England and Argentina set for World Cup semi-final after quarter-final wins

England and Argentina will meet on Wednesday in a blockbuster World Cup semi-final infused with decades of bitter rivalry after they battled past Norway and Switzerland respectively in the quarter-finals.The South Americans and their talisman Lionel Messi must defeat England in Atlanta to keep alive their hopes of becoming the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1962.England and their key partnership of Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane must win to have any hope of ending a 60-year wait for a major trophy.The winner of that game will take on the victor of France's semi-final with Spain -- they meet in Texas on Tuesday -- in the final on July 19.The Argentina v England match comes 40 years after a seismic encounter in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.Argentina secured a 2-1 victory at the Estadio Azteca with two goals from Diego Maradona -- one the infamous "Hand of God" when he punched the ball into the net and the other a dazzling solo effort considered one of the greatest goals ever to grace a World Cup.But the match will also take place against the backdrop of a lingering sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, known in Spanish as the Malvinas.Britain sent a military taskforce in 1982 to reclaim the islands after Argentine troops invaded.After Argentina beat a dogged Swiss side 3-1 in Kansas City on Saturday thanks to extra-time goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez, their coach Lionel Scaloni attempted to take the political heat out of the meeting with England."The message is this is a football game. That's what I can say," Scaloni said."It is a football game and we will be playing against a very tough opponent. They have an excellent coach and this is a football game and that's all." 'Very lucky 'That coach, Thomas Tuchel, was angry with his England team after they needed extra-time on Saturday to end Norway's historic run in sweltering Miami.Two goals from Jude Bellingham gave England a nervy 2-1 victory to send England into the semi-finals for only the fourth time in history.Tuchel said his team would need to make a noticeable improvement if they were to have any chance of reaching the final.In energy-sapping Florida heat and humidity, England's shaky defence allowed Andreas Schjelderup to unleash a rasping shot from the left to put Norway ahead on 36 minutes.But England got a huge break in first-half stoppage time when Bellingham equalised after an attack that was initiated when a goal kick from Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland appeared to hit an overhead camera cable.Norway's players protested in vain and the goal stood. The Norwegians also had a goal controversially disallowed before Bellingham then poached the winner in extra-time."We made life very, very difficult for ourselves today," Tuchel said afterwards."The result is fantastic. The last four is amazing, but not happy with the performance... we were very lucky today."While football's world governing body FIFA later said there was "no evidence" the ball had hit the cable before England's first goal, Norway coach Stale Solbakken was adamant."That was unlucky for us," Solbakken said. "The ball fell straight down from the sky, so it changed its direction. But we can't do anything about that."Erling Haaland, the marauding forward who scored seven goals as Norway reached uncharted waters at the tournament, said his team's performance had inspired a new generation."How we put Norway on the map is maybe one thing that touches me the most," said Haaland, who failed to score for the first time in 15 competitive games for his country."Hopefully now we can establish something when it comes to Euros, World Cups and everything because our generation is amazing and also all this gives motivation to young people back in Norway that it's possible to play a big stage in the world with a Norwegian shirt."

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) —  England and Norway were preparing to lock horns in a blockbuster World Cup quarter-final battle of elite strikers in Miami on Saturday set to be played in ferocious heat and humidity. The two European rivals face off at the Hard Rock Stadium in a match that kicks off at 5:00 pm local time (2200 GMT), with the winner facing a semi-final against Argentina or Switzerland. While the build-up has focused on the duel between in-form England striker Harry Kane and his Norway counterpart Erling Haaland, both teams share an additional opponent in Mother Nature. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory noting that the heat index -- a combined measure of air temperature and relative humidity often called the "feels like" temperature -- is set to reach a punishing 108 Fahrenheit (42 degrees Celsius) at kick-off. Norway coach Stale Solbakken said his team had factored in the conditions during practice for Saturday's collision in Miami. "We have trained very lightly. We haven't done much hard work," Solbakken said Friday. "It's all about being fresh tomorrow." On the field, all eyes will be on the expected duel between Kane, who has scored six goals during England's journey to the last eight, and Haaland, who has found the net seven times. Kane described 25-year-old Haaland as "a beast" but insisted he and the Manchester City striker had contrasting styles. "I see myself as a different player, although I score the same goals," the England captain, 32, said on Friday. I respect him a lot as a player and as a professional." England coach Thomas Tuchel will look to Haaland's Manchester City teammates John Stones and Marc Guehi to contain the threat posed by the towering Norwegian striker. Both Guehi and Stones were named in a tweaked back four. Noni Madueke was also drafted in on the right flank in place of his Arsenal teammate Bukayo Saka. Coach Thomas Tuchel said: "We took a big step in our last match, but it was only a step. "The next step is to win a quarter-final. The important thing is to look up at what is ahead of us."   - 'Keep dreaming' -   Late Saturday, Argentina face Switzerland in Kansas City as they aim to edge closer to completing their dream of back-to-back World Cups. The South Americans cruised through the group stage but since entering the knockout rounds, frailties have crept in as they were pushed to breaking point by first World Cup debutants Cape Verde and then Egypt. Lionel Messi, who turned 39 during the group phase, has again been the talisman for the South Americans, his genius repeatedly getting his team out of tight spots. But there is just a suggestion the Swiss, a well-organised unit marshalled by midfield general Granit Xhaka, could exploit any weariness and cause them problems at Arrowhead Stadium. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said he is proud of the character his team has shown. "I would like this national team to be remembered as a team that never gave up," he said. The 48-year-old has been especially marked by the support for the team expressed by a young fan. "We do not play football just for a win," he said. "And then when you see those things that come out of our heart, this is just outstanding." Messi will be bidding to add to the 21 goals -- a new record -- he has scored across the six World Cups in which he has played. Xhaka, 33, for his part said his message to the Swiss supporters was simple. "Regarding the fans, keep dreaming. I am a person who always dreams, and dreams can come true," he said. "Sometimes you need to do something new. You really need to push your limits if you want to beat Argentina. And I'm convinced my team is ready."

England lock horns with Norway in a World Cup quarter-final in Miami on Saturday that pits Harry Kane against Erling Haaland in a mouthwatering battle of elite strikers. The teams are competing to face either reigning champions Argentina or surprise package Switzerland in the semi-finals. Kane has once again been England’s hero, dragging his teammates through an attritional last-16 meeting with Mexico at the Estadio Azteca that they won 3-2 despite having a man sent off. The Bayern Munich forward has scored six goals to fire the Three Lions to the quarter-finals. Haaland appears to have been enjoying himself ever since he touched down in the United States and began smashing in the seven goals that have carried Norway further than ever before. Their run, which included eliminating Brazil, has been accompanied by their fans’ joyous rowing celebration that has turned venues across the US into giant human Viking ships. A young Norwegian fan prepares to participate in the “Viking Row,” a cheer created by Norwegian football fans which gained popularity during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in Miami, Florida, the US on July 10, 2026, — AFP “Every game has been the most important (in history) for Norwegian football, especially in the knockout rounds, so this is the third time it is the most important game,” Norway coach Stale Solbakken said on Friday. Kane described 25-year-old Haaland as “a beast” but insisted he and the Manchester City striker had contrasting styles. “I see myself as a different player, although I score the same goals,” the England captain, 32, said on Friday. “I like to maybe touch the ball a little bit more, be involved with the play a little bit more, but also can play as maybe the out-and-out number nine. “I don’t think it’s one to compare ourselves. I respect him a lot as a player and as a professional.” England’s Harry Kane speaks to the media in a press conference one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match at Miami Stadium on July 10, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida, the US. — AFP England were boosted by the return to training on Friday of the influential trio of Declan Rice, Marc Guehi and Reece James, who have been dealing with illness and injury. Coach Thomas Tuchel described their presence as “the best news” and said: “We took a big step in our last match, but it was only a step. “The next step is to win a quarter-final. The important thing is to look up at what is ahead of us.” The contest in Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium is likely to be a sweaty affair played in temperatures forecast to rise above 40° Celsius. Fatigue setting in? Argentina made a smooth start to their bid to become the first country since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups. But since they entered the knockout rounds, frailties have crept in as they were pushed to breaking point, first by World Cup debutants Cape Verde and then Egypt. Lionel Messi, who turned 39 during the group phase, has again been the talisman for the South Americans, his genius repeatedly getting his team out of tight spots. But there is just a suggestion that the Swiss, a well-organised unit marshalled by midfield general Granit Xhaka, could exploit any weariness and cause them problems at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. “They have very experienced players. They are strong. So it will be a tough opponent, that is for sure,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said on Friday. Messi will be bidding to add to the 21 goals — a new record — he has scored across the six World Cups in which he has played. Messi’s numbers could be even better had he converted two penalties, but Scaloni said he would not take spot-kick duties away from his inspirational captain. “It wouldn’t even cross my mind to go and tell him not to [take the next penalty]. Let him do whatever he wants,” he said. Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta on July 7, 2026. — AFP On Friday, Spain struck late to beat Belgium 2-1 and move on to a blockbuster World Cup semi-final against France. The game in Los Angeles was decided by a goalkeeping error from Belgium’s Senne Lammens, who spilt a shot, allowing Mikel Merino to pounce to make it 2-1 in the 88th minute. European champions Spain, who earlier conceded their first goal in the entire tournament, will now face the swashbuckling French in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said the game would be “a final before the final”, given the quality of both teams.

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Spain beat Belgium 2-1 on Friday to move into a blockbuster World Cup semi-final against France after a hectic game decided by a goalkeeping error from Senne Lammens. The unfancied Belgians had fought back from going a goal down to Fabian Ruiz's strike on the half-hour mark at a boiling SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, with Charles De Ketelaere bringing them level on 41 minutes. It was the first goal that Spain have conceded at this tournament. As an increasingly tense quarter-final seemed to be heading for extra time, Pau Cubarsi unleashed a shot from 25 yards out that Manchester United's stopper Lammens couldn't keep hold of and Mikel Merino was perfectly positioned to poke in the rebound. It was a heartbreaking moment for Lammens but Merino, who had also delivered the killer blow to Portugal in the last 16, turned to the massed ranks of Spanish fans in the 70,000 crowd and celebrated. Lammens was only on the pitch because first-choice 'keeper Thibaut Courtois injured himself in the second half. The giant Courtois went to Lammens to console him at the final whistle. Spain had needed that touch of fortune after being denied by the Belgian defence, who effectively shut down Lamine Yamal in a game which was far closer than many pundits had predicted. France, who beat Morocco 2-0 on Thursday, will have taken note of how rattled the Spanish defence seemed at times as they contemplate their meeting with Spain in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday. On Saturday, the remaining two quarter-finals will take place on a huge day of World Cup action. Norway face England in Miami, and Norway coach Stale Solbakken said the showdown between strikers Erling Haaland and Harry Kane will go a long way to deciding the outcome. Haaland has struck seven times in his first four appearances at a major tournament to fire Norway to the last eight for the first time on their return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence. Kane is just one goal behind the Manchester City striker for the tournament after taking his World Cup tally to 14 as he has helped England reach a third consecutive quarter-final. "I think it's Norway versus England, but I don't think it is a secret that Kane is the match winner number one for England and Haaland is the match winner number one for us," Solbakken said at his pre-match press conference. England's bid to return to the semi-finals after a last-eight exit four years ago hit another bump as centre-half Marc Guehi is now a doubt because of a hamstring strain. Guehi will be assessed Friday, but with Jarell Quansah suspended for the quarter-final clash after being sent off against Mexico in the previous round, coach Thomas Tuchel finds himself with unwanted defensive headaches as he plots how to stop the marauding Haaland. On Thursday, France made a good Morocco team look decidedly average in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Kylian Mbappe scored his eighth goal of this World Cup and 20th World Cup goal overall before Ousmane Dembele completed the job. France captain Mbappe was substituted and applied an ice pack to his foot but was quick to reassure fans that it was nothing serious.