It’s crazy that we fans sit thousands of miles away with butterflies in our stomachs while the players actually doing the thing look so focused.
That’s certainly the case so far, with both teams looking dedicated to their separate game plans.
So much has been made of the rivalry between these two, including the broader political context that extends far beyond the soccer pitch. And from those early stages, it feels like that bad blood runs deeper for Argentina than it does for England.
The South Americans practically screamed their national anthem and then set about reminding England players that they’re in for a battle with several aggressive challenges. It’s clear what Argentina’s game plan is. It wants to throw England off its game.
The Three Lions, though, look composed so far. None of the players were born when this rivalry started, but there’s going to be some beef soon if those late Argentina tackles don’t stop.
We were expecting fireworks and that’s what we’ve got so far. Both teams are so imperfect that this has all the makings of a brilliant semifinal.
The hydration break has never been so needed because this game has been played at 1,000 mph.