Even at 39, Lionel Messi can still hurt England with his sprinting ability
The Argentina captain conserves his energy for bursts in key moments and his top speed compares favourably with his contemporaries
‘Diego, give us a hand’: Argentina v England revives historic tensions
Decades after the Falklands war and Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal, the fixture is once again being discussed as far more than a game
War, antics and vitriol – the England v Argentina rivalry is real but now it is only about football
Mexico 1986, France 1998, Japan 2002 … this is a match that transcends, with Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni calling for the focus to be on football, not the Falklands
Lionel Messi’s first meeting with England will be a contest of will and aura
The Messi arc reaches a decisive point in Atlanta – passage to a third final or an exit to test the limits of Argentina’s love for their unassuming athlete-genius
‘For Diego’: spectre of Maradona looms over Argentina ahead of England clash
The image of the national icon has been ever present through this World Cup, in banners and songs and memory. It adds a fresh layer to Wednesday’s semi-final
World Cup scouting report: the lowdown on England’s semi-final opponents Argentina | Nick Ames
Defending champions will pose a threat with Messi’s genius but their lack of width and energy in the midfield offers encouragement for Thomas Tuchel
Scaloni plays down Argentina and England history: ‘A football game and that is all’
Head coach expects to face ‘a very tough opponent’ in the semi-finals as the sides meet for first time since 2005 with a World Cup final spot on the line
Switzerland hit out at VAR after ‘mistaken identity’ check ends in Breel Embolo red card
Swiss attacker shown second yellow card for simulation after referee reviewed challenge – before Argentina breaks deadlock in extra time
Argentina’s World Cup built on ‘suffering’ faces its biggest test in England | Pablo Iglesias Maurer
The defending champions have taken two of their three knockout-round matches to extra-time. What will their legacy be?
Tearful Messi inspires Argentina’s great escape in World Cup thriller with Egpyt
Enzo Fernández scored a stoppage-time winner to put Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals with a 3-2 win over Egypt, who led by two goals deep into the second half