Argentina are just one win away from becoming only the third nation to successfully defend a FIFA World Cup title. Lionel Messi and co. face England in a massive semifinal today, with both teams looking to book their place in the final after impressive runs through the tournament.
Argentina enter the match after a 3-1 victory over Switzerland in the quarterfinals, having previously eliminated Egypt in the Round of 16 and Cabo Verde in the Round of 32.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Along with the pressure of entering the tournament as one of the favorites, Lionel Scaloni's side have also had to deal with allegations of favoritism from FIFA and match officials. While there is no evidence to support those claims, Argentina have an opportunity to silence their critics with another strong performance today
Argentina World Cup Knockout Scenarios
If Argentina Win
A victory over England would send Argentina to their third consecutive FIFA World Cup final. They would face Spain in the championship match on Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium.
If Argentina Lose
A loss would end Argentina's hopes of defending their World Cup title. Instead, they would face France in the third-place playoff after Les Bleus were eliminated by Spain in the other semifinal.
If Argentina Draw
If the match is tied after 90 minutes, it will go to 30 minutes of extra time, consisting of two 15-minute halves. If the score remains level after extra time, the winner will be decided by a penalty shootout.
