England vs Argentina LIVE: World Cup semi-final updates, build-up and team news

England are two wins away from bringing football home. The Three Lions have made it to the semi-finals of the

World Cup

and can start dreaming of holding the trophy aloft in New Jersey on Sunday.

And if you want to be the best, you've got beat the best.

Argentina

are the holders after triumphing in Qatar and have their eyes on becoming only the second team to win back-to-back World Cups after their bitter rivals,

Brazil

(1958 and 1962).

Lionel Messi

has been at his talismanic best during the tournament and will face

England

for the first time in his storied career. The last time that these teams met was for a so-called friendly in 2005, and there's plenty of history on and off the pitch.

From the war over the Falkland Islands to

David Beckham's

infamous red card at the 1998 World Cup, there's no love lost when between these two. That makes this semi-final even more tantalising, with the winner taking on

Spain

in the final.

And even Argentina's politicians have got in on the act, with the country's vice president launching an extraordinary rant branding England

'usurping pirates'.

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Argentina boss Scaloni has urged his side to focus on football as the historic hostility with England over the Falkland Islands threatens to spill over into Wednesday's World Cup semi-final.

Scaloni does not appear to be interested in politics, though there still appears to be tension among both sets of supporters ahead of a hotly-anticipated last-four clash.

He said in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium: "The reality is that this is a football match. I can't mix things up, especially out of respect for what happened so many years ago.

The vice president of Argentina has taken aim at England ahead of tonight's World Cup semi final match.

Victoria Villaruel, who is the daughter of a Falklands veteran, shared a message through her social media account.

The last time England were in a World Cup semi-final was in 2018 - when the Three Lions really began to be regulars in the latter stages of tournaments.

Who can forget that Trippier free-kick against Croatia, boy were we all dreaming.

Guehi insists all of the pressure is on Argentina ahead of their World Cup semi final showdown.

The Three Lions defender says England will relish the chance and it is Argentina who will be feeling the heat because they are expected to defend their title.

Guehi said: “There isn’t pressure on us. What’s the pressure? The onus is on them. They’re the World Champions. They need to come out, they need to defend their title. There’s no pressure on us at all.

Tuchel admits he's blissfully unaware of Argentina's push to wear their 'lucky' blue kit in the World Cup semi-final.

The reigning champions were already listed as Team B in the tournament bracket but still formally asked to wear their second strip due to their history against England at major tournaments.

Tuchel admitted he held clear-the-air with the England dressing room after Jude Bellingham ’s explosive TV interview.

Three Lions boss Tuchel insisted they have already “moved on” and said he would have reacted exactly like Bellingham after England’s epic win over Norway.

Tuchel could be tempted to keep the same back line to face Argentina - Konsa switched to right-back with Stones and Guehi forming a strong partnership in central defence.

Rice, despite his illness last week, is set to partner Anderson in midfield.

Some of us probably won't have started their working day yet - can't say I'm the same.

But we've got a full shift ahead before we can start turning our attention to kick-off.

The two men have scored all but one of England's World Cup goals between them. They are absolute stars.

Argentina probably have THE star of all-time in Lionel Messi.

Today is THE day.