England vs Argentina LIVE: Fifa give inexperienced mild for ‘lucky’ package to be worn by South Americans in World Cup semi-final

England will be in white for the semi-final clash in Atlanta, with Argentina wearing their alternate dark blue number rather than the familiar stripes. They were also in their away kit in the World Cup wins over England in 1986 and 1998, not that that means anything whatsoever.

World Cup champions Argentina have been given the green light by Fifa to wear their ‘lucky’ blue away kit when they face England in Wednesday’s semi-final.

They have worn the darker kit once during this tournament, in a 3-1 win against Jordan during the group stage.

The kit change is most likely due to kit regulations and a potential clash with England’s white home kit but Argentinian media are leaning towards superstition.

Argentina defeated England in their blue kit in iconic World Cup matches in 1986 and 1998.

Fifa’s preference is for each team to wear its first-choice colours, but if there is a potential clash it will follow steps to ensure an acceptable colour contrast is found.

Wednesday’s encounter will be England’s seventh semi-final at a major tournament – here’s a reminder of the previous six…

The legacy of the Falklands War has an impact on refereeing appointments at this World Cup – Kieran Jackson explains why.

I have the uncomfortable feeling that many otherwise patriotic British people – perhaps rather too many of them – would happily trade the Falkland Islands in a heartbeat for a place for England in the final of the World Cup.

Obviously, as a devoutly cakeist nation, we’d rather that we beat the Argentinians fair and square on the pitch, as we once did in the South Atlantic.

But, if faced with the choice of ending 60 years of hurt or coming to a sensible sovereignty-sharing arrangement with Buenos Aires to resolve a long-running colonial dispute, well… who wouldn’t prefer to see Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Jordan Pickford and the lads lifting the gleaming Jules Rimet trophy? All this – and a bank holiday, too.

It is understood that Friday 24 July has been earmarked for a celebratory bank holiday if England wins the tournament, 60 years after its first and only victory in the competition.

Football’s chief police officer has praised the behaviour of England fans at the World Cup – and hopes those watching the matches from the UK start to follow their example.

Chief Constable Mark Roberts of Cheshire Police, the UK’s football policing lead, said the conduct of England fans attending Saturday’s quarter-final victory over Norway in Miami was once again “exemplary”.

“The atmosphere during the game was passionate but friendly, with no animosity between fans at the end of the match,” he said.

“It’s a real shame that the same cannot be said about the behaviour of fans back home here in the UK.

“Over Saturday evening, into the early hours of Sunday morning we had over 500 incidents reported, with more than 100 arrests across the country.

“The vast majority of these incidents have been alcohol-related and along with the extended licensing hours, we have seen an increase in calls to premises with big screens that are attracting large numbers of fans.

“This behaviour really is disappointing. Domestically this tournament is the worst one we have seen for number of incidents and arrests. If we can have 40,000 fans together in Miami with no trouble, then why can’t fans follow their exemplary behaviour and do the same back home?

“England are in the semi-finals of the World Cup, the sun is shining and this should be a time for celebration and getting behind the team, not getting involved in fights and causing trouble for UK Policing which is already facing significant demand.

“So ahead of Wednesday’s game I would urge fans back home to follow those leading by example in the US – enjoy the game and atmosphere, go out and have fun but do so without causing problems for yourselves and others.”

Harry Kane has urged England to find the “missing piece” and get over the line in the quest for World Cup glory, but accepts Thomas Tuchel’s demand for improvements.

Kane’s side booked a semi-final date with Argentina on Wednesday with a hard-fought extra-time win over Norway in Saturday’s quarter-final.

The meeting with Lionel Messi and co. will be England’s second semi-final in three World Cups, following their run to the last four in 2018, while they have been beaten finalists in successive European Championships.

Kane knows it is a golden period in the country’s history but wants to finish the job off and bring some silverware home.

“It’s been an extremely successful era of our national team,” the Bayern Munich striker said. “Of course, we want to get over the line. That is the missing piece now.

“We’re knocking on the door. We’re getting to these semi-finals and finals. It’s a big week. We’ve got eight days left on this tournament.

“We’ve been together six weeks and shown every bit of desire for the badge and we’re going to need an even bigger push now for the last week or so.”

On the latest episode of Copa Independent, Lawrence Ostlere is joined by Miguel Delaney in Atlanta and Kieran Jackson to preview the World Cup semi-finals: England v Argentina and Spain v France, a last four featuring the top four ranked teams and four previous winners.

England’s win over Norway is assessed through the Miami heat, Jude Bellingham’s form and Golden Boot push, Harry Kane’s fatigue, Declan Rice’s fitness, Tuchel’s substitutions, and the Tuchel–Bellingham media flashpoint.

They also explore the deep history and political context of England–Argentina, Messi facing England for the first time, and the tactical contrast of Spain’s positional play against France’s attacking freedom, plus how rest days and VAR could shape the run-in.

France or Spain? It’s the question that will be answered tomorrow night, but there is a broader one to be asked, too, as the two defining European footballing nations of the 21st century meet. Richard Jolly looks at the similarities and differences between the pair.