00:00Here we go now with our special segment on the occasion of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
00:04Beyond the game, the ball stays pure.
00:07Go ahead Luis, it's a pleasure to share the set with you.
00:10It's also a pleasure to be here once again with you, Laura, and with our audience.
00:14Of course, we continue waiting in the hours previous to the second semifinal of the tournament
00:18that will pit together England and Argentina for what is expected to be a very exciting match.
00:24We'll have more after the break.
00:46Welcome to Beyond the Game, the ball stays pure.
00:48The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final is almost complete.
00:52Spain became the first finalist after a convincing victory over France
00:57and now awaits the winner of Wednesday's semifinal between England and Argentina.
01:01The Three Lions are chasing their first World Cup Final since 1966,
01:05while Argentina looks to keep its title defense alive.
01:09The winner will face Spain on Sunday with a loser meeting France in the third-place playoff.
01:14England has relied so far on the leadership and goals of Harry Kane
01:17and the outstanding form of Jude Bellingham,
01:19who have been responsible for the majority of the Three Lions scoring during this tournament.
01:24Argentina, meanwhile, continues to be inspired by Lionel Messi,
01:29while Enzo Fernández and Coutinho Romero have provided crucial support.
01:39And England's and Argentina's journey to the last four has been built on resilience,
01:44overcoming one tough test after another to keep their World Cup dream alive.
01:49England's campaign began without authority as the Three Lions stopped Group L
01:53through a blend of attacking flair and timely resilience.
01:56Victories over Panama and Croatia were followed by a dramatic encounter with Ghana,
02:00allowing Thomas Tockel's side to finish first in the group.
02:03Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, and a balanced midfield have given England multiple ways to win,
02:08carrying strong momentum into the elimination rounds.
02:13Unlike some of the other semi-finalists, England has had to earn every step of the journey.
02:18There's a vibe that determined the Arkongo in the Round of 32
02:21before producing an impressive comeback to eliminate Mexico 3-2 in the Round of 16.
02:26The quarter-final against Norway was another stern termination,
02:29but England once again found the decisive moments in a 2-1 victory,
02:33returning to the World Cup semi-finals with confidence growing after every challenge overcome.
02:39The defending champions, Argentina, navigated Group J with experience and attacking quality,
02:44finishing atop the standings after victories over Jordan and Austria before sealing first place against Algeria.
02:50Lionel Messi once again set the tone,
02:53while Lionel Scaloni's squad showed the composure and efficiency expected from the reigning world champions
02:58as they advanced to the knockout stage on Bidon.
03:02Argentina's route to the last four has been anything but straightforward.
03:05A thrilling 3-2-1 victory over Cape Verde in the Round of 32
03:09was followed by another dramatic 3-2 win against Egypt in the Round of 16.
03:14The quarter-final brought perhaps their toughest challenge yet,
03:17but the LB Celeste defeated Switzerland 3-1 to secure a return to the semifinals.
03:22Tested repeatedly under pressure,
03:24Argentina has relied on championship experience
03:26and the enduring brilliance of Messi to keep its title defense alive.
03:32And Argentina supporters filled the streets of Atlanta
03:35during the flag-waving event ahead of the World Cup semi-final match against England.
03:39Some 10,000 Scaloni fans sang and went wild for Argentina's sky blue and white colors
03:45ahead of the heavily awaited fixture many have described as the final before the final.
03:49Unlike the one held the day before the nail-biting round of 16 match against Egypt,
03:55Tuesday's gathering did not take place in Piedmont Park,
03:58but rather at Underground at Shopping and Entertainment District
04:01located just a few blocks from the stadium where the match will be played this Wednesday
04:05at Free Place in Piedmont Park,
04:07but rather at Underground at Shopping and Entertainment District
04:10located just a few blocks from the stadium where the match will be played this Wednesday
04:15at 3 p.m. Coraca's time.
04:17During the celebration, there was a minute of silence for France
04:21and the traditional chant,
04:22Anyone who doesn't jump is English.
04:24The upcoming match renews one of international football's most storied rivalries
04:29with the winner moving one step closer to World Cup immortality.
04:36It's not just a match, it's a final.
04:38Yes, it's the final for us.
04:40It's Argentina versus England.
04:42It's the final, the big match.
04:43The Malvinas are Argentinian.
04:45We've got faith.
04:46We've got faith.
04:47I can't predict the result, but we're confident we'll win.
04:51I think it's going to be a really exciting, really beautiful match.
04:55They're two great teams.
04:57And, well, the hope is that Argentina always plays with an advantage,
05:00which is the number 10.
05:01So that could be the deciding factor.
05:06We've chosen to believe just as the players told us,
05:09just as the coach told us.
05:10So, one step at a time, let's focus on tomorrow's match,
05:13hopefully we'll win, and then we'll face Spain.
05:18We expect to win, obviously.
05:19Of course.
05:20We're going for everything.
05:22We want to win, and we want to make it to the finals.
05:25We have Messi, we have Enzo Fernandez, we have Daila Fico, we have Paredes.
05:29We have a whole team, and they just have one player.
05:31I was so surprised about France losing, but I feel like England can really give us a bit
05:38of a workout, but I expect a lot from Argentina, and I hope we win.
05:43You can never count Argentina out.
05:45It's always drama, suspense.
05:47It's a very good story.
05:52Argentina and England mean again 40 years of the legendary match play at the Aztec Stadium,
05:57where Diego Maradona responded to England's crimes with his football.
06:01Our team shows us how that match of the century is remembered.
06:07Avenged for the country that, 44 years ago, suffered the loss of its young people at the
06:11hands of British imperialism.
06:13When the Malvinas War began, someone foresaw his thirst for justice.
06:18I believe that if all these people, and all of us, were asked to give our lives, we would
06:23certainly do so.
06:24Residents living near the Azteca Stadium recall seeing Diego Maradona deliver divine justice
06:29against England on a football pitch.
06:35We've always stood in solidarity with social justice.
06:40First, regarding the attempt to strip Argentina of the Malvinas Islands, El Peluso was always
06:47one of a kind, and what makes us happiest is that they won the championship.
06:53At the 1986 World Cup, Argentina was emerging from a dictatorship that had led the country
06:59into the absurdity of a preventable war against the illegal occupier of the Malvinas Islands.
07:04Today, it also faces contradictions with a government that supports imperialist plunder of its national
07:10territory.
07:15Historically speaking, I identify most with Churchill, Reagan, and Margaret Thatcher.
07:23Margaret Thatcher is responsible for the sinking of the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano,
07:28which had more than 300 crew members on board.
07:32In a Latin America where resources and sovereignty are being plundered or are under threat, the
07:37Malvinas issue resonates from Patagonia to the Rio Bravo.
07:44The Spanish stole a lot from us here, ships full of gold, they took everything they could.
07:53It's the same thing.
07:54I compare it from that perspective.
07:56It's almost the same as what happened to Argentina with the British.
08:01Residents recall that in 1986, the post-war tension was palpable in the area around the
08:07Azteca Stadium.
08:07I was already working here at the hotel, and I saw the tension that was going to arise between the
08:16English and the Argentines because of the fight that had broken out, the way those wretched
08:23Englishmen had robbed Argentinians of their Malvinas Islands.
08:28The English were really pissed off because the Argentines had beaten them up, and they were
08:34already looking to start a fight, so they had to call the police.
08:39For the first time, Lionel Messi will face England.
08:44Just like in Mexico 86, the World Cup stirs up Argentina's thirst for sovereignty, with the
08:49wounds from England's theft of the Malvinas still fresh.
08:55This is all for this edition of Beyond the Game, the ball stays pure.
08:58We are roughly two hours away from this semifinal game, starting Argentina versus England.
09:04What a match that promises to be.
09:07But for now, we go back to you, Lodi.
09:09Thank you so much, Lucy.
09:10We look forward for the results of these upcoming games.
09:13And with this information, we have come to the end of this brief.
09:17Remember, you can find this and many other stories on our website at telesurenglish.net.
09:21And you'll see us on social media.
09:23We are on Facebook, X, Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok.
09:26For Telesurenglish, I'm Lorena Fong.
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