The England camp remained calm and focused during that gruelling first half against Argentina, as their assistant manager Anthony Barry explained the plan to unlock their opponents. With neither side managing to break the deadlock, the tension was palpable in Atlanta's packed stadium. It's a measure of the Three Lions' resolve that they're still very much in this World Cup semi-final, despite a lacklustre opening 45 minutes.
The stats tell a story of caution on both sides, with just three shots registered in total by the end of the first half. England's initial shot on goal didn't come until the 33rd minute, courtesy of John Stones' headed effort from a free-kick – a record wait for a World Cup match. Frequent fouls had disrupted the flow of play, preventing either nation from gaining significant control.
Barry outlined the coaching staff's assessment of the first half and their adjustments going forward: "Keep going, we wanted to be on the front foot, get after them, show our players there was no inferiority complex. We were here to play in their half." England's initial aggression had worked until the water break, but Argentina's tactical shift – with Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernández dropping deeper – made it harder for the Three Lions to regain possession.
Barry identified the key to success: "We need to evolve in this game. Turn our dominance into bigger chances. We've had okay chances, half chances, but more time spent in their half means they'll tire. We'll use our Premier League power and physicality to open them up later on." As Argentina started the second half brightly, with Julian Alvarez forcing an early low save from Jordan Pickford, the stakes remain incredibly high – the winner of this semi-final will earn a World Cup final showdown against Spain on Sunday, 19 July.