This is England’s biggest World Cup game in 36 years. Who should play against Argentina?

England have not lacked for big-game occasions in recent years, but few feel bigger than Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina.

Two European Championship finals in the past five years have offered the chance of silverware but the World Cup is the World Cup, and Argentina are Argentina. In terms of World Cup games played on foreign soil, this feels more seismic than the 2018 semi-final against Croatia — a fine team but not historic rivals of England — while only the 1990 semi-final against West Germany offers a point of comparison in this competition.

England have not exactly swept aside all-comers this summer but have shown tournament nous and impressive durability to get this far. Now comes their biggest test to date, with Lionel Messi and company attempting to retain the world title they won in 2022.

The Athletic’s panel of experts reveal who they would start in Atlanta tomorrow (Wednesday), and why.

This will be an intense, chaotic game which threatens to go the distance. Do you prepare with a 120-minute match in mind? Do you try to ensure you have proven penalty takers on the pitch at the end of extra time? Or do you just pick your strongest team and worry about the rest later?

There aren’t many players you would back to play for two hours again four days after doing so in the quarter-final. Even 90 minutes might be a stretch for Reece James so soon after returning from injury, so it might be a case of weighing up where and when he brings most benefit — a picture complicated by the 49 minutes (plus stoppage time) he played in midfield against Norway on Saturday. Bukayo Saka is another such concern.

On balance, I would start with James at right-back. Kobbie Mainoo can be Plan B in midfield. Saka or Noni Madueke on the right wing? I would start with Saka as the “steadier” option for the first hour or so, with Madueke more of a wildcard to replace him later if required.

There’s a real danger that, with so many players running low on energy, England coach Thomas Tuchel could be left with very few of his recognised penalty takers on the pitch at the end. (The much-discussed Ivan Toney option is harder to execute in practice if other substitutions are enforced.) But you can’t let penalty shootout-related concerns influence team selection too much. The priority has to be to win this in 90 minutes — or 120.

John Stones has to start. He proved the value of his experience against Mexico and then Norway, and he will have faced Lionel Messi in club football more times (three, winning twice) than any of England’s other central defensive options.

The question of who partners him at centre-back is not easy because neither Marc Guehi nor Ezri Konsa deserves to be dropped. You could shift Konsa across to right-back again, although it might be tempting to bring Reece James back in there. He looked sharper than expected on his return from injury against Norway.

It’s a difficult decision but, on balance, I would stick with Guehi at centre-back, Konsa at right-back and James on the bench, not least because England may need the latter in midfield in a double six if Declan Rice has to come off again. The other selections are obvious except for the right wing, where I would bring Bukayo Saka in for Noni Madueke. Saka looks sharp enough to start and I still like Madueke’s running as a bench option later on in the game.

I have a couple of questions around the starting XI for this one, and both revolve around fitness. In an ideal world (where hamstrings never die), I’d want Reece James starting at right-back in place of Ezri Konsa and Bukayo Saka back on that wing in place of Noni Madueke. James played 49 minutes (plus stoppage time) in the quarter-final (coming on in midfield before moving to right-back for extra time) and performed well. I’d be inclined to take the risk and start him.

Saka’s quality will be desperately needed against Argentina, and he managed a solid shift versus Norway after coming on at half-time, so hopefully he’s in good shape to start. John Stones and Marc Guehi came through a massive test in that game against Erling Haaland and company and while both had their wobbly moments, I’d keep them together.

The rest of the team pretty much picks itself, with the hope that Declan Rice’s recovery has continued and he’s in a better place physically than he was on Saturday.

Focus too much on stopping Lionel Messi and England will run the risk of not taking control against an Argentina team who have clear weaknesses.

Fine, Thomas Tuchel’s side are being stretched to their limit physically, but so too are Argentina. Against Switzerland, just like against Cape Verde in the round of 32, they went ahead, failed to build on that and needed a late show in extra time to win. Between those games, they staged a remarkable comeback victory from 2-0 down against Egypt — winning games like that, as England know, is draining.

The spine of the team is fine. Declan Rice, fitness and wellness pending, should continue to start in central midfield alongside Elliot Anderson. Argentina are so good at central line breaks that Tuchel needs athletes and ball-winners. Bukayo Saka would be my shout at right wing for defensive protection against aggressive left-back Nicolas Tagliafico, and for the same reason I’d have Djed Spence at right-back for his recovery speed. Drop Ezri Konsa, keep the centre-back pairing of Marc Guehi and John Stones.

Consideration should be given to Marcus Rashford over Anthony Gordon. It was a one-two down the left that Switzerland used to create the equaliser in the quarter-final, and Rashford is a better technician to work that kind of move. It would also mean Gordon could be a second-half impact substitute and use his pace when Argentine defenders are fatigued.

Let’s assume that Reece James is fit, and the assorted bodies strewn around the pitch after the win over Norway have recovered. It’s a tough call in central defence, because John Stones didn’t really do anything to deserve being dropped, but I would go with Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi if they’re both ready.

I’d take Bukayo Saka at 50 per cent over Noni Madueke at 100 per cent, so he must come back in, but the other flank is a minor conundrum: neither Anthony Gordon nor Marcus Rashford have been massively convincing when starting, but Morgan Rogers was really good after coming on in the quarter-final, so I would start him, which might also help England combat Argentina’s narrow midfield.

Reece James did well at right-back against Norway, but I’m prioritising recovery pace and the ability to exploit Argentina’s vulnerabilities in wide areas, so I’m picking Djed Spence. As Nick says above, John Stones hasn’t necessarily done anything to deserve being dropped, but he also hasn’t convinced me that the back line is more stable — or more alert — with him in it, so I’d move Ezri Konsa back into the centre. The fact Stones played 120 minutes of football on Saturday, having played only 429 in the Premier League all last season, also makes me think he might be better served with a slight rest.

Much as Arsenal fans with an eye on the new season might be wincing, I have to start Bukayo Saka ahead of Noni Madueke; I was impressed with his performance on Saturday and even if he is not operating at full capacity, he is still the better option. Likewise, hopefully the after-effects of Declan Rice’s illness are subsiding and he is ready to marshal the midfield again alongside Elliot Anderson, as they will have a key role in cutting off Lionel Messi’s supply.

I think Anthony Gordon is better suited both to the tracking back and the runs in behind that will be needed than Marcus Rashford, so he keeps his place. I will also continue banging the drum for Thomas Tuchel to consider switching those wingers’ flanks mid-game to let them whip crosses in on their stronger foot if England are struggling to dribble through a stubborn defence.

Well, this isn’t easy. England’s chances of beating Argentina improve if they’re playing with pace, width and a brisk, direct style that a few teams have already used at this World Cup to trouble Lionel Scaloni’s side.

However, being pacey and keeping the tempo high relies on having fit and fresh players. Reece James, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka all start in an ideal world and are in my XI on that basis, but how fit are they?

Yes, this is a World Cup semi-final and there’s a temptation to throw everything at Argentina with the your best available XI, but England must be smart and rely on good information from the players and the medical staff… they can’t have another Rice situation from the Norway game where he’s running through treacle for 45 minutes and then needs replacing at half-time, because if this Argentina team, almost unbeatable for three major tournaments in a row, start well and score first, England’s task becomes that much harder.