Gary Neville makes England vs Argentina prediction ahead of World Cup semi-final | OneFootball

Three Lions facing toughest test of the summer so far - and pundits’ predictions are split

England on Wednesday have the chance to book their place in the World Cup final for the first time since winning the tournament in 1966, but they must get past the reigning champions Argentina if they are to do so, and pundits are beginning to weigh in.

It is the first competitive meeting between the two nations since the 2002 World Cup, when England won a group-stage meeting 1-0, but there is plenty more on the line here.

Neither Argentina nor England have quite been at their best this summer. Argentina made narrow escapes to edge past Cape Verde and Egypt in the rounds of 32 and 16, while England also survived a scare against DR Congo and laboured past Norway in the quarter-final.

But England have plenty of cause for optimism ahead of what, on paper, is an evenly-matched semi-final.

That is the opinion of Gary Neville, who feels the Three Lions are well-placed to reach a first final for 60 years.

Gary Neville is confident England have what it takes to get the better of Argentina

AFP/Getty

England will face one of France or Spain in the final, provided they qualify, and Ian Wright believes that might be a step too far for Thomas Tuchel’s men.

The ex-Arsenal man does, however, believe England’s strengths lend themselves well to getting past Argentina: “If we get to a France or a Spain, I think the level goes to another place entirely. It’s going to be difficult – it’s the final, isn’t it?

“But I don’t fear Argentina like I’d fear France or Spain, because I think there are a lot of fallacies with them.

“I think we’ll beat Argentina – not just because I want us to, but because of the way they play and how narrow they are but our wingers need to do a lot more than what they have done. I think we’ll be able to block them and break.”

Roy Keane, unsurprisingly, was quick to bring Neville and Wright down a peg, saying he expects Argentina to pull something special out in the semi-final.

”Truthfully, I think they’ll come up short against Argentina,” said the Irishman. “I think definitely against France. Spain might be different, get the job done [against Spain], but I think there’s too much there. I think Argentina would just find something in a tight game.”