England advanced to the World Cup semi-finals after a cagey quarter-final against Norway, with Jude Bellingham scoring twice to secure victory for the 1966 champions.
Argentina, the defending champions, topped their group with a perfect record but have survived multiple scares in the knockout stages, requiring extra time to overcome Cape Verde and rallying from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Egypt.
The South Americans secured a 3-1 quarter-final win over Switzerland, though the scoreline masked a contest in which the Swiss appeared dominant until a second-half red card shifted the momentum.
Former England midfielder Paul Scholes believes both finalists have followed remarkably similar paths, noting that neither side has played particularly well but both have found ways to progress through difficult matches.
Scholes identifies Argentina's tournament experience as their primary advantage, highlighting their proven ability to win high-stakes knockout games, while England have yet to demonstrate that same pedigree on this stage.
Describing the semi-final as a genuine 50-50 contest, Scholes favors England's squad depth over Argentina's, even accounting for Lionel Messi, and predicts a chaotic 4-3 victory for the Three Lions featuring multiple dismissals.
Looking beyond the semi-final, Scholes expresses doubt that England could overcome tournament favorites France in a potential final, suggesting their best hope rests on Spain eliminating the French side first.
