Article
Top 6 Memorable Clashes Between England And Scotland
First played at Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow on 30th November 1872, England v Scotland is the oldest international fixture in football. On Wednesday 14th August 2013 the rivalry resumes after a gap of almost 14 years. This will be Scotland’s first appearance at the ‘new’ Wembley, which seems a tragedy in itself given the closeness of their locality and the length of the history between the two nations.
This fixture used to be an annual encounter played as part of the British International Championship which was traditionally held at the end of May after the FA Cup Final and League season had finished. During the 1980’s the fixture became a real magnet for battles between rival sets of fans and the authorities began to lose motivation. The Home International Championships ended in 1984 and since then England and Scotland have met 8 times.
Since watching my first match in 1975, I have seen 18 clashes between ‘the auld enemy’. Here is a rundown of the best or most memorable.
24th May 1975, British International Championship, Wembley, attendance: 98,241
ENGLAND (3) 5 (G.Francis 4, 63; Beattie 6; Bell 41; Johnson 73)
Clemence (Liverpool); Whitworth (Leicester), Todd (Derby), Watson (Sunderland), Beattie (Ipswich); Ball (Arsenal), Bell (Man City), G. Francis (QPR); Channon (Southampton), Johnson (Ipswich), Keegan (Liverpool) [Thomas (QPR)]
SCOTLAND (1) 1 (Rioch pen 42)
Kennedy (Rangers); Jardine (Rangers), Munro (Wolves), McQueen (Leeds), McGrain (Celtic); Rioch (Derby), Duncan (Hibs) [Hutchison (Coventry)], Conn (Tottenham); Parlane (Rangers), MacDougall (Norwich) [Macari (Man Utd)], Dalglish (Celtic)
A vintage England performance under Don Revie during a time when the words ‘vintage’ and ‘England’ were usually used to describe days gone by when they used to entertain. England had been held by both the Irish and Welsh and as Scotland had also drawn against the Welsh but beaten the Irish, another draw would be enough for the Scots to win the competition.
This was the end of the first 12 months of Revie’s reign and the goals scored by Wales in the week were the first they’d conceded since the ex-Leeds manager had taken over. Early in the game and Channon and Francis combined to take control of the ball in midfield where Francis then found some room about 25 yards out and he let fly a great shot to give England the lead. Francis had probably his best game for his country and would go on to be instrumental in leading QPR almost to the title the following season.
With Scotland still trying to find their feet, England came at them again with Ball and Francis combining well to find Keegan, whose cross to the far post found an unlikely target in Kevin Beattie and his floating header gave England a 2-goal lead. The best part of this goal was that Scotland had a free-kick on the edge of the England area and once it was defended, Beattie started sprinting downfield from his own area. He kept running and eventually became the ideal target for Keegan’s pinpoint cross. It was Beattie’s only goal for his country and he was playing in only his 3rd game but it was memorable moment for a player Bobby Robson once described as ‘the best defender he’d ever managed’.
As half-time approached England’s intricate passing in midfield again created a goal as Francis played one-twos with Channon and Keegan and then found Bell who beat Kennedy from virtually the same spot Francis had done earlier in the half. Scotland were then given a lifeline when Rioch converted a penalty awarded against Colin Todd for handball, but England lead going into the break. On the hour mark England extended their lead through a comical moment when they had a free-kick on the left hand edge of the Scottish area. The ball was played for Francis, but too wide for him and his shot was closed down. But the ref wanted the kick retaken as he said the wall wasn’t back the full distance. When he eventually got the wall to the position he wanted, England just repeated the move and this time Francis had more space to hit his shot past the hapless Kennedy.
The fifth goal was equally comical and seemed to sum up Kennedy, and Scotland’s, day. England had a free-kick wide on the right which Ball floated into the area. Keegan got up above Jardine to head the ball against the bar and as the ball came back down Watson managed to knock it against the post when it seemed harder to miss and then as the ball bounced out again, David Johnson was on hand to score. Johnson had scored two goals on his debut against Wales 3 days previously and now had a third as England completed the rout.
4th June 1977, British International Championship, Wembley, attendance: 98,103
ENGLAND (0) 1 (Channon pen 87)
Clemence (Liverpool); Neal (Liverpool), B.Greenhoff (Man Utd), Watson (Man City), Mills (Ipswich); Talbot (Ipswich), Kennedy (Liverpool), Hughes (Liverpool); Channon (Southampton), Pearson (Man Utd), T.Francis (Birmingham)
SCOTLAND (1) 2 (McQueen 43, Dalglish 59)
Rough (Partick); McGrain (Celtic), Forsyth (Rangers), McQueen (Leeds), Donachie (Man City); Rioch (Everton), Hartford (Man City), Masson (QPR) [Gemmill (Derby)], Johnston (WBA); Jordan (Leeds) [Macari (Man Utd)], Dalglish (Celtic)
A fixture famous for the after-match celebrations than the actual game itself. As with two years previously, Scotland had been held by the Welsh but beaten the Irish. England had won in Belfast but beaten at home by Wales. England needed to win, Scotland could afford a draw. The majority of the supporters that day were Scottish and created a wonderful, if a little intimidating, atmosphere.
Just before half-time Scotland had a free-kick near England’s goal-line on their left. Hartford floated it in and Gordon McQueen climbed highest in the area to head past Clemence for the opening goal. On the hour Scotland Hartford was again involved as his lovely weighted pass found Willie Johnston clear on the left. His cross was nodded back by Rioch at the back post and as Dalglish came in, his initial shot was half-blocked by Neal and as the ball ran loose, the Celtic striker (soon to move to Anfield), was first to react to bundle the ball over the line. The Scots were rampant.
With only minutes to go, Trevor Francis played a one-two on the edge of the box and was then adjudged to be brought down by McQueen and England had a penalty. Mick Channon calmly scored but England never deserved to get more than that from the game. Cue the pitch invasion. The pitch was due to be relayed so the Scots seemed keen to take as many souvenirs back with them as they could. They even broke the crossbars as many Rod Stewart look-a-likes claimed the ground as their own. There was a real feeling of dominance in Scottish football at the time, leading to brave boasts of winning the World Cup the following summer. That didn’t materialise, although you wonder why they didn’t achieve more with players like Dalglish, Hartford, Souness and McQueen. This was Scotland’s first win at Wembley since their famous 1967 win when they became the first side to beat the then World Champions.
26th May 1979, British International Championship, Wembley, attendance: 100,000
ENGLAND (1) 3 (Barnes 44, Coppell 62, Keegan 69)
Clemence (Liverpool); Neal (Liverpool), Thompson (Liverpool), Watson (Man City), Mills (Ipswich); Coppell (Man Utd), Wilkins (Chelsea), Brooking (West Ham), Barnes (Man City); Latchford (Everton), Keegan (Hamburg)
SCOTLAND (1) 1 (Wark 16)
Wood (Everton); Burley (Ipswich), McQueen (Man Utd), Hegarty (Dundee Utd), F.Gray (Leeds); Wark (Ipswich), Souness (Liverpool), Hartford (Man City), Graham (Leeds); Jordan (Man Utd), Dalglish (Liverpool)
England had yet to concede a goal in the competition after winning in Belfast and being held at home to the Welsh. Scotland had been beaten by a John Toshack hat-trick at Cardiff yet bounced back to beat the Irish. A win for England would see them lift the trophy and for the Scots to be victorious they needed to win by at least 5 goals.
After the banality of life under Don Revie, England were now enjoying a much freer period under the tutelage of Ron Greenwood. Scotland too had a new boss. After the embarrassment of Argentina ’78, Jock Stein had returned some realism to Scottish fortunes. England had the ball in the net early on when George Wood failed to hang onto a Wilkins cross and Latchford put the ball over the line, to find the referee thought Wood had been fouled. Then Jordan lead a counter-attack finding Arthur Graham on the right. His ball across the goal was poorly defended and Dalglish, at the far post, knocked it back where Wark passed the ball into the net to give the Scots the lead, with his first international goal.
Just before the break, Keegan picked up the ball on the left midway in the Scottish half. His pass forward found Peter Barnes on the edge of the area. Barnes flicked the ball up, controlled it on his thigh and then shot, slightly mishit, past Wood for the equaliser.
The second half belonged to England. Keegan combined with Latchford on the left, then a combination of Barnes and Mills swept the ball over to the right wing where Wilkins was unmarked. His shot across the goal was fumbled by Wood and Steve Coppell was on hand to turn in the loose ball. Then came the goal of the game, which identified the partnership of Keegan and Brooking. England rarely lost when the two were playing together and some of their best performances in the late 70’s came through those two. Coppell stole the ball on the right and found Keegan just inside his own half. Keegan then ran into the space in front of him with Brooking just to his left. The two played a beautiful one-two to take out the defence completely and Keegan slotted it past Wood to kill the game off. England had won the trophy for the second successive year.
15th June 1996, European Championships, Wembley, attendance: 76,864
ENGLAND (0) 2 (Shearer 53, Gascoigne 79)
Seaman (Arsenal), G.Neville (Man Utd), Southgate (A.Villa), Adams (Arsenal), Pearce (Notts Forest) [Redknapp (Liverpool)[Campbell (Tottenham)]]; Anderton (Tottenham), Ince (Inter) [Stone (Notts Forest)], Gascoigne (Rangers), McManaman (Liverpool); Sheringham (Tottenham), Shearer (Blackburn)
SCOTLAND (0) 0
Goram (Rangers); McKimmie (Aberdeen), Calderwood (Tottenham), Hendry (Blackburn), Boyd (Celtic); McKinlay (Celtic) [Burley (Chelsea)], McAllister (Leeds), McCall (Rangers), Collins (Celtic); Durie (Rangers) [Jess (Coventry)], Spencer (Chelsea) [McCoist (Rangers)]
Euro ’96 in England and the group stage would see the Auld Enemy drawn against each other in a fixture with the rest of Europe looking on, mildly amused. Both countries had drawn their opening matches and with the Dutch still to come, England knew they had to get a win here. But Scotland were well organised and nullified most of England’s attacking options. After a goalless first half, England manager Terry Venables, made an important tactical change. He took off Pearce and brought on Redknapp. This released Gascoigne to be more attacking and England reverted to a back three.
Almost immediately, Redknapp began to win the ball in midfield and he found Neville on the left whose cross was met perfectly by Shearer at the far post and England were in the lead. All their hard work was nearly undone when Adams was adjudged to have brought down Durie in the area and Scotland had a penalty. Up stepped Gary McAllister but his shot was saved by David Seaman and the let-off galvanised England further to create the goal of the tournament. The ball had gone out for a corner after Seaman’s save and from there England gained a free-kick for a push in the area. A long ball downfield from Seaman was controlled by Sheringham who played it to Anderton wide on the left.
The Tottenham man played a first time ball through to Gascoigne, who ran into space on the edge of the area. As the ball landed over Gascoigne’s left shoulder, he flicked it up, anticipating Hendry’s challenge, then ran round the Scottish centre-back and as the ball droped he volleyed it past Goram into the net and victory was complete for England.
Before the tournament, England players had been criticised for some antics in a Far East bar with copious amounts of alcohol and a ‘dentist’s chair’. After a collective vow of silence from the squad, Gascoigne seeks to make light of it by recreating the event with water bottles on the side of the pitch and his teammates feeding the liquid to him. It was a delirious moment for the home side and fans and finally brought to tournament to life.
Due to the expansion of countries in Europe, the European Championship qualifying stages now included a play-off stage. Remarkably, the first two countries drawn out of the hat were England and Scotland. Set to play over two legs beginning with a game at Hampden Park
13th November 1999, European Championship Play-off 1st leg, Hampden Park, attendance: 50,132
SCOTLAND (0) 0
Sullivan (Wimbledon); Dailly (Blackburn), Hendry (Rangers), Weir (Hearts), Ritchie (Hearts); Collins (Everton), Burley (Celtic), Hutchison (Everton), Ferguson (Rangers); Dodds (Dundee Utd), Gallacher (Newcastle) [Burchill (Celtic)]
ENGLAND (2) 2 (Scholes 21, 42)
Seaman (Arsenal); Campbell (Arsenal), Adams (Arsenal), Keown (Arsenal), P.Neville (Man Utd); Beckham (Man Utd), Ince (Middlesbro), Redknapp (Liverpool), Scholes (Man Utd); Owen (Liverpool) [A.Cole (Man Utd)], Shearer (Newcastle)
England, were unbeaten under new manager Kevin Keegan, and firm favourites to reach the finals, but Scotland, still managed by Craig Brown, were a determined bunch. The game was played in front of a typically vociferous and partisan crowd. Midway through the half and Sol Campbell, playing at right-back, played a ball forward looking for Shearer and Scholes nipped in, controlled it on his chest and calmly slotted the ball past Sullivan for the opening goal. Then as half-time loomed England had a free-kick wide on the right which Beckham took it and again it was Scholes who got up first to head England into a 2-0 lead. England comfortably saw out the game to take a crucial lead to Wembley 4 days later.
17th November 1999, European Championship Play-off 2nd leg, Wembley, attendance: 75,848
ENGLAND (0) 0
Seaman (Arsenal); Campbell (Arsenal), Southgate (A.Villa), Adams (Arsenal), P.Neville (Man Utd); Beckham (Man Utd), Ince (Middlesbro), Redknapp (Liverpool), Scholes (Man Utd) [Parlour (Arsenal)]; Owen (Liverpool) [Heskey (Liverpool)], Shearer (Newcastle)
SCOTLAND (1) 1 (Hutchison 39)
Sullivan (Wimbledon); Dailly (Blackburn), Hendry (Rangers), Weir (Hearts), Davidson (Blackburn); Burley (Celtic), Hutchison (Everton), Collins (Everton), Ferguson (Rangers); Dodds (Dundee Utd), McCann (Rangers) [Burchill (Celtic)]
Both teams made changes for the second leg, although England only made the one with Southgate coming in for Keown. McCann and Davidson came in for Gallacher and Ritchie. England’s approach to this game seemed to be far too comfortable and complacent despite the fact they knew the Scots had to make all the running. England seemed to prefer to protect the lead they had rather than make life easier for themselves by adding to it. Four days previously Scotland had seemed disjointed and nervous but now they were all fighting for the cause.
Brown had decided to push Huthcison further forward to support the attack and he was rewarded as the first half reached a conclusion. With 6 minutes to go to the break Dailly found McCann down the left and as he reached the bye-line he picked out a far post cross and Don Hutchison rose above the defence to head home for Scotland. This changed the complexion of the tie completely as Scotland pressed for a 2nd goal to level things and England crawled further and further into their shell. In the end England saw the game out to go through but Scotland had definitely hurt them.
Other than the games I have watched there have been some other memorable meetings between the two nations.
14th February 1973, Hampden Park, Centenary Match, attendance: 48,470
SCOTLAND (0) 0
ENGLAND (3) 5 (Lorimer og 11, Clarke 14, 72, Channon 15, Chivers 70)
10th May 1969, Wembley, British International Championship, attendance: 89,902
ENGLAND (2) 4 (Peters 16, 64, Hurst pen 20, 64)
SCOTLAND (1) 1 (Stein 44)
15th April 1967, Wembley, European Championship Qualifying, attendance: 99,063
ENGLAND (0) 2 (J Charlton 84, Hurst 88)
SCOTLAND (1) 3 (Law 27, Lennox 78, McCalliog 87)
2nd April 1966, Hampden Park, British International Championship, attendance: 123,052
SCOTLAND (1) 3 (Law 42, Johnstone 58, 84)
ENGLAND (2) 4 (Hurst 19, Hunt 33, 48, R.Charlton 74)
15th April 1961, Wembley, British International Championship, attendance: 97,350
ENGLAND (3) 9 (B.Robson 9, Greaves 19, 29, 82, Douglas 56, Smith 73, 85, Haynes 80, 82)
SCOTLAND (0) 3 (Mackay 48, Wilson 53, Quinn 75)
2nd April 1955, Wembley, British International Championship, attendance: 96,847
ENGLAND (4) 7 (Wilshaw 1, 70, 73, 84, Lofthouse 7, 36, Revie 24)
SCOTLAND (1) 2 (Reilly 15, Docherty 85)
10th April 1920, Hillsborough, British International Championship, attendance: 40,000
ENGLAND (2) 5 (Cock 10, Quantrill 15, Kelly 67, 73, Morris 68)
SCOTLAND (4) 4 (Miller 13, 40, Wilson 21, Donaldson 31)
FULL PLAYING RECORD
Matches: 110
England win: 45
Scotland win: 41
Drawn: 24
In May 1982, England beat Scotland 1-0 at Hampden Park. It was the 100th meeting between the two countries and levelled things up at 39 wins each.
Argentina will be aiming for a record-breaking 16th Copa America title when they take on Colombia
The Copa America 2024 is set for an electrifying conclusion as defending champions Argentina face off against Colombia at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida on Sunday. This highly anticipated final marks the first-ever Copa America final meeting between these two footballing powerhouses. Argentina aim to secure a record-breaking 16th title, making them the most successful side in the competition’s history.
Argentina’s road to the final has been marked by grit and determination. They navigated a nerve-wracking penalty shootout against Ecuador in the quarter-finals before securing a comfortable 2-0 victory over Canada in the semi-finals. Julian Alvarez opened the scoring, followed by a historic goal from Lionel Messi, who now stands as the second-highest male goalscorer in international football with 109 goals.
Argentina’s unbeaten streak now extends to 10 matches, and they remain unbeaten in major tournament knockout games on American soil since the 1994 World Cup. It is no understatement that they go into the clash as favourites.
Colombia are no pushovers, however. They have been in exceptional form. Since their 1-0 loss to Argentina in World Cup qualifying in February 2022, they have embarked on a record-breaking unbeaten run of 28 matches.
Jefferson Lerma’s header gave Colombia the lead before Daniel Munoz’s red card put them at a numerical disadvantage against Uruguay. Despite this setback, Colombia’s resilience shone through as they held on to secure their place in the final. The victory over Uruguay was marred by a brawl involving Uruguayan players and Colombian supporters, but Colombia’s focus remained unwavering. This final represents a chance for Colombia to end a long wait since their first Copa America triumph in 2001.
Team News and Predicted XI
Argentina
For the final, Argentina face no injury or suspension issues. Head coach Lionel Scaloni is expected to maintain an unchanged lineup. The defence will feature a solid back four with Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, and Nicolas Tagliafico, with Emiliano Martinez as the goalkeeper.
In the midfield, Enzo Fernandez and Rodrigo De Paul are anticipated to keep their places, even though Giovani Lo Celso and Exequiel Palacios are pushing for a start. Angel Di Maria is poised for his international farewell on the right wing. Alexis Mac Allister, who has been impressive on the international stage, will play a crucial role, linking up with Messi from the midfield.
Lionel Messi, who overcame a leg injury to play the full match against Canada, will lead the attack alongside Julian Alvarez. Lautaro Martinez, the tournament’s top scorer, is expected to begin on the bench and should be brought on in the second half.
Predicted Playing XI (4-4-2): Emi. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Lis. Martinez, Tagliafico; Mac Allister, E. Fernandez, De Paul, Di Maria; Messi, Alvarez
Colombia
With Daniel Munoz suspended, Santiago Arias is set to start at right-back, joining Davinson Sanchez, Carlos Cuesta, and Johan Mojica in a solid four-man backline. Camilo Vargas will likely be the goalkeeper.
In midfield, Jefferson Lerma and Richard Ríos are expected to form the double pivot, providing protection for the defence and allowing the attacking players to push forward.
Captain James Rodriguez, who has recorded a tournament-high six assists, will continue in the number 10 role. He will be supported by Liverpool’s Luis Diaz and Fluminense’s Jhon Arias on the flanks.
Jhon Cordoba, who has contributed with two goals and two assists, is expected to lead the attack, with Jhon Duran and Rafael Santos Borre available as options.
Predicted Playing XI (4-2-3-1): Vargas; Santiago Arias, Sanchez, Cuesta, Mojica; Rios, Lerma; Jhon Arias, Rodriguez, Diaz; Cordoba
Key Stats
- Victory will see Argentina win their 16th Copa America title, making them the most successful side in the competition’s illustrious history.
- Colombia are unbeaten in their last 28 international games.
- Argentina have won 26 of their 43 meetings against Colombia in all competitions.
- A win for Colombia will see them win just their second Copa America title, their first since 2001.
Match Deciding Duel
Enzo Fernandez (Argentina) vs James Rodriguez (Colombia)
Argentina have been solid in defence and penetrating their backline has proven to be a challenge for most sides in the competition. Colombia have a rather dynamic attack but will depend on the veteran James Rodriguez to act as the playmaker.
With the likes of Luis Diaz able to make the most of opportunities, the onus will be on Enzo Fernandez to ensure Rodriguez does not have space to manoeuvre in. The duel between the two players could certainly set the tone for which way the cookie crumbles on the night.
Prediction
Argentina 2-1 Colombia
The clash is likely to be an entertaining one with the midfield battle expected to set the tone for the result. Argentina. however, have more strength in depth and the ability to bring a player of Lautaro Martinez’s calibre off the bench in the second half is akin to a cheat code. The Inter Milan star is expected to lead the defending champions to a close 2-1 win on the night.
Spain and England will face off for continental supremacy in the Euro 2024 final
As Euro 2024 reaches its climax, the football world braces for a thrilling final between Spain and England at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. This highly anticipated match will determine the champions of Europe, with Spain looking to add to their illustrious history and England aiming to lift the Henri Delaunay Trophy for the first time.
Spain, guided by Luis de la Fuente, entered the tournament somewhat under the radar but quickly established themselves as a formidable contender. They navigated the so-called ‘Group of Death’ with ease, securing nine points from three matches against Croatia, Italy, and Albania. Impressively, they emerged from the group stage without conceding a goal to an opposition player.
In the knockout stages, Spain demonstrated their resilience and quality. A stunning 4-1 comeback against Georgia in the last-16 and a tense extra-time victory over hosts Germany in the quarter-finals showcased their grit and talent. The semi-final against France was another test of their mettle, with young star Lamine Yamal lighting up the Allianz Arena and Dani Olmo sealing the win.
Spain’s journey to the final has not been without challenges, but their blend of experience and youthful exuberance has seen them through. They now stand on the brink of history, aiming to become the first European men’s team to win four major tournaments consecutively.
England’s Euro 2024 campaign has been a rollercoaster. Gareth Southgate’s men had a mixed group stage, winning only once against Serbia and drawing against Denmark and Slovenia. Their knockout phase has been a tale of resilience and drama, coming from behind in both the last-16 and quarter-finals.
A lacklustre win over Slovakia and a penalty shootout victory against Switzerland set the stage for a semi-final clash with the Netherlands. Despite early setbacks, including a goal from Dutch prodigy Xavi Simons, England produced their best performance of the tournament. A late winner from Ollie Watkins, following a perfect penalty from Harry Kane, propelled them to their second consecutive Euro final.
Southgate’s squad has shown incredible determination and character, setting new records along the way. Kane’s scoring feats and the team’s ability to perform under pressure have been pivotal to their success.
We take a look at how both sides could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News and Predicted XI
Spain
Spain’s bad-tempered quarter-final against Germany saw Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand fall foul of the referee, leading to their suspensions for the semi-final. Both players are now back at De la Fuente’s disposal, bringing much-needed fresh legs to the Roja XI. Carvajal will replace Jesus Navas, while Le Normand should push Nacho to the bench.
Spain are expected to maintain a 4-3-3 formation with Unai Simon in goal. Daniel Carvajal and Marc Cucurella should hold the flanks in defence, while Robin Le Normand and Aymeric Laporte should form the centre-back pairing. Rodri should form the midfield pivot, with Dani Olmo and Fabian Ruiz pushing forward.
Skipper Alvaro Morata should lead the line with the electric duo of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams providing support. Morata was initially a concern given his freak injury after the win against France. Thankfully for Spain, he trained normally and should lead them out.
Predicted Playing XI (4-3-3): Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Ruiz, Rodri, Olmo; Yamal, Morata, Williams
England
England arrive in Berlin with a fully fit squad, including Luke Shaw, who has recovered from injury. Shaw’s performance against Switzerland and his effective stint in the semi-final suggests he may start, replacing Kieran Trippier at left-back.
Southgate is likely to stick with his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation. Jordan Pickford will guard the goal, with a back three of John Stones, Harry Maguire, and Marc Guehi.
Shaw and Kyle Walker will operate as wing-backs, while Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham form the midfield pivot. Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka will support captain Harry Kane in attack. Southgate has enough game-changers on the bench and it remains to be seen if he will have the nerve to make bold calls or play the long game and roll the dice.
Predicted Playing XI (4-3-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Shaw; Bellingham, Foden; Kane
Key Stats
- A victory on the night will see Spain secure their fourth title, making them the most successful side in the competition’s history.
- A win for England will see them triumph in the European Championships for the first time in their history.
- Spain and England have faced off 27 times in all competitions. La Roja have won 10 games while England have won 14. Three games ended in a draw.
- England have never lost to Spain in a UEFA European Championship clash before.
Match Deciding Duel
Lamine Yamal (Spain) vs Luke Shaw (Spain)
Lamal has been a critical difference-maker for Spain in this year’s tournament and will hope to end it on a high. Up against the recently returned Luke Shaw, he will aim to run rings against the English veteran.
Shaw’s ability to get caught out could provide Yamal the space he needs to run into and put the English backline into disarray. This should also subsequently free up Dani Olmo to make his trademarks into the box.
Prediction
Spain 1-1 England (Spain to Win on Penalties)
England will be keen to end their trophy drought and also go one better than last time around. While they have a strong squad with plenty of depth, Southgate’s inability to take calculated risks should play right into Spain’s hands. It remains unlikely that the trophy will go ‘home’ anytime soon.
Argentina and Canada will face off in the first semifinal of Copa America 2024, a repeat of the competition opener from Group A
Canada have a golden opportunity to make history as they face defending champions Argentina in the first semi-final of Copa America 2024 at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday.
In a rematch of their tournament opener, Canada can become the second CONCACAF team to reach the Copa America final. Both sides advanced to the semi-finals via penalty shootouts, with Argentina defeating Ecuador and Canada overcoming Venezuela after 1-1 draws in regular time respectively.
Argentina’s path to the semi-finals has been fortified by their exceptional defence and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. The victory over Ecuador secures their fifth consecutive appearance in the Copa America semi-finals. Historically, Argentina have been strong at this stage, progressing in seven of their last eight attempts, with the only setback being against Brazil in 2019.
A triumph on Tuesday would mark the first time Argentina reached the Copa America final as defending champions since 1959. Scaloni’s team has been defensively sound, conceding just once throughout the tournament. The Albiceleste are unbeaten in their last nine matches across all competitions, allowing only three goals during this period.
On the other hand, Canada has shown remarkable resilience since their initial loss to Argentina. Jesse Marsch’s squad has conceded just once in their last three games. They are the third CONCACAF team to reach the Copa America semi-finals in their debut appearance, following Honduras and Mexico. They are also the first from the region to advance this far since the USA in 2016.
This semi-final marks Canada’s fifth appearance in the final four of a continental tournament this century. They have progressed beyond this stage twice, in the 2023 Nations League and the 2000 Gold Cup. Canada aims to emulate Mexico’s 2001 Copa America run, where Mexico reached the final before losing to Colombia.
Argentina’s defensive stability and tactical discipline under Scaloni will be pivotal, also giving their world-class frontline a base to build upon. Canada, under Marsch, has transformed into a more disciplined and resilient team. Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies will be crucial in breaking down Argentina’s defence. SoccerSouls takes a closer look at this clash.
Team News and Predicted XI
Argentina
Lionel Messi was not at his best against Ecuador and will be keen to make amends for the penalty miss in the shootout. he missed the final group game with a hamstring injury but now appears to be back to full fitness.
Lionel Scaloni is likely to retain his flexible 4-3-3 formation with Emiliano Martínez in goal. He should be protected by the back four of Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez and Marcos Acuna.
Midfielder Leandro Paredes should perform the role of the pivot in the centre, giving Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister and the dynamic Rodrigo De Paul the freedom to push forward. Lionel Messi is expected to don the playmaker’s role with Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez leading the line. Angel Di Maria will offer Argentina another option off the bench should they need to shift gears.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Emi. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Acuna; Mac Allister, Paredes, De Paul; Messi, La. Martinez, Alvarez
Canada
Inter Milan Tajon Buchanan remains a major doubt for Canada after he suffered a broken tibia during training just days before their match against Venezuela. This injury puts his participation in doubt not just for the semi-final clash against Argentina but also for the remainder of the tournament.
Jesse Marsch has an otherwise fully fit squad to choose from for the clash and is expected to set his side up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Maxime Crépeau in goal. The shot-stopper should be protected by the back four of Alistair Johnston, Moise Bombito, Derek Cornelius, and Alphonso Davies.
Stephen Eustáquio and Jonathan Osorio should form the double pivot, freeing up Jonathan David to act as the playmaker. Cyle Larin should start up front, with Richie Laryea and Jacob Shaffelburg providing support out wide.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Crepeau; Johnston, Bombito, Cornelius, Davies; Osorio, Eustaquio; Laryea, David, Shaffelburg; Larin
Key Stats
- Argentina have never conceded a goal against Canada.
- Argentina have not lost a major tournament match on U.S. soil since a 3-2 defeat to Romania in the 1994 World Cup’s round of 16.
- A win on the night will see Canmada make it to their first-ever Copa America final at the first time of asking.
- Argentina have not made it to the final of the competition as defending champions since 1959.
Match Deciding Duel
Lautaro Martinez (Argentina) vs Derek Cornelius (Canada)
Lautaro Martinez is the top scorer in the tournament this season and has made it a habit of scoring late goals for Argentina. This augurs well for a side that is defensively compact, giving them a second wind to settle the game as the opposition gets tired. Derek Cornelius will have his hands full all night but will know that he cannot slack off for even a second with Martinez on the prowl.
Argentina’s ability to score late coupled with Canada’s vulnerabilities in the second half of the game makes for a thrilling finale in the final 30 minutes of the first semifinal. While Argentina do have several threats and matchwinners in their lineup, Martinez’s clinical touch has given them the edge this summer. He will certainly be aiming to make a difference once again on Tuesday.
Transfer Watch
Jonathan David
The LOSC Lille attacker is Canada’s trump card going forward and is expected to leave the Ligue 1 giants this summer. David is a pacy player whose ability to get into space and clinical ability in the box helps make a difference. While several clubs are keeping tabs on him, a solid showing against the defending FIFA World Cup holders will only help boost his profile among potential suitors.
David will be up against the meanest defence in the competition on the night. The duo of Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez aren’t just formidable defenders but their ‘take no prisoners’ approach will certainly add a physical element to the duel. David is unlikely to come up against a meaner backline in the competition and how well he handles this challenge could determine his stock this summer.
Prediction
Argentina 2-0 Canada
Both teams will be familiar with each other having felt each other out on the opening day. The stakes are much higher this time round and Canada will be hoping for a monumental upset. Argentina were handed a late scare against Ecuador and that perhaps will ensure they don’t take Tuesday’s game for granted. The game should be a hard-fought one with Argentina’s match winners making the difference in the second half of the game.
- Liverpool13 years ago
Raheem Sterling Age 17 Kids 3 Women 2
- Arsenal13 years ago
Etienne Capoue To Become An Arsenal Player In Summer
- Arsenal13 years ago
Arsenal Defender Nacho Monreal Doesn’t Agree The Direction The Club Is Going.
- Arsenal13 years ago
Robin van Persie wants to move back to Arsenal
- Arsenal13 years ago
Report: Arsenal Could Sign A Striker Next Week
- Headlines13 years ago
Manchester United Preparing A (Javier Hernandez + De Gea + 55 Million) Bid For Ronaldo
- Arsenal13 years ago
Arsenal Planning To Bring In ‘Next Fabregas’
- Headlines13 years ago
Three Reasons Why Manchester United Must Sign This “Next Vidic”