ATLANTA, United States (AFP) — England are bidding to end Lionel Messi’s dream of winning back-to-back World Cups and reach their first final in six decades as they renew their old rivalry with holders Argentina on Wednesday in a seismic semi-final showdown.

An England team, which has been dragged to this stage by the brilliance of Jude Bellingham, take on Messi’s Argentina under the roof of the spectacular arena in Atlanta, already the scene of a memorable victory by the defending champions at this tournament.

It is the first competitive meeting of the sides since the 2002 World Cup and the fixture conjures so many memories, from Diego Maradona and the ‘Hand of God’ in 1986, to David Beckham’s red card after tangling with Diego Simeone in 1998, while also thrusting the lingering sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands back into the spotlight.