The duel between England and Argentina in the 2026 World Cup semifinals at Atlanta Stadium, United States, could be even more intense than the semifinal between France and Spain, which La Roja won 2-0.
This excessive level of intensity is due to the added elements of controversy and drama surrounding the duel between the two teams.
So far, the Three Lions versus Albiceleste duel is the most intense duel among other classic World Cup matches, including the classic Netherlands versus Germany duel.
England and Argentina have faced each other 15 times since a 1951 friendly in London. England have won six times, while Argentina have won twice.
They've also faced each other frequently in the World Cup, five times. England won three of those matches, while Argentina won the other two.
England's first World Cup victory over Argentina came in the 1962 quarter-finals, when the Three Lions won 3-1. But nothing happened in that match.
But four years later, at the 1966 World Cup, their rivalry began to deepen into something more than just football.
In the quarterfinals, en route to winning the 1966 World Cup, England won again 1-0 thanks to a Geoff Hurst goal. Argentina claimed the goal was offside , feeling robbed.
The match was so rough that the referee sent off Argentina captain Antonio Rattin.
England manager Sir Alf Ramsey later called Argentina "animals" for their rough and unsportsmanlike play. Fortunately, the match prompted FIFA to introduce the concept of yellow and red cards in subsequent World Cups.
Twenty years later, the two teams met again in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup, two years after the Falklands War, a war between Argentina and England over an island.
In that match, England were eliminated thanks to the "hand of god" and "goal of the century" goals, both scored by Diego Maradona. England felt cheated, and goalkeeper Peter Shilton rejected Maradona's apology.
The two teams met again in the round of 16 of the 1998 World Cup, when England lost on penalties after a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes. England felt they had been outwitted by Diego Simeone, who was accused of playing a trick, resulting in David Beckham's red card.
