England v Argentina LIVE: Latest World Cup updates as Morgan Rogers to start semi-final – UK Times

Hurst, became the first player to ever score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, as I’m sure your aware, in 1966 when England beat West Germany 4-2 in their only World Cup triumph.

“You can talk about [Lionel] Messi being past his best, with his age, he’s still performing, he’s still scoring and he’s a big danger if you allow him to do so,” Hurst told the BBC.

“You can talk about them being past their best, I don’t necessarily agree with that. If you think they are past their best and we are going to walk away with it, those guys must be dreaming.

“There’s no way we are going to be winning three-nil at half time or walking away with it.”

England, like Argentina, are undefeated in their seven games so far, but it has not been as easy going. After an electric first game against Croatia, thing began to look and feel a bit more difficult.

Nevertheless, they are all wins in the column:

• England 4-2 Croatia
• England 0-0 Ghana
• England 2-0 Panama
• England 3-2 Mexico
• England 2-1 Norway

“If possible, but I think it’s a lot to ask. I am not so sure you see a lot of calm heads, me included, tomorrow, Tuchel explained to the BBC

“That would be ideal to play with a calm head and a hot heart. I think it will be emotional, anything else would really surprise me and it’s just what both teams bring to the table. They are emotional and very supportive group within themselves.

“We are also very competitive, if they have the edge, we have the edge. We are proven in several battles now through this tournament. This is of course a big one and we are up for it.”

Morgan Rogers is believed to be in line to start for England tonight but not in his usual position.

Thomas Tuchel’s starting XI will be revealed in the next hour or so but Rogers is said to be starting on the right side ahead of Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke.

Jude Bellingham will remain as England’s No.10 following his incredible display against Norway in the quarter-final.

The current champions have not dropped a game since arriving in North America, not even a draw and have scored 17 goals on the way, the most of any team.

That doesn’t mean there haven’t been a couple of close calls:

• Argentina 3-0 Algeria
• Argentina 2-0 Austria
• Argentina 3-1 Jordan
• Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
• Argentina 3-2 Egypt
• Argentina 3-1 Switzerland

Messi, arguably the greatest footballer of all-time, made his international debut for Argentina in 2005 at 18 years old and his World Cup debut in 2006.

But in the 21 years proceeding this debut, Messi has not once had to face the Three Lions on the international stage.

It will without doubt be a battle for the ages against the reigning champions, with their aging superstar having one of, if not, his best ever tournament and an England side who will have the fire of potentially claiming their countries biggest win in 60 years.

Will Messi be able to make an impact against the likes of Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice – obviously – England just need to do more damage.

England’s former top international goal scorer has claimed that Bellingham has been the best player at the World Cup so far, surprisingly overlooking the likes of Messi, Mbappe and his compatriot Harry Kane

“In terms of best in the world I think you’re looking at someone like Mbappe or Haaland,” Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show.

“Bellingham hasn’t quite hit those levels at Real Madrid this season, but he’s been the best player in the tournament for me.”

Tuchel laid out his expectations – a physical game at high intensity and he knows how much Argentina can swing the momentum in an instant with Messi and co.

“Well, I think I expect an emotional game. I expect a physical game. The conditions will be brilliant, so we will try and make it, except the physicality of it and that is basically it,” Tuchel told the BBC.

“We will be asked a lot of questions, they are a complete team, since many years together with a coach. They have the experience of several tournaments together; you can see that.

“Like I said, I think we can match the intensity, maybe even put our intensity on top of them. Then it will be a match of moments and momentums.

“I expect several momentum swings to be honest. They are very strong in possession, very strong in the last third, with a lot of players inside and of course Messi who finds solutions when no one else finds them, but we also have our weapons to hurt them. So, we need to dig in, we need to stay focussed and we need a complete performance over the whole 90 plus minutes.”

England are through to their fourth men’s World Cup semi-final where they meet fierce rivals Argentina on Wednesday night, writes Lawrence Ostlere. If you’re new to this, prepare for pain.