England vs Argentina tactics: How Thomas Tuchel’s side can stop Lionel Messi and Co and reach the World Cup final

Here we go. England face Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday - a fixture loaded with history, jeopardy and one final obstacle between Thomas Tuchel’s side and the World Cup final. It may be the biggest England game of a generation, but where could it be won or lost?

According to Opta, the outcome is almost a coin toss, with Tuchel's side given a 52.9 per cent chance of reaching the final. France are favourites on the other side of the draw, but England still have a 22.6 per cent chance of becoming world champions.

Two superstars will collide in the air-conditioned Atlanta cauldron: Jude Bellingham and Lionel Messi. Sixteen years separate them, but both have shaped their teams' tournaments, carrying huge attacking responsibility and delivering decisive moments on the road to the semi-finals.

All-action Bellingham has now scored twice in successive England games, taking his tournament tally to six.

Operating in an advanced No 10 role, the Real Madrid midfielder has become England's most explosive attacking force - and the range of shots underlines the confidence running through his game.

And then there is Messi. Having seemingly bowed out as a world champion four years ago, the 39-year-old has returned to mesmerise once again, leading Argentina's charge and sharing the Golden Boot lead with fellow 2022 finalist Kylian Mbappe.

The Sky Sports Power Rankings reflect which players have made the greatest impact across the tournament, and, among players from the two teams, it is no surprise to see Messi on top. Bellingham is next, ahead of Harry Kane, who has also spearheaded England's run to the semi-finals.

Argentina are not just Messi. They are the tournament's top scorers with 17 goals, one ahead of France, and their threat is spread across the team: eight different Argentina players have scored, compared with three for England.

Tuchel's side edge some of the territory metrics, including passes into the box, box touches and big chances created, but Argentina also lead for expected goals, shots and fast breaks.

You can tap on the column headers below to sort the stats and evaluate which players pose the greatest threats. Perhaps surprisingly, Bellingham has notched more non-penalty expected goals than Kane to date.

Argentina's shape is unusual. Their wide players have often averaged deep, closer to wide midfielders than orthodox wingers, which could create space for England's full-backs to advance.

England's wingers, by contrast, have stayed high and wide, while Kane's deeper average position reflects his tendency to drop in and release runners ahead of him.

That contrast is reflected in the attacking-third data: 74 per cent of England's threat has come down the flanks, split almost evenly left and right. Argentina are more balanced, but their central threat is unusually high - Messi territory.