FreeTips Logo

Get Free Alerts

Never miss a tip. Choose your sports and get instant updates.

Football

Football

8 active tips

Basketball

Basketball

1 active tip

Cricket

Cricket

1 active tip

Tennis

Tennis

1 active tip

Esports

Esports

1 active tip

Free forever. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime by leaving the channel.

Home / Football / FIFA World Cup / England vs Argentina Team News & Predicted Line-Ups - Will Rice make the 2026 World Cup semi-final?

England vs Argentina Team News & Predicted Line-Ups - Will Rice make the 2026 World Cup semi-final?

  • Lionel Messi is a certain starter and Argentina have no injury or suspension worries
  • Declan Rice's fitness is England's main concern after a half-time exit against Norway
  • Jarrell Quansah is suspended and Jordan Henderson is out of the tournament
Gary EmmersonWritten by Gary Emmerson
Sports Editor30+ Years Experience In Sports & Betting
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
declan rice

Declan Rice is an injury concern for England (Getty Images)


Argentina and England meet in the second semi-final of the 2026 World Cup at Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday, with a place in the final on the line. Latest on how each side might line-up.

Lionel Scaloni has a clean bill of health for his Argentina side, while Thomas Tuchel is managing a handful of fitness calls.

England Team News


Declan Rice is England's main concern ahead of the 2026 World Cup semi-final showdown with Argentina.

Tuchel withdrew the Arsenal midfielder at half-time in the 2-1 quarter-final win over Norway, a call he described as tactical rather than fitness-related.

That followed the fact Rice had battled a virus and a hamstring problem in the build-up to the quarter-final in Miami. Marc Guehi, Rice and Reece James all returned to training in the days before the last four.

Jordan Henderson is out of the tournament, although he was kitted up for the quarter-final, after surgery on an arm injury suffered in the celebrations following the Mexico win.

Jarrell Quansah is suspended after his ban was extended to two matches for his sending off against Mexico. 

Jude Bellingham scored both goals against Norway and continues to lead the line behind Harry Kane. Elliot Anderson partners Rice in midfield if the Arsenal man is passed fit.

England Predicted Line-Up


England (4-2-3-1)

Jordan Pickford; Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Nico O'Reilly; Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson; Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon; Harry Kane.

Argentina Team News


Lionel Scaloni has no injury or suspension concerns and can name an unchanged side from the 3-1 extra-time win over Switzerland. 

Lionel Messi is the one certain starter and captains the side, with Argentina keeping Emiliano Martinez behind a back four of Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez and Nicolas Tagliafico.

Scaloni's one genuine decision is up front. Julian Alvarez started alongside Messi against Switzerland and scored the extra-time winner, but Lautaro Martinez struck again off the bench and pushes for a start. 

Leandro Paredes anchors a midfield of Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez. Gonzalo Montiel is on a yellow card and one booking from a ban.

Argentina Predicted Line-Up


Argentina (4-4-2)

Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez.

For the full match preview, betting tips and predicted score, see our Argentina vs England betting tips.
Gary Emmerson

Gary Emmerson

Sports Editor30+ Years Experience In Sports & Betting

Gary has been writing about sport for more than 25 years and graduated with a degree in media and journalism. He has worked for newspapers and online, covering everything from horse racing to football and loves a bet.

Follow Gary on Muckrack, Twitter or Linkedin
Read More