so many iconic moments you cannot just say it's just another football match, but as a coach we do exactly that," he said. "We don't speak about the historic events. We don't speak about the iconic moments." Route to the semifinals Neither team has had a smooth ride to the semifinals. Argentina survived scares against Cape Verde and Egypt earlier in the knockout rounds and needed extra time to beat 10-man Switzerland 3-1 in the quarterfinals. England had to rally for wins against Congo and Norway after going a goal down. It also endured a physically exhausting game played at altitude, and being down to 10 men, to beat co-host Mexico 3-2 in the round of 16. Messi vs. Kane and Bellingham The seemingly ageless Lionel Messi has been Argentina's talisman once again, scoring eight goals and also providing crucial assists. England has relied on its big hitters in Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. Both have six goals so far, with Bellingham scoring twice in each of England's last two games.