Sports
World Cup: England ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ vs Argentina ๐ฆ๐ท will the game go to extra time? Our Prediction
Mambo, football fans! The World Cup has delivered us one of the fixtures we've all been waiting for. England face Argentina in the semi-finals on Wednesday at 8pm (BST), and the question on every trader's mind is simple: will 90 minutes be enough to separate these two giants?
Both Teams Already Know the Extra Time Grind
Cheki this: England beat Norway 2-1 after extra-time in their quarter-final in Miami, with Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham combining for seven goals in the knockout stage. The Three Lions didn't make it easy for themselves, going behind before Bellingham controlled excellently in the area, drifting clear of his marker and rifling an effort past รrjan Hรฅskjold Nyland to level the score just before halftime.
Argentina? Same story. Argentina were taken to extra time for the second time this tournament, with goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez in extra-time securing a 3-1 win over Switzerland. La Albiceleste are unbeaten now in their last 12 World Cup matches, but they've been making life difficult for themselves.
England hasn't won by more than a single goal since the knockout stage started. Meanwhile, Argentina were almost on the receiving end of one of the biggest World Cup upsets of all time, as Cape Verde so nearly took the defending champions to penalties, denied only by a deflected Cristian Romero header in the 111th minute. These are two teams built for the long haul.
A Rivalry That Demands Drama
The Argentina-England football rivalry is considered one of the most hostile in the sport. Games between the two teams, even those that are only friendly matches, are often marked by notable and sometimes controversial incidents. This isn't just football, it's history on the pitch.
Despite some historic battles over the years, the two teams have not faced each other for 21 years. In World Cup meetings specifically, England and Argentina have faced each other in 5 matches in FIFA World Cup. Out of these 5 games, England have won 3 whereas Argentina have come out victorious on 1 occasion. 1 match ended with draw.
But here's what matters for this market: The drama of Mexico '86 was more than matched at France '98 as Argentina prevailed on penalties at the Last 16 stage. These teams don't do simple. When they meet at the World Cup, expect tension, controversy, and matches that go the distance.
Extra Time is Common at This Stage
Wazi, let's look at the numbers. The 2022 World Cup saw five matches go to a penalty shootout, the most in the history of the tournament. That included the final between France and Argentina, which became just the third World Cup final to go to penalties. Knockout football at this level is tight.
The World Cup final has gone to extra time on seven occasions. The first of these was England's 4-2 win over West Germany in the 1966 final. England themselves have recent experience with the extra 30 minutes, having been in four World Cup penalty shoot-outs and won just one, at the 2018 World Cup against Colombia. They had previously lost in shoot-outs at the 1990, 1998, and 2006 World Cups.
The trend in this tournament has been clear. Tight, defensive knockout matches are forcing extra time more frequently than ever. Both of these teams already went 120 minutes in the quarterfinals. Their legs will be heavy, but their determination won't waver.
Tactical Battle Points to a Stalemate
Thomas Tuchel, even after positive results, unapologetically demands more from his team. His England side has shown resilience but not dominance. Furious England manager Thomas Tuchel said his team would need to make a drastic improvement if they were to have any chance of progressing beyond the semi-finals.
On the other side, We all know we've reached the end of Lionel Messi's World Cup career. Whether it's in the semifinal or the final, Messi will play his last-ever match at the tournament next week. This adds emotional weight that could inspire Argentina to dig deep, defend, and take it to extra time if needed.
The South Americans and their talisman Lionel Messi must defeat England in Atlanta to keep alive their hopes of becoming the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1962. England and their key partnership of Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane must win to have any hope of ending a 60-year wait for a major trophy. With stakes this high, neither team will take risks in regular time.
Our Prediction
This match has extra time written all over it. Both teams have already proven they can go 120 minutes in this tournament. The historical rivalry guarantees a cagey, tactical affair. England has only won two of its six matches by more than one goal, showing they struggle to put teams away early.
Argentina's path has been even more dramatic, needing late goals and extra time repeatedly. Expect a tight first half, cautious second half, and the real drama to unfold after the 90th minute. For Kenyan traders on Kadiplay, YES for extra time looks like the smart prediction here.
Will This Historic Rivalry Go the Distance?
England vs Argentina has all the ingredients for extra time drama. Back your prediction now and win KES when this semifinal classic goes beyond 90 minutes.