Twenty-eight years after the last 16 meeting that became a byword for penalty pain, England and Argentina are set to meet again — this time with a place in the World Cup final at stake. The semi-final, scheduled for today, pits the Three Lions against Lionel Scaloni’s side in a match that evokes memories of 1998, when David Beckham’s red card and a shootout defeat ended England’s hopes. Now, Thomas Tuchel’s squad have been handed a major selection boost, though the specific nature of that boost was not detailed.
Whoever emerges from this clash will face Spain in Sunday’s final after the European champions defeated France 2-0 in the other semi-final. That victory, however, was not without controversy. Spain’s penalty, which helped secure their place in the showpiece, has been called into question amid claims that Lamine Yamal handled the ball before the award. The incident has sparked debate over whether the spot‑kick should have stood. France 0-2 Spain: the scoreline settled, but the argument over the penalty rages on.
“England face Argentina in World Cup semi-final; Spain await after controversial penalty win over France.”
England’s path to the final now depends on overcoming Argentina — the team that ended their 1998 campaign in Saint-Étienne. Back then, Michael Owen’s stunning solo goal and Beckham’s infamous dismissal set the stage for a dramatic penalty shootout defeat. This time, the stakes are even higher: a victory would send England to their second consecutive World Cup final, where Spain await. But first, they must exorcise the ghost of 1998 against the same opponent — with a place in history on the line.