Friedel’s honest Argentina verdict ahead of England’s 2026 World Cup semi-final | Football | Sport
The England national team will face Argentina on Wednesday in the World Cup semi-final as the nation seeks to reach its first final since 1966.
Former USMNT goalkeeper Brad Friedel, who made over 450 appearances in the Premier League, caused something of a stir when he described Mexico as an “average side.”
El Tri proved more resilient than anticipated — admittedly against 10-man England in the second period — in a 3-2 loss.
Speaking exclusively with Express Sports on behalf of Bovada World Cup betting, Friedel had his say on Argentina, the reigning World Cup champions, who, like England, have also battled their way into the semi-finals.
Argentina needed extra time to overcome Cape Verde (3-2) in the Round of 32 and Switzerland (2-1) in the quarter-finals, with results bookended by a remarkable fightback against Egypt, where Lionel Messi and his teammates overturned a 2-0 deficit in the 79th minute.
Friedel was candid yet measured when evaluating the 2026 Argentine squad, describing coach Lionel Scaloni’s La Albiceleste outfit as “not the same as 2022” while suggesting that England “can qualify for the final.”
“I saw Argentina versus Switzerland, and they looked leggy in midfield. They do defend hard, but concede chances. They have struggled against Cape Verde, Egypt, and Switzerland, who do not have the same quality that England does,” Friedel shared.
“This Argentina side is not the same as 2022, and we know the history between England and Argentina, the game will be fiery, and England has the quality to win. In the attacking third, Messi still has the quality, but he isn’t on the ball as much as he was in 2022.”
Messi has netted eight goals — including a group stage hat-trick against Algeria — in the 2026 tournament, one more than he managed during the triumphant 2022 World Cup campaign.
“As the game develops, Argentina seems to lose the 50/50 battles, and they do concede chances,” Friedel continued. “And I do believe that if [Breel] Embolo hadn’t been sent off, Switzerland would have had the upper hand.”
Swiss striker Embolo was shown a second yellow card for simulation against Argentine midfielder Leandro Praedes in the 72nd minute, merely five minutes after Switzerland had leveled at 1-1 and appeared to be shifting the match’s momentum.
“So I think England can go through here for sure,” Friedel concluded. “Argentina has the quality, you have Messi, who is still such a brilliant player, they are a step up from Norway, Mexico, and Congo, but from what I’ve seen from Argentina, England can qualify.”
