German Thomas Tuchel, coach of the England national football team, described the Argentina-England rivalry as 'much more than just a match' on the eve of their eagerly anticipated 2026 World Cup semifinal clash on Wednesday in Atlanta. The Argentina-England clashes are among the greatest national team classics, linked to iconic moments such as Maradona's famous 'Hand of God' goal and the so-called 'Goal of the Century' in the 1986 Mexico World Cup quarterfinal, but this rivalry has transcended the pitch, as seen with the Falklands War between the two countries in 1982.

The coach said in the press conference on Tuesday: 'You can't simply say it's just another football match, but as a coaching staff, that's exactly what we do: we focus on what we can influence.' He added: 'My coaching staff and I don't talk among ourselves about historical events. We don't talk about the iconic moments; the match itself is iconic, and the tension is already high enough.'

He believes England must impose their style and strengths despite acknowledging the size of the obstacle ahead, saying: 'Argentinians don't feel fear when they fall behind. They are an extremely competitive group. Players with very high quality, and players with great experience in every position. They love to play through the middle, they can defend strongly, so I think they have all the attributes.'

The coach continued: 'We have prepared to face the best version of Argentina. We expect, we hope, and we demand of ourselves to give our best in a big football match. I think all teams in the world can be beaten.'

Tuchel praised star Lionel Messi, who has shown a remarkable level at age 39 and tops the tournament's scoring charts alongside Frenchman Kylian Mbappé with eight goals each. He added: 'There are no more words to describe this kind of achievement, or the magnitude of responsibility, and the quality he proves again in this tournament. He is simply the leader and the most important player in any team he plays for, certainly in this Argentine team.'

He highlighted his team's defensive development throughout the tournament, but acknowledged the need to improve playmaking and increase attacking tempo if the players want to reach their first final in 60 years.

The winner will face Spain in the final on Sunday, after Spain defeated France 2-0 in Dallas on Tuesday. Tuchel congratulated the new finalists, saying: 'The bigger the stage, the more tension, but they play with greater composure and more confidence. It is very impressive.'

The German coach confirmed that all squad members are available for the semifinal, including midfielder Declan Rice, who went off at halftime in the quarterfinal against Norway due to the effects of an illness he contracted. The only absences are Jordan Henderson due to injury and Jarrell Quansah due to suspension.