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Argentina’s players might have stumbled upon a few secrets in their victory over England that could be helpful moving forward.

Following Argentina’s 2-1 victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal on Wednesday, Lionel Messi and Argentina teammates Nico Gonzalez and Enzo Fernández huddled around a water bottle. They read the back of it as if it had a secret recipe.  

It might as well have, as it seemed to show a strategy for how England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford would have approached each Argentina player if the match were to go to a penalty shootout. 

For Messi, it read “Fake Left — Dive Right.” For defender Nahuel Montiel, it said, “Dive Left.” What would Pickford do if Leandro Paredes stepped up to the spot? “Stand Left — Dive Right,” according to the water bottle. 

Pickford would have been more precious about keeping his water bottle, and his secrets close to his chest had the game gone to a penalty shootout. So don’t blame Argentina for being curious once Pickford left his trash behind. In fact, it might help them moving forward. 

While every goalkeeper certainly goes about their penalty-shootout prep differently — watching different film, gathering different information — they might think alike. Argentina’s players got a look into that thinking. 

The information could help them prepare for a potential penalty shootout against Spain and goalkeeper Unai Simón. It could also result in the opposite — Argentina’s players getting in their heads and doubting their approach because the goalkeeper knows their tendencies. 

In the end, penalty shootouts are a game of strategy and mentality. The manager chooses who gets to step up to the spot, and the penalty taker has to have the confidence to come through. This information being out there only adds to that intrigue, that suspense, as certain players will weigh the importance of it differently.

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This was the World Cup of firsts.

The first tournament to feature 48 teams saw 1,248 players descend upon Canada, Mexico and the United States this summer. The expanded field means there will be a total of 104 matches played at the conclusion of the tournament, resulting in 9,360 minutes of soccer played in regulation time.

The matchup between Argentina and Spain is also unlike one we’ve ever seen before, as this will be the first-ever World Cup final between the reigning European champions and the reigning Copa América champions, as well as the first final between the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the FIFA world rankings.

Ahead of this historic matchup,here are the 26 best statistically driven headlines from the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far.

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26.

• This World Cup has seen 14 red cards, the most at a single edition of the tournament since 2010, which saw 17. The previous two World Cups saw just eight red cards combined, with four in each. The record for red cards at a single World Cup is 28, set in 2006.

25.

• Embolo was given a yellow card for simulation, becoming the fourth player since 1966 to receive a yellow card for simulation (Francesco Totti in 2002, Luis Pérez in 2006, Asamoah Gyan in 2006).

24.

There were 11 players in this World Cup whose fathers have played in one as well.

• Lilian Thuram and Marcus Thuram (France)
• Claudio Reyna and Giovanni Reyna (U.S.)
• Gregg Berhalter and Sebastian Berhalter (U.S.)
• Zinedine Zidane (France) and Luca Zidane (Algeria)
• Alfe Inge Haaland and Erling Haaland (Norway)
• Erik Thorstvedt and Kristian Thorstvedt (Norway)
• Sérgio Conceição and Francisco Conceição (Portugal)
• Lee Eul-Yong and Lee Tae-Seok (South Korea)
• Bryan Gunn and Angus Gunn (Scotland)
• Patrick Kluivert and Justin Kluivert (Scotland)
• Diego Simeone and Giuliano Simeone (Argentina)

• Canada, Curaçao, DR Congo, and Cape Verde all recorded their first-ever points at the World Cup, with three of them even making the knockout rounds. DR Congo recorded its first win, defeating Uzbekistan in the group stage. Egypt also notably recorded a victory for the first time in its World Cup history, defeating New Zealand and also advancing vs. Australia in a penalty shootout in the Round of 32.

22.

• Ibrahim Mbaye scored against France, becoming the youngest goalscorer for an African nation at 18 years and 143 days old. He also became the fourth-youngest goalscorer ever at a men’s World Cup, trailing only Pelé of Brazil (17 years, 239 days old), Manuel Rosas of Mexico (18 years, 93 days old) and Gavi of Spain (18 years, 190 days old). The Paris Saint-Germain forward finished the tournament with a 91.4% pass completion rate in the attacking third, and was the only current 18-year-old this tournament to score a goal and have five or more chances created.

21.

• The quarterfinal match between Argentina and Switzerland was the eighth knockout round match to go to extra time, tied for the most in a single World Cup with 2014 and 1990. The other matches that went past 90 minutes were Germany vs. Paraguay (Round of 32), Netherlands vs. Morocco (Round of 32), Belgium vs. Senegal (Round of 32), Argentina vs. Cape Verde (Round of 32), and Colombia vs. Switzerland (Round of 16).

20.

Jonathan David (10) celebrates with his teammates vs Qatar (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images).

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Entering the tournament, Canada had lost all six matches in its previous two World Cup appearances (1986, 2022) and were outscored 12 to two. That all changed in 2026:

• Canada recorded its first point ever at this World Cup (vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina).
• Canada recorded its first two wins ever at this World Cup (vs. Qatar and South Africa).
• Canada recorded its first-ever knockout stage appearance and win at this World Cup (defeated South Africa in the Round of 32).
• Canada scored nine goals in this World Cup; had scored two in its previous two World Cup appearances combined.
• Jonathan David became the first Canadian man or woman to record a hat trick in a World Cup match in the group stage vs. Qatar.

19.

Goals, Goals and More Goals

• Prior to this World Cup, the 2022 edition of the tournament saw 172 goals scored in 64 matches— the most at a single World Cup ever. This year’s tournament reached that number in 58 games. Through 102 matches played so far, 297 goals have been scored at the 2026 World Cup.

18.

• Against Senegal in the Round of 32, Belgium trailed 2-0 entering the 85th minute and went on to score in the 86th and 89th to send the match to extra time, ultimately winning 3-2 with a goal in the 125th minute. They became the first team to come back from a two-goal deficit in a knockout stage match at the World Cup since they themselves did so in 2018 against Japan (Round of 16). Youri Tielemans’ game-winning goal was the latest goal in World Cup history at 124:44, and Belgium became the first team in World Cup history to avoid defeat in 90 minutes while trailing by two goalsafter the 85th minute.

17.

• Paraguay entered the tournament ranked 41st in the FIFA world rankings, and Germany was ranked 10th, making this the fourth-biggest upset in a knockout stage match since the FIFA world rankings were introduced in 1992 (including wins in extra time and advancements on penalty shootouts). This was also the first time Germany had trailed at halftime in a knockout stage match since 1998.

16.

• Dating back to the 2022 World Cup, Unai Simón went 649 consecutive minutes without allowing a goal until Belgium scored against him in the quarterfinal. He passed German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer (622 minutes, 2007-11) for the longest World Cup shutout streak, men’s or women’s. Spain’s streak of consecutive World Cup matches with a clean sheet ended at six, also the longest streak in World Cup history.

15.

Neil El Aynaoui, Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz celebrate vs. Canada (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images).

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• With an expanded field this tournament, a record 10 African teams participated in this year’s World Cup. But what was even more incredible was that nine of them advanced to the knockout stage, smashing the previous record of two (Algeria and Nigeria in 2014, Morocco and Senegal in 2022). With a quarterfinal appearance this year, Morocco became the first African nation ever to reach the quarterfinal in consecutive World Cups. Achraf Hakimi now has four career assists at the World Cup, tied for fourth-most by a defender since 1966, while Brahim Díaz became the first African player with four assists at a single World Cup.

14.

Since their first title in 1954, this is the first time there have been three straight World Cup finals without Germany as a participant. Entering 2026, Germany had never gone three straight World Cup appearances without making the final of the tournament. Below are the 16 consecutive World Cups in which Germany appeared at least once in every three editions. 

• 1954: West Germany 3, Hungary 2
• 1958: Brazil 5, Sweden 2
• 1962: Brazil 3, Czechoslovakia 1
• 1966: England 4, West Germany 2
• 1970: Brazil 4, Italy 1
• 1974: West Germany 2, Netherlands 1 
• 1978: Argentina 3, Netherlands 1
• 1982: Italy 3, West Germany 1
• 1986: Argentina 3, West Germany 2
• 1990: West Germany 1, Argentina 0
• 1994: Brazil 0, Italy 0 (3-2, penalties)
• 1998: France 3, Brazil 0
• 2002: Brazil 2, Germany 0
• 2006: Italy 1, France 1 (5-3, penalties)
• 2010: Spain 1, Netherlands 0
• 2014: Germany 1, Argentina 0

13.

• Brazil will now have to wait until 2030 to win its sixth title, the nation’s new longest drought without a title at 28 years, since winning its first in 1958; the previous record was 24 years (1970-1994). With the loss to Norway in the Round 32, this was the first time Brazil had failed to advance to the quarterfinals of the World Cup since 1990, snapping a streak of eight consecutive appearances in the round.
• Vini Júnior was a bright spot, scoring four goals, becoming the fifth Brazilian player to score in every group stage match. However, in the previous four instances, Brazil went on to win the title (Jairzinho in 1970, Romário in 1994, Ronaldo and Rivaldo in 2002).

• In this year’s tournament, four players cracked the top 10 list of oldest players to ever play in a World Cup match, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modrić, Guillermo Ochoa, and Edin Džeko all taking the pitch. All four are over the age of 40, and Ronaldo even scored in the Round of 32— becoming the oldest player ever to score in a knockout stage match at the World Cup.

11.

Mexico vs. England (Photo by Ezra Shaw – FIFA via Getty Images).

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With the loss against England in the Round of 16, several notable streaks were broken for Mexico:

• Mexico lost a home game for the first time since an October 2018 friendly vs. Chile, and lost a competitive home game for the first time since a September 2013 World Cup qualifier vs Honduras.
• The loss vs. England was also Mexico’s first World Cup loss ever at the Azteca, now 8-2-1 (W-D-L).
• It was also the first loss for Mexico at the Azteca since that 2013 World Cup qualifier vs. Honduras; Mexico is 70-17-3 (W-D-L) all-time at the Azteca.
• It was just the second home loss ever for Mexico in the World Cup, now 9-3-2 (W-D-L) in such matches— losing to Italy in the 1970 quarters before losing to England.
• Mexico conceded three goals in a match at the Azteca for the first time since August 1999 (4-3 victory against Brazil).

10.

• Cape Verde became the smallest nation ever to make the World Cup knockout stage, and the first debutant to reach the knockout stage since Slovakia in 2010.
• The country of approximately 530,000 people also became the first African debutant to make the knockout stage since Ghana in 2006.
• Cape Verde went unbeaten in the group stage, the first debutant to do so since Senegal in 2002.
• Vozinha became the third goalkeeper with two World Cup clean sheets after turning 40 (Peter Shilton, Dino Zoff).
• Cape Verde drew with Spain; the difference of 65 spots between Cape Verde (No. 67) and Spain (No. 2) was the fourth-largest gap in FIFA rankings among lower-ranked teams to get a result.

9.

Folarin Balogun and the U.S. set all sorts of records this World Cup:

• Against Paraguay, Balogun became the first American man to have multiple goals in a World Cup game since Patenaude in 1930; with three goals in the tournament, he became the fifth American to score three goals at the World Cup (Landon Donovan, Bert Patenaude, Clint Dempsey, Brian McBride).
• This was the first time the U.S. won three matches in a single World Cup, and Mauricio Pochettino became the first U.S. manager with three World Cup wins; the U.S. also scored multiple goals in four straight World Cup matches for the first time.
• The U.S. won a knockout stage game at the World Cup for the first time since 2002; with the win over Bosnia & Herzegovina in the Round of 32, the U.S. ended a 10-game losing streak and a 12-game winless streak against European teams, winning for the first time since Dec. 2021.
• The U.S. scored 11 goals at this World Cup, a new team record for the most goals scored in a single World Cup tournament.
• With his goals against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Belgium, Malilk Tillman became thefirst American player to score in successive knockout round matches in the World Cup, and the second player on record (since 1966) with two goals on direct free kicks in the same World Cup (Bernard Genghini had two for France in 1982).

8.

• At the 2026 World Cup, Haaland was the only player to score with his left foot, right foot, from outside the box, inside the box, and with his head.
• Before the loss to England, Haaland scored in 14 straight competitive matches for Norway, totaling 27 goals in that span; he has scored multiple goals in seven of his last nine appearances for Norway.
• He scored seven goals at this World Cup, the same number of goals Norway had scored as a team in three previous World Cup appearances combined.
• Haaland scored the game-winning goal in four of his five World Cup matches played; he’s scored 62 goals in 55 matches for Norway.

Lamine Yamal celebrates with teammate Pau Cubarsi (Photo by Doug Zimmerman/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images).

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• Against Austria, Spain started two teenagers (Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí), becoming the first team to do so in a World Cup knockout match since Brazil vs. Wales in 1958 (Pelé and Altafini).
• Yamal made his seventh World Cup appearance vs. France, joining Kylian Mbappé as the only players to make that many World Cup appearances as a teenager. Spain has won all 12 matches in which Yamal has started in at major tournaments (World Cup, Euros).

6.

• Against Ecuador in the Round of 32, Mora became the second-youngest player ever to start in a World Cup knockout stage match, behind Pelé.
• Against South Africa, he became Mexico’s youngest player ever to appear in a World Cup match at 17 years, 240 days old; he also became the youngest CONCACAF player to appear in a World Cup game, outranking fellow Mexican Manuel Rosas, who was 18 in the 1930 World Cup.
• He is the sixth-youngest player to appear in a World Cup match and the eighth 17-year-old to play in a World Cup match (Salomon Olembe, Femi Opabunmi, Samuel Eto’o, Norman Whiteside, Pelé, Bartholomew Ogbeche, Rigobert Song).
• Mora also became the youngest player to represent a host nation in the history of the World Cup.

5.

• Jude Bellingham has now scored 12 international goals for England, and nine have come in major tournaments (World Cup, Euros).
• Bellingham became the third English player ever to score six goals at a single World Cup (Gary Lineker in 1986, Harry Kane in 2022 and 2026).
• Bellingham joined Kylian Mbappé (12) and Pelé (seven) as the only players to achieve seven career World Cup goals while age 23 or younger.
• At 23 years and 12 days old, Jude Bellingham is the second-youngest player to score two or more goals in consecutive World Cup knockout-stage games, behind only Pelé in 1958 (17 years, 249 days old).
• Bellingham has nine goal contributions (seven goals, two assists) in his World Cup career, tied for the third-most by an English player since assists were first tracked in 1966 (Harry Kane with 18, Gary Lineker with 10 and David Beckham with nine).
• Bellingham’s seven career World Cup goals are the third-most by an English player ever (Harry Kane- 14, Gary Lineker- 10).
• Bellingham joins James Rodríguez (2014) as the only midfielders to score six goals in a single World Cup since the 1978 edition of the tournament.

4.

Cristiano Ronaldo finished his World Cup career with:

• 27 matches played, the second-most of any man in World Cup history (Lionel Messi has the most with 33).
• The only man or woman to score in six different World Cups.
• The oldest player to score in a knockout stage match at 41 years old.
• One of 11 men ever to score 11 World Cup goals.
• Portugal’s all-time leading goalscorer at the World Cup (11), passing Eusébio, who had nine.
• The second-oldest outfield player to appear in a World Cup match (Roger Milla is the oldest at 42 years old in 1994).
• 34 goal contributions (25 goals, nine assists) in major tournaments, the most of any European player since 1966 (World Cup and Euros).

• For the first time since FIFA introduced its world rankings in 1992, the top four-ranked teams entering the tournament all made the semifinals of the World Cup (1. Argentina, 2. Spain, 3. France, 4. England). This was also just the third time in World Cup history in which all four semifinalists have won at least one World Cup (1970, 1990).

2.

• Mbappé has scored 20 goals at the World Cup, the second-most of any man or woman in tournament history, trailing only Lionel Messi (21); his 20 goals have come in 21 matches played.
• He is the first player ever to score eight goals in two separate World Cups.
• His 12 knockout-stage goals are the most of any player in World Cup history.
• He has been involved in 11 goals at the 2026 World Cup (eight goals, three assists); that’s the most by a player in a single edition of the World Cup since Gerd Müller in 1970 (10 goals, three assists).
• He is the first player to be involved in 100 goals for the French national team (64 goals, 36 assists).
• At 27 years and 201 days old, Kylian Mbappé became the youngest player to reach 20 appearances at the World Cup, breaking Władysław Żmuda’s record (28 years, 34 days).
• Mbappé has the most appearances at the World Cup for France (21 games), passing Hugo Lloris, who had 20.
• He has registered 10 goal involvements in each of his last two World Cups; he and Messi are the only players on record since 1966 to achieve this in two different tournaments.
• He has scored the winning goal in eight World Cup matches, the most of any player in history; 17 of his World Cup goals are non-penalty scores, tied with Messi for the most ever.
• He’s played 21 World Cup matches under Didier Deschamps, the most by a player with the same coach in tournament history.

1.

• Messi has scored 21 goals, more than any man or woman in World Cup history; six of those goals have come from outside the box, the most on record at the World Cup (since 1966).
• He’s recorded 12 assists in the World Cup, the most on record (since 1966); 10 of those have come in the knockout stage, also the most of any player in that span.
• Against Algeria, Messi became the oldest man ever to record a hat trick in a World Cup match at 38 years, 357 days old; he passed Cristiano Ronaldo, who held the record with his hat trick vs. Spain in 2018 at 33 years old.
• Dating back to the 2022 World Cup, Messi scored in nine consecutive matches, the longest streak of any player ever; he also scored in six consecutive knockout stage matches, also the longest such streak all-time.
• Messi is the only player to have won the Golden Ball award twice (awarded to the tournament’s best player), having done so in 2014 and 2022.
• With his assist vs. Egypt in the Round of 16, he became the first player ever to register an assist in six different World Cups.
• His 17 goal contributions (seven goals, 10 assists) in the knockout rounds are the most of any player since assists were first tracked in 1966.
• No player has played in more matches (33) or won more matches (23) in the World Cup than Messi.
• He is one of two players in World Cup history to have scored seven goals in two different editions of the World Cup, along with Mbappé.
• Messi has scored a goal against 15 different opponents at the World Cup, the most of any player in World Cup history.

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By now you’ve probably seen the clip on repeat. The moment Kylian Mbappé realized his World Cup dream was slipping away.

It was the 58th minute when Pedro Porro drove a right-footed shot into the back of the net, giving Spain the second goal in what became a 2-0 semifinal victory over France on Tuesday. Standing nearby, Mbappé watched the sequence unfold. As the ball crossed the line, he flung his left arm into the air, wiped his face with his jersey, then walked back toward midfield.

One of soccer’s biggest stars and a player capable of changing a game on his own was unable to do so this time. Not against a perfectly organized and disciplined Spanish side that frustrated France at every turn and made the tournament favorite look ordinary.

Afterward, Mbappé accepted responsibility.

“You take all the glory when you win and when you don’t win, you have to take the s***,” Mbappé said in all honesty. “It’s part of the game, it’s part of my game, it’s part of my life. And as the captain, I have to take all the responsibility. I have no problem with that. We wanted to go to the final. We didn’t go.”

(Photo by Hannah Peters – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

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What does this result — and France now preparing for the third-place match against England instead of the final against Argentina — start to say about Mbappé’s legacy? That’s a word often thrown around during major tournaments, used as a measuring stick for the world’s greatest players, fairly or not. 

Entering this summer, France was expected to make a third consecutive run to the final. Les Bleus lifted the trophy in Russia in 2018, Mbappé’s World Cup debut. At 19 years old, he scored four goals, including one in the 4-2 victory over Croatia in the final. That made him only the second teenager in history to score in a World Cup final, following Pele in 1958.

Then four years ago, Mbappé raised the bar by scoring eight goals in Qatar, including the historic hat trick that forced Argentina into a penalty shootout in what will likely be remembered as one of the best World Cup finals ever played. Mbappé, then 23, won the Golden Boot — though he accepted the award with a blank expression, devastated that his squad couldn’t pull off the comeback.

This year’s tournament was supposed to be the next step in Mbappé’s rise. And things started out that way. The 27-year-old scored eight goals, tying Lionel Messi atop the Golden Boot race. But in Tuesday’s semifinal, he managed just three shots and none on target. He let his frustration boil over when he was shown a yellow card in the 86th minute after he collided with Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon. Moments later, his free kick from outside the box soared over the crossbar.

We’ve seen Mbappé single-handedly rescue France. But Spain was superior.

“It’s a team that loves to have control of the game, to have control of the ball, and that’s what we let them do,” Mbappé, dejected, said after the match. “It’s difficult when you don’t change the play of Spain.”

Mbappé is sitting on 20 goals across three World Cups, only behind Messi’s leading 21. He will undoubtedly shatter that record by playing in two or three more World Cups.

Even so, in the immediate aftermath of this defeat, the conversation around him has changed. He looked like the clear successor to Messi — and to be clear, he still can be. The two found themselves on opposite ends of the 2022 final where they traded spellbinding moments in a performance that simultaneously felt like the continuation of a rivalry and the passing of the torch.

(Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP via Getty Images)

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At the club level, he has yet to win a Champions League title, and this past season at Real Madrid was disrupted by injuries and off-field drama. His former club, Paris Saint-Germain, has captured consecutive Champions League crowns while rivals Barcelona won a second straight La Liga title after beating Real Madrid in an El Clásico showdown that Mbappé missed. 

Still, he arrived at this World Cup looking as dangerous as ever. But with Spain and Argentina advancing, this year’s final offers another version of the changing of the guard with Lamine Yamal against Messi. 

Yamal, who turned 19 on Monday, will play in his first World Cup final at the same age Mbappé was when he reached his first. He has scored one goal so far this tournament and would have recorded another against France if not for an offside call. He’s yet to have his big moment, though there’s a feeling that it’s coming.

This could have been Mbappé’s time to lead France to a second World Cup title in three cycles and avenge heartbreak from four years ago. He’ll be 31 years old at the next one, though if we’ve learned anything from this summer it’s that age doesn’t necessarily matter. Either way, there will be a long wait for that next opportunity. 

Mbappé can ‘MAKE HISTORY’ with Golden Boot, Are Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi Under Duress? | FTF

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France and England will go head-to-head in the 2026 FIFA World Cup bronze final on Thursday at Miami Stadium, but will star striker Kylian Mbappé be part of the action?

Here is everything we know about the France star’s status for the bronze final match vs. England:

Why Mbappé Might Not Play

After France failed to advance to the final, coach Didier Deschamps might opt to give other players a chance to have their World Cup moment, like veterans Lucas Hernández and N’Golo Kanté, who have yet to log a single minute at the tournament, or younger players like Warren Zaïre-Emery and Robin Risser.

He might also use it as an opportunity to rest his starters after a long tournament. Four different France players — Mbappé, Jules Koundé, Mike Maignan and Dayot Upamecano — have played over 500 minutes at this year’s tournament.

(Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)

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Why Mbappé Likely Will Play

With eight goals, Mbappé is tied with Lionel Messi for the most goals at the 2026 World Cup. While Mbappé won’t be playing in the final like Messi, he will still have the opportunity to eclipse him in the race with goals against England. If Mbappé wins the Golden Boot for a second time, he will become the first player in World Cup history to win the award more than once.

Mbappé also has the opportunity to end the tournament as the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer. He is currently one goal behind Messi for the all-time record with 20 goals. If he doesn’t do it before Saturday, he will almost certainly do it at the 2030 World Cup.

How To Watch France vs. England

• When: Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET
• Where: Miami Stadium, Miami, FL
• TV: FOX
• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One, FOX Sports

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The All-Star break is over, and with it, the excuses. 

Teams have roughly two weeks before the Aug. 3 trade deadline to decide whether they’re buying, selling or holding. Surprise contenders have to figure out if their first-half magic was real, bubble teams have to decide which direction to turn and teams in the cellar need to have honest conversations about the future of their franchise. The possibility of reigning American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal becoming available could shape the entire deadline.

Plus, all the division races outside the NL West remain separated by only a handful of games. The AL MVP and Cy Young races are getting spicy, and the defending champions are dealing with uncertainty surrounding Shohei Ohtani’s health. 

There’s plenty to watch for as the second half of the season gets underway. 

Here are 10 questions to consider as we approach the stretch run.

1.

Rowan Kavner: The Dodgers announced last Friday that Shohei Ohtani would not be making his scheduled pitching start that night due to continued irritation in his left knee and would also miss the All-Star Game. A few hours later, he homered. 

On that Friday, manager Dave Roberts also announced that Ohtani would be getting his knee drained a couple of days after the team’s final game of the first half. Of course, he homered in that Sunday game as well. 

Despite his lingering knee injury, Shohei Ohtani went on a home run tear the week before the All-Star break. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/IOS/Getty Images)

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Ohtani said his aching knee bothers him more when he pitches than when he hits, which seems clear after he launched four home runs in his final six games before the break. On the mound, meanwhile, his 0.74 ERA after his first 10 starts is up to 1.79 on the season after he allowed 14 runs (12 earned) over his last four starts. 

The Dodgers are hopeful that the minor knee procedure will have their two-way star feeling better for the stretch run both at the plate and on the mound, but it’s obviously something to monitor. As a hitter, Ohtani ranks third in the National League in OPS. As a pitcher, he ranks second in the NL in ERA among pitchers who’ve thrown at least 75 innings. 

He is cruising toward winning his fifth MVP Award — as long as he stays healthy. Keeping Ohtani upright has to be the Dodgers’ top priority as they look to three-peat. 

2.

Deesha Thosar: The answer to that question depends on whether Detroit believes it’s a contender, not a pretender. The Tigers (44-52) enter the second half 3.5 games behind the final AL wild-card spot, with six teams in front of them. Since there’s so much parity in the AL, it’s not a stretch for the Tigers to convince themselves that they could make a push for the wild card. But, even if they do, does this team have legitimate hope beyond an early elimination? 

Detroit would be passing on an enormous prospect haul for Skubal, who is unlikely to re-sign with the Tigers in free agency this winter, just for a wild card or ALDS exit. Even though the Tigers have surged since June, Skubal holds way too much value for the Tigers to mess this one up. 

Reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal will be the big catch at this year’s trade deadline — if the Tigers put him on the block. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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Skubal has repeatedly said he wants to stay in Detroit and believes the team is better than how it performed through the majority of the first half. But, whether he wants it or not, contenders will be clamoring for a potential Skubal trade, making this one of the biggest storylines of the deadline.

3.

Kavner: If the season ended today, there’s no question who would win the National League Cy Young Award. 

The Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski just wrapped up one of the all-time most overpowering first halves of an MLB season. He leads all qualified pitchers in ERA, strikeouts, WHIP and opponents’ batting average, and no one is even within striking distance. 

Misiorowski is the only qualified starter with an ERA under 2.00 … and it’s 1.62. He’s holding opponents to a .148 batting average, more than 40 points lower than the next closest qualified NL starter (Yoshinobu Yamamoto, .190). The Miz’s 167 strikeouts are also 23 more than Cristopher Sánchez, who ranks second in the NL in the category.

If Misiorowski keeps this pace, he’ll finish the year with the second-highest strikeout rate over the course of a full season in MLB history (not including the shortened 2020 season). 

The question, of course, is if he can hold up. The 24-year-old has already thrown 111 innings, his most in any professional season, and the Brewers skipped his final start of the first half due to arm fatigue. It sounds like he’ll be ready to go out of the break, but his health will be crucial for the Brewers’ chances as they try to make a World Series run. 

4.

Thosar: David Stearns fielded questions about the Mets being sellers all the way back in May, though the president of baseball operations wasn’t yet ready to admit that the team he rebuilt in the offseason was a dud. He figured there was plenty of time for the club to turn it around. Now, just over two weeks out from the trade deadline, New York’s position is explicitly clear. 

The Mets (40-57) are 16 games behind the first-place Braves in the NL East, and 12 games out of the last NL wild-card spot, with everyone except the Rockies in front of them. The best they can hope for in the second half is showing some form of promise for 2027, and that starts with how Stearns handles his trade chips.

After rebuilding the Mets last offseason, David Stearns will have to do it again. (Photo by Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM via Getty Images)

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Pitchers Freddy Peralta, Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter and outfielder Tyrone Taylor are free agents after this season, and we can throw 33-year-old starter Clay Holmes into that group because he has a $12 million player option that he’s expected to decline. Beyond that, players under team control for at least another year include Luke Weaver and Huascar Brazoban, and both relievers have been excellent this season. 

Those hoping the Mets will deal a bat or two from their underperforming lineup, keep dreaming. No one on the offense is in a walk year, and since the front office is just trying to acquire as many top prospects as possible this deadline, dangling bats like Mark Vientos and Brett Baty is not a recipe for a solid return. 

All eyes will be on Stearns as he navigates a second consecutive nightmare Mets season.

5.

Kavner: Entering the break, there were only three American League teams and four National League teams more than four games out of a playoff spot. The lack of obvious sellers — and the lack of premier rentals on those obvious sellers — could make this a rather dull deadline when it comes to star power switching hands.  

Then again, who knows? With more than two weeks before the deadline, a lot can change. 

Luis Arraez, a rental in San Francisco, seems like an obvious candidate to be dealt. Will the Giants go further than that and move any of their long-term deals (Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, Jung Hoo Lee)? 

Three-time batting champ Luis Arraez is also playing a solid second base for the Giants. With an expiring contract, he could be on the move at the trade deadline. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images)

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And what about the Angels? Will new interim general manager John Mozeliak convince owner Arte Moreno that it’s time to blow this thing up? Starters José Soriano and Reid Detmers, outfielder Jo Adell or shortstop Zach Neto — all of whom are under team control beyond this season — could command the type of prospect haul that could give their farm system a needed overhaul. 

Or does one of these teams on the bubble decide now is the time to take advantage of a seller’s market? The Nationals are four games back of a playoff spot now. The Red Sox, Twins and Tigers are all trending in the right direction, but they’re still under .500. All of them have pieces that could turn a contender into a champion. 

And you never know what Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller has up his sleeve. 

6.

Thosar: It’s clear the Yankees no longer stubbornly believe in shortstop Anthony Volpe as much as they used to. In May, they demoted him to Triple-A, choosing to stick with the standout performance of Jose Caballero at shortstop at the time. Volpe soon returned when Caballero was sidelined by injury, but now that Caballero is back and healthy, Volpe has seen his playing time decrease dramatically of late. 

To close out the first half, Volpe started in just one of four games in an important series against the Tampa Bay Rays, who lead the AL East. Then he started in just one of three games against the Washington Nationals. For the fourth consecutive season, Volpe is sporting an OPS+ in the 80s. His performance at the plate has been below league average long enough, and the Yankees might just be signaling that they’re ready to move on. 

Anthony Volpe’s continued struggles at the plate have diminished the Yankees’ belief in him. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images)

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It will be fascinating to see how they solve their shortstop problem, because it’s not like Caballero has been much better (94 OPS+) at the plate. Beyond outside additions, the Yankees could promote their No. 1 prospect, George Lombard Jr., who’s on his way back from injury. Just before the break, Yankees GM Brian Cashman said Lombard “might be a choice at some point.”

7.

Kavner: The Red Sox have been missing their best pitcher (Garrett Crochet) and hitter (Roman Anthony) for most of the season. Yankees superstar Aaron Judge has been out since the start of June with a stress fracture in his rib, and Braves starter Max Fried has been out even longer with an elbow bone bruise. 

The Dodgers have jumped out to their hot start despite getting just one start from Blake Snell, seven starts from Tyler Glasnow and seven appearances from Edwin Díaz. They’ve also been without catcher Will Smith since early June. 

The Yankees could have to wait until late in the season to get superstar Aaron Judge back on the field. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)

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The list of injured standouts expected back sometime in the second half goes on and on: Jose Ramírez (Guardians); Ronald Acuña Jr., Spencer Strider and Robert Suarez (Braves); Corey Seager (Rangers); Byron Buxton (Twins); Nick Kurtz (A’s); Corbin Burnes (Diamondbacks); Nick Pivetta (Padres); Kyle Harrison (Brewers); and basically the Cubs’ whole rotation. 

The return of some of these star talents could make all the difference in playoff races and postseason runs. 

8.

Thosar: With the Yankees’ reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge sidelined indefinitely by a rib injury, the race is wide open in the second half. Top contenders for the award include Yordan Alvarez, Ben Rice, and Junior Caminero. 

Alvarez enters the second half leading the majors in on-base percentage (.426), slugging (.633), and OPS (1.059). The Astros slugger leads the AL in hits (111), home runs (31) and RBIs (70). That’s impressive, but it’s not like he’s running away with it. Rice is right behind Alvarez with 29 home runs, and he’s been one of the main reasons the Yankees’ offense has remained competitive without Judge. 

Caminero was hit on his left hand by a pitch in the All-Star Game, and X-rays came back negative, but how he bounces back will greatly dictate the race. Caminero, who went on an incredible streak of 11 home runs in 11 games, enters the second half with the third-best OPS (.927) in the AL, behind Alvarez and Rice.

9.

Kavner: What’s the bigger surprise, that the Phillies — after a 9-19 start — are already just two games back of the first-place Braves? Or that the Marlins are nipping at both of their heels? 

As recently as May 22, the Braves held a double-digit lead in the NL East after storming out of the gates in a turnaround season. On June 9, they were still up nine games in the division. One month later, this is suddenly one of the most interesting division battles in baseball — and not only because of the Phillies’ surge. 

The Marlins have the best record in baseball since the start of June at 26-11. The Phillies are 24-14 over that stretch and 45-24 since interim manager Don Mattingly took over. The Braves, meanwhile, are 15-20 since the start of June and have opened the door for their division foes. 

As it stands, the Dodgers and Brewers are the only teams leading their respective divisions by more than three games. There will be plenty of interesting battles down the stretch. 

10.

Thosar: Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras is having a career year at the plate, and he’s a major reason Boston has turned around its ugly start to the season. His .921 OPS is ranked fourth in the AL, and he’s been a stabilizing force in the Red Sox lineup amid a tough personal year due to the Venezuela earthquakes back in his hometown. 

Willson Contreras had such a good first half that he participated in the Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on Monday. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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Throughout it all, the Red Sox have moved up the standings, going from dead in the water at 32-46 to a 14-2 stretch that included a nine-game winning streak, to entering the break just a half-game out of the final AL wild-card spot.

While Boston’s turnaround is real in the standings, the jury is still out on whether it’s sustainable. Starter Sonny Gray (2.54 ERA) and closer Aroldis Chapman (2.20 ERA) have anchored their successful run, but the Red Sox are still hitting the fewest home runs in baseball this season. And the AL has only five teams above .500, so small gains can look bigger than they are. 

Whether the front office commits to buying instead of selling Gray and Chapman in the next couple of weeks will be the real verdict on whether this is a genuine turnaround or a well-timed hot streak.

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Entering its second consecutive World Cup final, Argentina’s journey to defending their 2022 title was nothing but wild. From Lionel Messi becoming the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer to four straight comeback wins, it was going to be difficult to keep Argentina out of the final. 

Argentina will face Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, marking the second time the two countries have competed on the World Cup stage. The matchup will feature some of soccer’s biggest stars, including Messi and 19-year-old Lamine Yamal going head-to-head. 

Here’s everything to know about Argentina’s journey to the 2026 World Cup final. 

Lionel Messi: EVERY TOUCH in Argentina’s THRILLING Win Over England 🇦🇷 2026 FIFA World Cup™

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Is This Lionel Messi’s Last World Cup?

Despite still playing at a high level, the 39-year-old Messi could retire from international competition after this tournament. 

If Messi were to continue competing, he’d be 43 years old in the 2030 World Cup, which would tie him for the second-oldest player to play in a World Cup, next to Colombia’s Faryd Mondragón. 

Did Argentina Win The World Cup?

While Argentina is in contention for a fourth World Cup title on Sunday, they’ve previously won it in 1978, 1986 and 2022. 

Has Lionel Messi Won A World Cup?

Messi won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina. Messi scored a brace before Argentina topped France in penalty kicks. 

On top of the title, Messi also took home his second Golden Ball award, awarded to the tournament’s best player. He earned the 2014 award despite losing in the final to Germany.

How Many Times Has Argentina Won The World Cup?

As we previously mentioned, Argentina has won the World Cup three times: 1978, 1986 and most recently in 2022. 

Argentina defeated the Netherlands 3-1 in 1978 while Diego Maradona led the team to a 3-2 win over West Germany in 1986. Their 2022 win was their first title win determined by penalties. 

Argentina has lost three World Cup finals, including the inaugural edition in 1930 to hosts Uruguay. It has lost twice to Germany in the final, in 1990 and in 2014.

Messi, Argentina COMEBACK vs England to ADVANCE to FIFA World Cup™ Final 🇦🇷 Back-to-Back Champions?

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England vs. Argentina Result At The 2026 World Cup

Argentina and England have met several times at the World Cup. On Wednesday, Argentina stormed back to defeat England 2-1 in the semifinals. 

After trailing 1-0 in the 55th minute, Enzo Fernández netted Argentina’s first goal in the 85th minute, and Lautaro Martinez’s header sealed its win in stoppage time to advance to the final. 

Who Did Argentina Beat In The World Cup?

Argentina has won all seven matches it has played so far. It defeated Algeria, Austria and Jordan in group play. Argentina needed extra time to outlast Cape Verde in the round of 32 and needed a thrilling comeback to beat Egypt in the round of 16. Argentina needed extra time again to advance in the quarterfinals, beating Switzerland. Finally, Argentina completed a comeback victory over England in the semifinal on Wednesday. 

England vs Argentina Extended Highlights 2026 FIFA World Cup™ | Semifinals

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Who’s Leading The 2026 Golden Boot Race?

After the semifinals, Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappé are currently tied with eight goals apiece. Not far behind with six goals are England’s Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, along with France’s Ousmane Dembélé.

Messi holds an edge over Mbappé for first place in the Golden Boot race thanks to his four assists in this tournament. Assists are the first tiebreaker in the Golden Boot race.

Messi currently has the best odds at -250 to win the award, and Mbappé sits right behind with +200 odds.

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Most teenagers spend their time studying, hanging out with friends or getting ready for college. On Thursday, Spain’s Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí are expected to start in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium.

If Spain manages to win the World Cup final for just the second time ever, Yamal and Cubarsí will join an elite list of players who have started in the World Cup final and won it as a teenager. Here is the full list:

Pelé (1958)

(Photo by/picture alliance via Getty Images)

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Coming off of a hat-trick for Brazil in the 1958 World Cup semifinals against France, Pelé, at 17 years and 249 days, scored two goals against host nation Sweden to lead Brazil to its first-ever World Cup. At the time, he was the first teenager to start and win a World Cup final.

Giuseppe Bergomi (1982)

(Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images)

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Giuseppe Bergomi started the 1982 World Cup as a substitute for Italy in the quarterfinal against Brazil. Bergomi made the most of his minutes in the memorable 3-2 victory and earned a starting spot in the semifinal. After beating Poland 2-0 in the semifinal, Italy went on to beat West Germany in the final, 3-1. Bergomi was 19 years and 344 days old when the tournament ended.

Kylian Mbappé (2018)

(Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

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The last player to start and win the World Cup final as a teenager was Kylian Mbappé. Mbappé, France’s star striker at the 2018, 2022 and 2026 editions of the tournament, broke out at the 2018 tournament with four goals, including the final goal in the title match against Croatia. Since Mbappé, no teenager has started and won the World Cup final.

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Spain is back in the World Cup final since winning it all in 2010 over the Netherlands in Johannesburg at the first ever edition to be hosted on the African continent. In those 16 years, much has changed (i.e, the number of qualified teams) while some things have stayed the same (Lionel Messi and Ronaldo still playing).

For fans both young and old, the Spain team that brought home its first World Cup between two European championships (2008 and 2012) was a dynasty. La Roja defined a style of play – known as Tika Tika – that combined artistry, intricate passing, and a flair for creativity on the pitch. That title run even made the top 10 of our 100 best World Cup moments. 

Spain Waited too Long for This One 🇪🇸 No. 9 in Best FIFA World Cup™ Moments

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One of the things that the World Cup does best is tug at the strings of nostalgia. As we get ready for Sunday’s showdown between Messi (who was 22 years old in South Africa) and Lamine Yamal (almost three years old), let’s look back at the summer that was 2010.

‘Waka Waka’ And ‘Wavin’ Flag’ Gave Us Iconic Anthems

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We were treated to not one but two songs that will be forever tied to the 2010 World Cup. Shakira was already a global superstar when she dropped “Waka Waka” in the run-up to the tournament. With musical nods to the host nation and the rest of the continent, along with a memorable chorus and choreographed dance, the time for Africa will never truly stop. 

But not to be overshadowed were the inspirational beats and rhymes of K’naan, who delivered yet another earworm with ‘Wavin’ Flag.’ The song was often played after teams scored a goal in the tournament and encapsulated how the World Cup can often highlight cultures from across the globe coming together. 

Paul The Octupus Predicts It All

 (Photo by Patrik STOLLARZ / AFP via Getty Images) –>

The octopus is considered one of the most intelligent creatures of the sea – as well as one of the tastiest. That’s why, during the knockout rounds of the 2010 World Cup, an octupus at a German aquarium named Paul became a worldwide sensation for picking eight games correctly – including Spain’s win in the final. 

How did he do it? By hovering over two boxes placed in his habitat that were adorned with the flags of the matchups. Each one had a mussel in it, and the one Paul wrapped his tentacle to grab his snack was his pick. 

As with many famous cuddly creatures, Paul caused such a stir that fans of losing teams called on him to be eaten. The Spanish government even offered Paul asylum, but he remained in Germany, where he died of natural causes in October of that year.

Minions, Vampires And Mr. Stark Ruled The Box Office

(Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic) –>

You’re forgiven if you equally entertained that summer by some massive blockbuster movies that introduced us to the Minions and made us decide between Team Edward and Team Jacob. On the day of the June 11 final, both ‘Despicable Me’ and the anticipated sequel to Twilight (aka “Twilight: Eclipse”) ruled the box office numbers in the United States. 

Other summer smashes included the third installment of the “Toy Story” franchise, “Iron Man 2,” and the genre-bending flick “Inception” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. All these movies live on in our hearts, or at least through countless memes and GIFs. 

Katy Perry Proved Undeniable Like It’s Dynamite

(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) –>

The aforementioned World Cup songs weren’t the only tunes on the summer’s soundtrack. Katy Perry had us West Coast dreamin’ with “California Gurls” – which was the No. 1 in the U.S. on the day of the final – while Taio Cruz was making us throw our hands in the air as we belted out the refrain to “Dynamite.”

Frankly, there are too many classics to list here from that summer to say which one was the best, so just take your pick from anything by Rihanna or Flo Rida. 

Big Papi Wins MLB Home Run Derby

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On the day after La Roja won the World Cup, one of the star players for Las Medias Rojas (Spanish for the Red Sox) was putting on a show at Angels Stadium in Anahiem. Boston slugger David Ortiz had an iconic night in which he hit 32 homers at the Home Run Derby. He remains the only Red Sox player to win the competition, and he’d win his third World Series ring three seasons later in 2013. 

Top NFL Pick Sam Bradford Had The Rams Hoping

(Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

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The summer of 2010 saw the Rams hoping that Sam Bradford could bring his Heisman Trophy-winning ways to St. Louis after making the Oklahoma quarterback the No. 1 pick of the NFL draft earlier in the year. The Rams finished 7-9 in a season that saw the Pittsburgh Steelers claim their sixth Super Bowl title in win over the Green Packers in the 2010-11 postseason. 
 

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With the sun obstructed by haze, Spain’s players practiced Thursday ahead of the World Cup final outside in northern New Jersey while air conditions are hazardous because of smoke from Canadian wildfires.

It was not clear how fast-paced a practice Spain held. Media members are only able to observe the first 15 minutes of what was scheduled to be a hourlong session in East Hanover beginning at 11 a.m. EDT.

Argentina remained in the Atlanta area to work out less than 24 hours after rallying to beat England and reach the final for a second consecutive tournament. Marietta, Georgia, is far enough south to avoid the effects of the fire, which are being windblown to the southeast from northern Ontario, triggering warnings from the U.S. Midwest through the Northeast.

Officials urged people to stay inside or wear masks outside as air quality reached unhealthy to hazardous levels, meaning it’s unhealthy for anyone, regardless of health conditions. Experts expressed concern over holding practice outdoors.

“These are high-level athletes who are moving a lot of air through their lungs during every practice in every game, and really they shouldn’t be practicing outside if the air quality levels are at hazardous sort of ranges for wildfire-related air pollution,” said Dr. Courtney Howard, an emergency room physician and Global Climate and Health Alliance official. “That’s the time to schedule a practice inside. You could put an N95 mask on them, but trying to make sure that everybody’s mask is well-fitted, I suspect that’s not the best choice. I would go find an air-conditioned indoor facility that’s a clean-air shelter.”

Messages sent to FIFA and the Spanish Football Association asking whether that was considered or possible were not immediately returned. The smoke is expected to clear the area well before the championship game Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m.

The air quality in East Hanover on Thursday started early in the morning as “unhealthy” but got cleaner, so by mid-afternoon it was merely “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Now monitoring system. Particle pollution in New Jersey on Thursday was more than seven times higher than the World Health Organization standard. The forecast calls for an improvement to “moderate” for Sunday.

Smoke from wildfires — which are burning more of North America as Earth warms — attacks nearly every system in the body, killing tens of thousands of people a year, numerous medical studies show.

It attacks the body immediately, spiking asthma cases with increased ambulance runs within hours. Smoke can trigger inflammation in different parts of the body, often attacking a person’s weakest points, which can then cascade into different effects of an immune system trying to fight a nasty irritant, doctors and scientists said.

“It’s not healthy for anyone to be in the smoke, especially if you’re exercising,” Harvard School of Public Health environmental health research scientist Mary Johnson said. “You’re exchanging more air, so you’re being exposed to even more pollutants, and even healthy individuals at some point will have some type of health effect from the exposure to the smoke. So, even though these are healthy, young individuals, it’s not a good idea to be exercising in this type of environment.”

Scientists have counted at least 1,000 toxins in wildfire smoke, according to Colorado State University environmental toxicologist Luke Montrose.

“If I gave you a list you would recognize some of these as being very bad often times associated with the burning of diesel fuel or cigarette smoke things like formaldehyde or volatile organic compounds,” Montrose said. “Just the smoke itself can be bad.”

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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Lionel Messi has a message for Argentina’s detractors: “Nothing was handed to us.”

The Argentina superstar responded to critics who have been bashing the reigning World Cup champions over perceptions of beneficial officiating and favoritism by the soccer establishment. He said the team’s ability to overturn late-game deficits, most recently the semifinal victory over England, is the result of championship pedigree and nothing more.

After trailing 1-0 going into the 85th minute, Argentina rallied for a 2-1 win over England on Wednesday to reach the World Cup final.

The victory led tens of thousands to flood the streets of Buenos Aires in ecstatic celebrations, and marked another remarkable comeback that showed the perseverance of a team that is now one win from a back-to-back titles. Argentina faces Spain in Sunday’s final.

Argentina earlier survived by beating Cape Verde and Switzerland in extra time, and rallied for an improbable 3-2 victory over Egypt after coming back from being down 2-0 with 11 minutes of regulation time to play. But both the Swiss and Egyptian coaches criticized the refereeing. Egypt’s Hossam Hassan went as far as to say that his team was the victim of a soccer establishment that favored Messi and Argentina.

The comments fueled criticism sparked by fans who argue that the FIFA bracket favored La Albiceleste, and unfounded allegations on social media claiming that the soccer governing body wants Argentina to once again become World Cup champion.

“We’ve been the best over these past four years, either you like it or not, and no matter what anyone says,” Messi said after the win over England.

“Once again, we’ve established ourselves among the top two teams in the world. That proves that everything we’ve done is no fluke and that nothing was handed to us.”

The game against Switzerland swung on a call that riled up those who believe Argentina has been favored by World Cup officials.

The Swiss had just tied the game at 1-1 on Dan Ndoye’s goal in the 67th minute when Leandro Paredes was shown a yellow card for a tackle on Breel Embolo. But video showed the Swiss player falling before the Argentina midfielder made contact with him, and since Embolo received a yellow card earlier in the match, he was sent off and Switzerland was left to defend with 10 players.

“We were punished because of a rule that in my opinion is completely unacceptable,” Swiss coach Murat Yakin said after the game. “It’s very painful that we were eliminated that way. I don’t think we deserve that today, and in my opinion, my boys are the real heroes.”

Meanwhile, the Egyptian Football Association had said it “cannot remain silent” after what it believed was unfair and biased officiating in Egypt’s loss against Argentina.

Argentina’s team had not acknowledged the complaints on officiating and FIFA. In previous press conferences, Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni had even advised journalists asking about the matter “not to consume so much social media.”

But after the victory over England, the reigning champions fought back.

“Reaching two consecutive World Cup finals is something very few achieve, and this group did it,” Messi said. “If we had lost to England, there would have been people coming out to spout some nonsense, but we didn’t give them the chance.”

Wednesday’s semifinal was the latest chapter in a long-running feud that has transcended the field to encompass British control over the disputed Falkland Islands, which Argentina calls the Malvinas and claims as its sovereign territory.

The British government on Thursday urged FIFA to investigate Argentina’s team after players celebrating their victory over England posed with a banner handed over by fans, reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” — “The Malvinas are Argentine.”

Enzo Fernandez acknowledged that his goal celebration, which leveled the score at 1-1, was aimed at Argentina’s critics. The Chelsea midfielder first cupped his hands to his ears, a gesture interpreted in soccer as a challenge to critics. Then, he opened and closed his fingers, as if inviting them to keep talking.

“There was a lot of talk; it was a mix of euphoria and frustration,” Fernandez said.

Scaloni, for his part, stated in the post-semifinal press conference that “this talk of ‘help’ will always exist; it doesn’t bother me.”

“With VAR today, it’s very difficult to get help; it would have to be glaringly obvious. We knew there was no help.”

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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