For Messi and his squad, the lesson of 1990 is clear: when you are the champions, the world presents a treacherous road. Sometimes, they block the road entirely.

England coach Thomas Tuchel confirmed Tuesday that Declan Rice is fit to start in the World Cup semi-final against reigning champions Argentina.

Unlike Spain and France, who reached the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals by winning all six matches within regulation time, Argentina and England have endured a tougher route to the last four.

Spain suffocated France deep in the heart of Texas on Tuesday, powering into their first World Cup final since lifting the trophy in 2010 with a spellbinding 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro.

Benito Mussolini's Fascist regime cast a long shadow over the 1934 and 1938 World Cups, while Argentina's military junta used the country's 1978 triumph as propaganda.

England have lost only two of their 14 meetings with Argentina, winning six and drawing six. One of those draws was followed by a penalty-shootout defeat in the last 16 of France 1998.

Elfath, an American citizen born in Morocco, will officiate the England-Argentina clash, with fellow Americans Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins serving as his assistant referees.

Standing tall, chest puffed out, and arms outstretched, Jude Bellingham’s trademark celebration has become one of the defining images of England’s World Cup.

When the defending champions face England in Thursday's World Cup semifinal in Atlanta [1am, Bangladesh Time], Lionel Messi and company will swap their traditional sky blue and white stripes for their dark blue away kit.

The technology introduced to eliminate controversy has become the tournament's defining subplot, and Argentina, fairly or otherwise, have found themselves at its centre.

The bottom line is that both teams have repeatedly found a way to win even when the odds appeared stacked against them. Neither, however, has produced the convincing, dominant display expected of a potential champion.

Argentina's Alexis Mac Allister has urged his team to take inspiration from Diego Maradona as they seek to get the better of England in their World Cup semifinal on Thursday.

Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro. These are not the names most casual World Cup viewers would recognise.

Pedro Porro, who scored Spain's second goal in the 2-0 win over favourites France on Wednesday, said reaching the World Cup final was "a dream come true".

Kylian Mbappe rued the end of France's World Cup dream on Wednesday, blaming tactical and technical blunders for his side's 2-0 semifinal defeat to France.

France coach Didier Deschamps said his players were left "devastated" by their World Cup semifinal defeat to Spain on Wedesday before aiming a barb at match referee Ivan Barton from El Salvador.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente saluted his players as the "best team in the world" on Wednesday after a stunning 2-0 World Cup semifinal win over France.

Spain delivered another composed and clinical display to defeat France 2-0 and book their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at Dallas Stadium on Wednesday.

From the opening whistle, the Spaniards wrapped themselves around France like an anaconda, tightening their grip with every wave of pressing and every spell of possession until the life had been squeezed from a French attack that had looked irresistible throughout the tournament.

The headband featured the inscriptions "08304" and "Rocafonda", a tribute to the neighbourhood in Mataró where Yamal grew up. The number 08304 was the area's postal code, while Rocafonda was the community the teenager proudly considered home.