England are two wins from a World Cup title and standing between them and the final are Lionel Messi and Argentina.
The defending champions have leaned on their captain at every big moment of this tournament and the semi-final figures to be no different. Messi may have shifted to Inter Miami in MLS but on the international stage he remains the same player who can flip a game with a single moment.
England have their own weapons. Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have both had strong tournaments and the Three Lions have found ways to come through when it mattered most.
Getting to the final means going through the reigning world champions. Most teams would feel the weight of that. Marc Guehi doesn't.
Marc Guehi Pushes the Pressure Back on Argentina
The England defender spoke before the match and made it clear he sees this one differently. In his view Argentina have far more to lose and there's no reason England should feel burdened walking into a World Cup semi-final.
"Both sides have great players, and when you have that, it's just going to be a good game, fun watch," Guehi said via Sky Sports. "There isn't pressure on us. What's the pressure? The onus is on them. They're the world champions. So they need to come out and they need to defend their title. There is no pressure on us at all."
The biggest challenge for England will be managing Messi. He has a way of going quiet for long stretches before producing the one moment that decides a game. England's defenders will need to stay switched on for the full 90 minutes.
Both sides have taken similar routes through this tournament, grinding out tight games and finding ways to survive under pressure. That makes this semi-final a genuinely compelling matchup.
One more detail that adds to the occasion is across 21 years of international football Messi has never once faced England. That changes when the 39-year-old lines up against the Three Lions for the very first time.
