2026 FIFA World Cup: Semifinals - Argentina vs. England

If we lose this semi final to England, even if they go on to lose in the final, we will never here the end of it. They will still be talking about it in 60 years time.

 

Exactly. That's why it is imperative for Scaloni to give us the best chance of winning. By changing formation and players and tactics.

Which he did at the last Mundial. Please do it again.

 

Never mind changing the lineup because of tactics & players not performing - we desperately need fresh legs here. Can't have all 3 of RDP/Enzo/Mac start AGAIN. Just no. They have looked so heavy and gassed from around 20 mins of play in the last 3 games ffs.

 

He made changes immediately after the loss to Saudi Arabia, now some will say he had to as we lost that first game and faced the real possibility of not getting out of the group. I would say that the last 3 games, despite us winning them, have been enermous red flags that changes need to be made, yet he seems so reluctant to do so. I'm baffled.

 

🚨🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚:

The semi-final between England and Argentina will be officiated by MLS referee Ismael Elfath.

Since Messi joined Inter Miami, they have a 100% win record under him and also won the Leagues Cup final. 😳

England have been robbed even before the game has… pic.twitter.com/O60pAhIwCM

— 𝐓𝐌 𝐅Ú𝐓𝐁𝐎𝐋 (@TMfutbal) July 14, 2026

The coping has already begun

 

This is all based on a sample size of.. *checks notes*.. five games. All of which Inter Miami were heavily favored to win anyway. I couldn't find any controversies in those matches either and none of the articles whining about it cited any.

 

Gaston is mentioning the possibility of having Nico G. or Otamendi replacing RDP. I would be could with either of those 2 options and a great analysis for either options (tweet is in spanish but can be translated in english)

📋Análisis táctico del juego de Inglaterra y de las posibles variantes de Argentina.

📍Variantes de Scaloni en situaciones con y sin balón: Nico González y Otamendi.
📍 Línea de 5 sin balón 🇦🇷 (5-3-2)
📍Estructura y movimientos del esquema inglés con balón.

📝HILO ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/4KTmIM5oJj

— José Luis Gámez (@joselgamez10) July 13, 2026

 

I'll tell you something, wish FIFA would do a better job of rigging the world cup on our behalf, they should give us 10 pens every game, to take into account Messi missing 2 and send off 3 opposition players in every match, then we wouldn't have to go through hell.

I wonder if being the underdogs against England will help the team, if we get through we will be even bigger underdogs against France / Spain.

 

Otamendi for RDP as the only change? Is Scaloni insane? I get that it is to free Paredes but to start a game like this is crazy. This is pure bunkering. De Paul isnt the only problem, we need to address Molina, and at least one of Enzo and Mac to add width and movement

 

The irony of Penaldo fans complaining about this ref when he gave them a soft gift penalty in second half against Ghana in 2022 that helped them win the match.

https://www.trtworld.com/article/12866179

 

Get your act together FIFA, I expect Bellingham and Kane to be sent off in first 5 mins.

 

He got penalties twice at WC from a dive much like Owen.

 

Hope the same happens like this

World Cup: Croatia were 'underestimated' by English pundits - Luka Modric - BBC Sport

 

Looks like many lineups and player changes are floating. Maybe maybe Scaloni just woke up. We can only pray

 

We are not playing a 5-3-2. It doesn't make sense to do that. It's going to be a very similar 4-4-2, 4-1-3-2, or 4-1-4-1 with a few positional tweaks.

RDP is out for either Simeone or Nico G. I bet Scaloni favors Nico G for his physicality and heading, but Simeone is probably more comfortable on the right. Can Nico G play on the right?

Maybe we save Nico G to be a sub. Both of these players are going to be key for us with their speed. They need to have solid games.

I don't see Scaloni dropping Molina, as bad as he has been. Now is not the time to put in a makeshift RB. We wasted years of opportunity to solidify this position. Now is not the time.

The weakness we will try to exploit in the England team is in their LB O'Reilly. 21 years old, stud athleticism and offensive ability, but defense is suspect. We need to pressure down our right side, Simeone, Molina, and Messi could overload that position and create some chances. Similar to WC22 against France, except opposite flank. Paredes can launch some long balls to Simeone if we win the ball deep in our end.

 

Think it makes perfect sense to play a 5-3-2 (I see it more as a 3-5-2)

The tweet below illustrates this well.

 

If the only changes is Otamendi for RDP then it doesnt solve anything. Launching Molina to attack has been a joke so far and TAG is rarely ever a threat offensively. So you still have a narrow team with static midfield.

 

I think 3-5-2 makes sense but is now the time for a change like that which they might not be comfortable with? Not sure about that. And it has to be with the right personnel which would be guys that Scaloni has been exceptionally reluctant to play.

 

Our main problem are the wings we are getting slaughtered there and most goals we ate came from there. Its more so a personel issue RDP and Molina are completely failing to cover and Tag on the other side is better but still can be out of position. But 3-5-2 would make things easier. See short clip for all the goals were ate

https://youtube.com/shorts/x98rfmCWy9M?si=oDQ46gNBv07v1Vug

 

Midfield, we can agree that more changes would be ideal. (I have a post for this 2-3 pages back)

I would still keep Molina and Tags as the wingbacks because if I were Scaloni, I can put in Simeone and Nico G. in the 2nd half, where space will definitely open up and we can definitely use their pace.

 

We played a 3-5-2 vs Netherlands in 2022 without really testing much of this formation. We also experimented with this formation in the past friendlies (and allegedly during trainings as well).

The team should be more than fine with playing this formation.

 

Las 14 pecheras que repartió Scaloni en el entrenamiento:

Molina
Montiel
Romero
Lisandro
Tagliafico
Palacios
Mac Allister
Paredes
Enzo
De Paul
Messi
Simeone
Julián
Nico G. pic.twitter.com/0AJ1hosN3a

— Bruno González García (@gonzalezbruno) July 14, 2026