England's most memorable meetings with Argentina

England will face Argentina for the first time in more than 20 years when they meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals on Wednesday.

The Three Lions have a long and storied history with La Albiceleste, having gone head-to-head with them at five previous World Cups and come out on top on three occasions.

Ahead of this week’s huge game in Atlanta, we look back on five memorable matches against the South Americans.

Argentina 2-3 England, International Match, 2005

We start with the last meeting between the men’s teams more than 20 years ago, and perhaps the most memorable friendly in England’s history.

Played in Geneva, Switzerland, the game saw Sven-Goran Eriksson's side come out on top in a five-goal thriller, as Michael Owen scored headers in the 86th and 92nd minutes to turn the game on its head.

The impressive Wayne Rooney had cancelled out Hernan Crespo’s 34th minute opener before half time, only for Walter Samuel’s header to put Argentina back into the lead after the break.

But after peppering the opposition goal for much of the game, the Three Lions finally got the second breakthrough their pressure deserved with less than five minutes of normal time remaining.

First, Owen nodded home a Steven Gerrard cross to make it 2-2, and then he rose highest to meet Joe Cole’s inswinging delivery in added time to seal a superb England comeback.

Argentina 2-1 England, World Cup quarter-finals, 1986

The game which will forever be remembered for Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ saw England eliminated from the 1986 World Cup in a fashion not seen before or since.

Played at the famous Azteca Stadium in Mexico, the Three Lions were holding their own at 0-0 when an attempted clearance looped back towards Peter Shilton’s goal in the 55th minute.

The goalkeeper came out to claim it but was beaten to it by Maradona, who leapt and clearly used his left hand to knock it past Shilton and into the net. Somehow the incident was missed by referee Ali Bin Nasser, and Argentina were 1-0 up.

Just moments later and it was 2-0, with Maradona this time scoring one of the World Cup’s most famous goals, a slaloming, solo run from inside his own half which took him past five players before he found the back of the net.

Gary Lineker grabbed what would turn out to be a consolation goal in the 81st minute as England were cruelly denied the chance to compete for a place in the final.

Argentina 2-2 England (AET, 4-3 pens), World Cup round of 16, 1998

Another heartbreaking World Cup exit was suffered at the hands of Argentina 12 years after Maradona’s handball, with England once again caught up in controversy.

Following early penalties for each side to make it 1-1, an 18-year-old Owen put the Three Lions in front with one of our greatest ever goals, a wonderful solo run past two opposition defenders before a cool finish beyond Carlos Roa which belied his tender age.

Argentina drew level on the stroke of half time through Javier Zanetti following a well-worked free-kick, but the flow of the game turned completely just two minutes after the break.

After being bundled to the floor by Diego Simeone, a frustrated David Beckham kicked out at his opponent and was instantly shown a straight red card. England were down to ten men.

Somehow Glenn Hoddle’s valiant side battled their way through the rest of the half and extra-time, but the penalty shootout proved a step too far as David Batty’s miss proved costly.

Argentina 0-1 England, World Cup group stage, 2002

After being sent off against La Albiceleste in France four years earlier, Beckham was out for revenge when the two countries were paired together in the group stage of the 2002 World Cup.

The then-Manchester United midfielder had battled back to become England captain, and he led by example as Sven-Goran Eriksson's side took a huge step towards the knockout stage.

After Michael Owen was brought down by Mauricio Pochettino inside the penalty area just before half time, Beckham was the man to step up, drilling his spot-kick low and hard down the middle to seal a gritty 1-0 win.

Beckham celebrated wildly after laying the ghost of Saint-Etienne to rest, while his strike also helped send tournament favourites Argentina home at the first hurdle.

England 1-0 Argentina, World Cup quarter-finals, 1966

Perhaps England’s most fiercely contested game on their run to glory in 1966, the last eight meeting with Argentina threatened to get out of hand when opposition captain Antonio Rattin was sent off in the first half.

Angry protests from players and staff were eventually calmed, and the Three Lions would go on to make their man advantage count despite a spirited effort from the tough-tackling visitors to Wembley Stadium.

Sir Geoff Hurst grabbed his first goal of the tournament and just his second for his country, heading home a cross from Martin Peters to seal a crucial victory and propel England one step closer to immortality.