Inter captain Lautaro Martinez, Juventus winger Nico Gonzalez and Como’s Nico Paz are on the bench for Lionel Messi’s Argentina against England in the World Cup semi-final.
It kicks off in Atlanta at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST).
The winners go on to face Spain in the Final on Sunday evening, while the losers fight with France for the bronze medal on Saturday.
There is some Italian representation here, as Maurizio Mariani is the fourth official on the touchline dealing with Thomas Tuchel and Lionel Scaloni.
Argentina have scraped their way through to this stage in defending their title won in 2022, needing extra time against Cape Verde, a last-gasp turnaround from 2-0 down to beat Egypt 3-2 amid controversy, and again extra time to defeat 10-man Switzerland.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez scored twice in this World Cup, but he is benched once more in favour of Julian Alvarez.
There was expected to be a Serie A player in the starting XI, as for the first time Juventus man Nico Gonzalez was going to get the nod rather than ex-Udinese midfielder Rodrigo De Paul on the right.
Instead, it is Giuliano Simeone, younger brother of Torino forward Giovanni Simeone, who plays.
Curiously, Giuliano was born in Rome because his father Diego was playing for Lazio at the time.
Nico Gonzalez spent this season on loan with Atletico Madrid, but they did not agree to buy him outright yet, scoring five goals in 37 games.
Nahuel Molina, another former Udinese player, starts at right-back, while ex-Roma midfielder Leandro Paredes has shaken off a knock.
England were given their toughest test yet in the quarter-final, squeezing past Erling Haaland’s Norway in extra time thanks to a Jude Bellingham brace.
All but one of their goals in the competition have been scored by either Bellingham or Harry Kane.
Jordan Henderson is out after breaking his arm jumping over an advertising board, while Jarrell Quansah continues his two-match ban.
Declan Rice has recovered from a stomach bug, but the surprise is Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa given his second start of the World Cup on the right.
There is some reshuffling in defence, with Reece James and Inter-linked Djed Spence as full-backs.
England vs. Argentina line-ups
England: Pickford; James, Stones, Guehi, Spence; Rice, Anderson; Rogers, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane
Argentina: Emiliano Martinez; Molina, Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Tagliafico; Simeone, Paredes, Enzo Fernandez, Mac Allister; Messi, Julian Alvarez
Player statistic
| Elliot Anderson | 37′ | |||
| 42′ | Lautaro Martínez |
| 51′ | Cristian Romero | |||
| Anthony Gordon
(Assist: Morgan Rogers)
|
55′ | |||
| 86′ | Enzo Fernández
(Assist: Lionel Messi)
|
|||
| 90+2′ |  |
Lautaro Martínez
(Assist: Lionel Messi)
|
||
| 90+4′ |  |
Rodrigo de Paul |
Match statistic
England
Argentina
Starting lineups
Substitutes
