The second of the Fifa World Cup semi finals comes from Atlanta on Wednesday where England clash with Argentina and the match result betting market has a pretty open look to it
England
Jude Bellingham scored twice for England who beat Norway 2-1 in extra time in the quarter finals in Miami. Both sides struggled in the heat and Norway took the lead on 36 minutes only for Bellingham to square things up on the stroke of half time. It stayed that way throughout the second half although England rode their luck with Norway having had a goal chalked off and they also hit the woodwork. Early in extra time Bellingham made it 2-1 and that’s how it finished.
England took on co-hosts Mexico in the Azteca Stadium in the Round of 16 and they held on for a 3-2 win. Jude Bellingham scored twice in 2 minutes towards the end of the first half but Mexico halved the deficit and England led 2-1 at half time. Jarell Quansah was red carded on 54 minutes but England went 3-1 up with aa Harry Kane penalty on the hour mark. Mexico made it 3-2 with their own penalty on 69 minutes and largely set up camp in the England half for the remainder of the game but England held on.
England were given a huge scare by DR Congo before eventually coming through their Round of 32 clash in Atlanta with a 2-1 win. They were a goal down in just 7 minutes and DRC also hit the woodwork. It took England until the 75th minute to draw level through a Harry Kane header and the England skipper then completed the comeback with an excellent strike in the 86th minute.
England topped Group L with 2 wins and 1 draw. Their tally of 7 points was 1 more than runners up Croatia whilst Ghana finished third with 4 points and Panama failed to earn a point or score a goal and were eliminated.
England secured top spot in the group with a 2-0 win over Panama in New Jersey where it took just over an hour to score the first goal through Bellingham and Harry Kane added the second shortly afterwards. In their second match of the tournament England played out a dour 0-0 draw with Ghana in Boston. England took on Croatia in Dallas in their opening game and they came out on top 4-2. Harry Kane scored twice in the first half, the first a penalty but it was 2-2 at half time. Bellingham made it 3-2 early in the second half before Rashford rounded off the scoring.
Argentina
Argentina are another step closer to defending the title they won in Qatar 4 years ago after they saw off Switzerland 3-1 in extra time in Kansas City. Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring after just 10 minutes but Switzerland arguably had the better of the game until Breel Embolo was red carded on 72 minutes. By that time the Swiss had already levelled and it remained 1-1 to send us into extra time where goals from Alvares and Martinez saw Argentina through.
Argentina are sailing as close to the win as you can possibly get in the knockout rounds. They came from 2-0 down to beat Egypt 3-2 in the Round of 16 in Atlanta on Tuesday with all of their goals coming from the 79th minute onwards. Egypt were a goal up in 15 minutes, Lionel Messi missed a first half penalty and Egypt had a goal disallowed by VAR before they made it 2-0 on 67 minutes. Cristian Romero pulled a goal back, Lionel Messi equalised on 83 minutes and Enzo Fernandez found the winner in the 92nd minute. Egypt were not happy with the match officials but Argentina stayed alive and Messi, who has now missed 2 spot kicks, finished the Ro16 as the tournament’s top scorer with 8 goals.
Argentina came up against Cape Verde in the Round of 32 in Miami, they were overwhelming favourites with the bookmakers but extra time was needed to settle the match with Argentina coming out on top 3-2. Lionel Messi gave Argentina a 1-0 lead in the first half but Cape Verde squared things up just before the hour mark and it stayed that way for the remainder of regulation time. Lisandro Martinez then put Argentina 2-1 in front but Cape Verde came back immediately to make it 2-2. An own goal then made it 3-2 to the South Americans and that’s the way it finished.
Argentina topped Group J with more than a degree of comfort. They won all 3 matches to finish 5 points clear of Austria and Algeria who also made it through whilst Jordan failed to pick up a point.
They were already assured of first place in the group ahead of their third match which came against Jordan in Dallas and they won the game 3-1 with Giovani lo Celso, Lautaro Martinez (penalty) and Messi the scorers.
In their second outing a 2-0 win over Austria came with 2 more goals from Lionel Messi and they came through their first task with a comfortable 3-0 win over Algeria in Kansas City with a Lionel Messi hat trick.
The Betting (Regulation time unless stated otherwise)
England are priced at around 16/10 to win the game with the draw available at 2/1 and Argentina can be backed at around 2/1
A game of 3 goals or more is priced at 5/4 and its 9/10 for both teams to score
Sportingbet price boosts include;
England to win and both teams to score at 21/4
Argentina to win and over 2.5 total goals at 5/1
Jude Bellinghan any time goalscorer at 15/4
1st goalscorer Lionel Messi at 17/4
The Verdict:
Kane and Bellingham have scored all bar 1 of England’s goals in this tournament and whilst they are the two star performers I’m battling to name another England player who has really stood out. Meanwhile some of Argentina’s big guns haven’t really stood out as they did 4 years ago and they have been cutting it pretty fine a well.
Naming a winner here looks no easy task but I can see scope for goals for both sides in regulation time whilst Romero to pick up a card is also on my radar.
Bets: Both teams score yes at 9/10 with Lucky Fish
Player to be carded Cristian Romero at 11/5 with Sportingbet
Note, odds are subject to change