England's path to a potential World Cup final is clouded in controversy before a ball has even been kicked, after a contentious goal from Jude Bellingham sparked fury in Norway and Argentina's Lautaro Martinez was accused of breaking the rules by jumping into the crowd on a yellow card.
Bellingham's strike in England's 2-1 extra-time victory on Saturday appeared to hit the overhead spidercam before crossing the line, prompting Norwegian outrage that the goal was allowed to stand. The incident dominated the aftermath of the quarter-final, with Thomas Tuchel, the England manager, admitting his side "got lucky" – a comment that drew a response from Bellingham.
“England face Argentina in World Cup semi-final amid controversy over Bellingham goal and Martinez crowd jump.”
England now face Argentina in the semi-final on Wednesday, 15 July at the Atlanta Stadium (20:00 BST), live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The clash will pit the Three Lions against Lionel Messi, who described England as a "powerhouse" ahead of what will be the first ever meeting between the two sides at a World Cup.
Argentina advanced past Switzerland 3-1, also in extra time, but their victory was marred by Martinez's behaviour. Having already been booked, the forward jumped into the crowd after scoring the third goal, a move that has led to calls for him to be suspended. England supporters are among those demanding action.
Tuchel's admission of fortune and the Bellingham controversy have done little to dampen the mood around the squad, with captain Harry Kane issuing a promise to improve after the manager's "sloppy" critique. Four England players, whose names have not been confirmed, are at risk of missing the semi-final through suspension.
The other semi-final sees European champions Spain face 2022 runners-up France in Dallas on Tuesday, 14 July (20:00), shown on ITV. The final will be played at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, 19 July.
BBC Sport will provide live radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds, with spoiler-free highlights available on iPlayer and the BBC Football YouTube channel. A new interactive 3D experience is available for all live BBC TV matches.
For England, the stakes could not be higher: a place in the final against either Spain or France awaits – but only if they can overcome the fallout from the quarter-finals and the genius of Messi.