England and Argentina get set to lock horns in an eagerly anticipated World Cup semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday night.
While Argentina have looked far from their best, they've displayed the grit of reigning World Cup champions to come through knockout ties against Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland.
England's famous 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium was followed by yet another tense affair against Norway, in which they needed extra time to emerge as 2-1 winners.
Ahead of Wednesday night's seismic clash, we've put together a combined XI of the two teams.
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GK - Jordan Pickford
Jordan Pickford has maintained unrivalled status as England's number one at major tournaments, eclipsing Peter Shilton's record as the nation's most capped goalkeeper at the World Cup when featuring in the Three Lions' 3-2 win over Mexico.
While Emiliano Martinez's standards have dropped somewhat at the 2026 World Cup, Pickford has proved as reliable as ever and kept his side in the game at the Azteca in the round of 16.
RB - Reece James
An elite creator, imposing one v one defender and exceptional ball striker, a fit Reece James is amongst the best right-backs in the world.
Granted, his lack of availability has held him back throughout his career, but no alternative right-back option in the England or Argentina squad comes close to the 26-year-old when he's at his powerful best.
CB - Marc Guehi
The fact that a whole host of Europe's elite were queuing up to secure Marc Guehi's signature when his contract was drawing to a close at Crystal Palace is testament to how good he is.
It was at the 2024 Euros where the central defender made a name for himself in an England shirt, and he's continued to do so ever since.
CB - John Stones
Don't let John Stones' absence in a Manchester City shirt fool you into thinking that he hasn't still got what it takes to play at the highest level at both club and international level.
Flawless in possession with a remarkable understanding of the game, the 32-year-old has never relied on pace to play at the top and his performances at the World Cup have proven why Tuchel called upon him despite a stop-start season.
LB - Nico O'Reilly
Solid defensively, refined technically and a permanent threat in the opposition's box, Nico O'Reilly is the full package at left-back.
Pep Guardiola and Tuchel -- two of the best managers in the world -- employ entirely different styles, and yet O'Reilly excels in both, showcasing his brilliance.
CM - Declan Rice
You can make a strong case for Declan Rice getting into every team in world football, and so his inclusion in our England v Argentina combined XI is hardly surprising.
An elite ball winner with remarkable set-piece delivery, Rice was the lynchpin of the Arsenal team that ended their 22-year wait for top-flight glory in the 2025/26 campaign.
CM - Enzo Fernandez
Elliot Anderson's omission from the team is admittedly harsh after a superb season with Nottingham Forest saw him earn a £116m move to Manchester City, but Enzo Fernandez has been performing at the top level for more than one season and it's for that reason that he gets the nod.
While much has been made of the Argentine's £106.8m transfer fee, his performances have rarely dropped below a 7/10 in a Chelsea shirt, and for the national team he's proved all the more integral under Lionel Scaloni.
AM - Jude Bellingham
It's hard to put into words Jude Bellingham's influence in this England team.
The fact that there were doubts as to whether the Real Madrid star should start for England at the World Cup now sounds laughable, proving indispensable in Tuchel's well-oiled setup throughout the tournament.
RW - Lionel Messi
While Argentina players have been hard to come by in this combined XI, Lionel Messi's selection is straightforward.
We have never seen a player of Messi's quality grace the sport, and the fact that his ability remains unrivalled at 39 years of age defies belief.
He solidified his GOAT status when guiding Argentina to World Cup glory four years ago -- scoring seven goals and recording three assists -- and any international success beyond that would only strengthen his case.
LW - Anthony Gordon
Eyebrows were raised when Barcelona paid a reported £69.3m fee for Anthony Gordon before the World Cup, but he's kept Marcus Rashford out of the team for the most part and has seemingly won around a fair share of his doubters.
Providing relentless energy, raw pace and versatility across the front three, the former Newcastle man boasts a unique profile and could prove his worth for the Catalan giants.
ST - Harry Kane
Harry Kane's 2025/26 season for Bayern Munich is amongst the best that we have ever seen from a centre forward; there is no two ways about it.
The England captain notched a remarkable 61 goals across 51 games in all competitions for the Bavarians last term, and -- while he was criticised on occasions throughout the 2024 Euros campaign -- he's stepped up when it's mattered for England this time round as the Three Lions look to close in on a seismic World Cup triumph.
