KEIR RADNEDGE in ATLANTA —- Argentina captain Leo Messi lined up against England for the first time in his career in a FIFA World Cup semi-final which revived, after 24 years, footballs intercontinental clasico.

A tawdry first half ended goalless under the riskily lax control of American referee Ismail Elfath but Enland grabbed the lead after nearly an hour through Anthony Gordon.

England came into the latest collision between two of footballs greatest powers leading the World Cup rubber 3-2 but that bare statistic said nothing about the passion and controversy delivered ever since the long-forotten first meeting in 1962 [a 3-1 group win for England in Chile].

Later came the sending-off of Argentina’s giant captain Antonio Rattin in 1966,  the two dramatically contrasting goals by Diego Maradona in 1986 and the sending-off of a young David Beckham in the 1998 second-round skirmish. He had his revenge four years later in Japan, the last meeting until Atlanta.

Impossible, of course, to ignore how the 1982 war over the Falklands/Malvinas islands as cast a cloud over the football but for now the focus dwelt on the personal duel between Leo Messi and Jude Bellingham – the old hero against the latest young challenger, wisdom and achievement against youthful exuberance and ambition.

England’s line-up was, barring the selection of Morgan Rogers instead of the semi-fit Bukayo Saka, close to most pre-finals predictions with Reece James at right back, John Stones and Marc Guehi in central defence, Declan Rice and Elliott Anderson in midfield and Jude Bellingham supporting Harry Kane.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni made one change to the team who had started the quarter-final against Switzerland, Giovanni Simeone replacing the tiring Rodrigo De Paul.

The fans set a hot temperature by drowning out each others national anthem and Argentinas midfielders took the hint to launch three blatant assauts into the backs of England players in the early minutes.

American referee Ismail Elphath risked storing up a lot of trouble for himself by not issuing an early yellow card in a scrappy, snappy opening phase before the hydration break.

The rest of the first half followed much the same pattern with the only incidents of note being a superb drive from Enzo Fernandez which flew safely over the angle of Jordan Pickfords goal and yellow cards for Elliot Anderson for a foul on Messi and for Lisandro Martinez for pulling back Bellingham as he tried to escape forward in midfield.

By the start of the second half England had yet to put Emilio Martinez under serious pressure and it was his opposite number, Jordan Pickford, who was pressed into the first serious goalkeeping action, a sharp near post save from the busy Fernandez.

Aainst te run of play England then took the lead on a breakaway in the 58th minute. Nicolas Tagliafico fluffed his clearance attempt and Rogers crossed square for Gordon to nip in front of Molina and tap the ball home.

Pickford then protected the lead with an excellent diving save to deny newly-arrived substitute Nico Gonzalez just before the hydration break. Argentina maintained their relentless pressure Immediately after the restart and came even closer to an equaliser when Alexis Mac Allister headed against a post.

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