The official line-ups for the 2026 World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina have been released, with three Serie A stars surprisingly left on the bench by the South Americans. Meanwhile, England manager Thomas Tuchel has made an attacking change, handing a start to Morgan Rogers.
According to Football Italia, Lautaro Martinez of Inter, Nico Gonzalez of Juventus and Nico Paz of Como all start on the bench for Argentina. Martinez, who is the Inter captain, was expected to lead the line, but Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has opted for a different attacking setup.
England's bold selection
England have also sprung a surprise, with Morgan Rogers earning only his second start of the tournament. The decision comes as Tuchel looks to add more dynamism to the attack against an Argentina side that has conceded just twice in the knockout stages. Sky Sports reported that England have been practising penalties in every training session since arriving at the tournament, hinting at the tense nature of this clash.
Key battle ahead
With both teams making notable changes, the semi-final promises to be a tense affair. The absence of Martinez, Gonzalez and Paz might weaken Argentina's firepower, but Scaloni's squad depth could still prove decisive. England will hope Rogers can seize his moment on the biggest stage.
The match is set to be a thrilling encounter as both sides vie for a place in the final.