Morgan Rogers to start
It is being reported that Thomas Tuchel has favoured Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers on his right-flank over Noni Madueke who started against Norway.
Madueke look at sea at times against Norway, you can’t fault his attacking intent, but the end product was often not there. Rogers has proven week-in-week-out for Villa that he can produce and did so for England against Croatia, when given the chance.
He has since been a good feature but nothing ground breaking, hopefully he will prove to be another good playmaking threat to draw Argentinian players away from Kane and Bellingham.
James Hicken15 July 2026 18:10
Reece James to start at right back for England?
Another potential move from Thomas Tuchel is to switch out both of England’s full backs with Reece James and Djed Spence rumoured to be brought back into the starting XI.
That would mean Nico O’Reilly drops out and one of Ezri Konsa or John Stones who began the game against Norway.
Mike Jones15 July 2026 18:07
Fans arriving at Atlanta Stadium
Fans from England and Argentina are arriving at the Atlanta Stadium ahead of this World Cup semi-final.
Build-up continues to kick off at 8pm with team news officially dropping inside the hour.


Mike Jones15 July 2026 18:02
Pre-match energy builds


James Hicken15 July 2026 17:56
England’s reliance on Kane and Bellingham
At this World Cup so far Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have scored a record 12/13 of England’s goals, save one from Rashford against Croatia.
That is 92.3% of all England Goals in the competition, which is a record for any team that has scored 10 goals or more.
Their closest competition are Hugi and Ballamann of Switzerland in 1954 who scored 90% of their teams goals.
It is also worth mentioning that the recently eliminated France had 13/16 goals scored by either Mbappe or Dembele which is the fourth highest on the list.
Many have criticised what they an call ‘over reliance’ on Kane and Bellingham, but what are world class players there for if not to be leant upon at the biggest tournament in the world?

James Hicken15 July 2026 17:50
Sir Geoff Hurst predicts toughest test yet for England
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.”
James Hicken15 July 2026 17:40
England’s World Cup journey so far
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

James Hicken15 July 2026 17:35
Tuchel wants ‘calm heads and a hot heart’ in his players.
“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.”
James Hicken15 July 2026 17:30
Morgan Rogers set to start for England
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.
Mike Jones15 July 2026 17:26
Strange scenes outside the Atlanta Stadium
A nice scene outside the stadium with a lot of fans now gathered, albeit to the soundtrack of a LOT of preachers, some going on about how ‘at least you aren’t fornicating in the streets’

Miguel Delaney in Atlanta15 July 2026 17:25


