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Speaker 1: Tonight, the defending champions faced the team that has refused

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to die. Argentina versus England Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta,

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three pm Eastern, the second semi final of the twenty

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twenty six World Cup, and the winner goes to the

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final against Spain on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. This matchup

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has history. The nineteen eighty six quarter final, the hand

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of God, the goal of the Century, the nineteen ninety

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eight round of sixteen, David Beckham's red card, the penalty

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shootout heartbreak, the twenty twenty two quarter final, another penalty shootout,

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another English exit. These teams have met at World Cups before,

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and Argentina have won every time. England are still chasing

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their first victory over the Albisleste on the biggest stage.

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Argentina have been a team of resilience in this tournament.

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They came from behind to beat Egypt in the Round

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of sixteen, needed extra time to beat Switzerland in the

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U S quarter finals, and have looked like a team

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that knows how to win even when they are not

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at their best. Lionel Messi has been the heartbeat. He

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has not been the dominant goal scorer of past tournaments,

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but his influence on the game is still undeniable. The

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ball finds him, the attack runs through him, and when

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Argentina need a moment of magic, he is still the

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player they turn to. Juli An Alvarez has been the

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breakout star for Argentina in the knockout rounds. His goal

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against Switzerland in extra time was the decisive moment that

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broke Swiss hearts. Lauta Ro Martinez added a second in

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the final minute, and Alexis mac A Listaire, the Liverpool midfielder,

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has been the engine in midfield alongside Enzo Fernandez and

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Rodrigo de Paul. Argentina's midfield is experienced, tough and tactically intelligent,

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but there are questions. The defense, anchored by Christian Romero

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and Nicolas Ottomendi, has looked vulnerable at times. Egypt exploited

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space behind the fullbacks in the round of sixteen, Switzerland

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equalized in the quarter final and held on for forty

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minutes with ten men. Spain, who await in the final,

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would be a terrifying opponent for this Argentine defense if

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they play the way they did against France. England, meanwhile,

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have been the survival story of this tournament. Jude Balingham's

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stoppage time equalizer against Norway in the quarter final, followed

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by his winner three minutes into extra time, was one

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of the moments of this World Cup. England were outplayed

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for fifty three minutes against Norway, they were trailing, they

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looked ordinary, and then Balingham produced two goals that saved

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their tournament. Harry Kane has been quiet by his standards.

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He has not found the scoring rhythm that made him

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one of the world's best strikers. But England's defense, led

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by John Stones and Deckland Rice, has been organized and

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difficult to break down. Kyle Waker and Kiran trip Eer

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have provided width and defensive solidity, and Phil Foxden, when

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he has had the ball in dangerous areas, has shown

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flashes of the brilliance that won him the Premier League

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Player of the Year. The key tactical question is the

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midfield battle Argentina's trio of mac ar listre Enzo and

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DePaul against England's Rice Balingham, and whoever Gareth Southgate selects

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as the third man. If Argentina can control possession and

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force England to Chase, Messi will have time to pick

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passes in the final third. If England can disrupt Argentina's

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rhythm and turn the game into a physical battle, their

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athleticism could overwhelm Argentina's aging corps. Set pieces could be decisive.

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England have been dangerous from corners and free kicks throughout

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this tournament. Argentina's defense has struggled with aerial balls at times.

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If England get a dead ball situation in a dangerous area,

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Stones or Caine could be the difference. And then there

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is the Messi factor. At thirty nine years old, this

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is almost certainly his last World Cup. He has carried

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Argentina to a Copra America, to a World Cup title

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in twenty twenty two, and now to another semifinal. One

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more win and he has a chance to defend that title.

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Two more wins and he has a chance to do

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something no player has ever done, win consecutive World Cups

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as the centerpiece of his national team. But England have Becklingham.

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At twenty three years old, he has already produced two

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of the most important goals in English World Cup history.

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He is fearless, he is clutch, and he is the

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reason England are still alive. If he has another moment

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like the one against Norway, England could finally break their

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Argentina curse. The winner face this is Spain in the

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final on Sunday. Spain have been the best team in

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this tournament. Whoever comes out of Atlanta tonight will be

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the underdog at MetLife Stadium, but both Argentina and England

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have shown they can win when it matters most. We

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will be back tomorrow morning to break down whatever happens

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at Mercedes Benz Stadium. Quick note This show is produced

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with the help of AI