Argentina treating England clash as just another game, says Mac Allister
By Joel Masibo, July 15, 2026Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister insists his side is concentrating solely on the football as it prepares for Wednesday’s FIFA World Cup semifinal against England, rather than dwelling on the rivalry and history between the two nations.
The Liverpool star, who has become an integral part of Argentina’s midfield, said the squad is not allowing the significance of past meetings with England to distract them from the task at hand.
Normal match
“We take it as a football match, as a World Cup semifinal; we understand everything behind it and all the history, that’s something we can’t change,” he said.
“What we can do is to defend the jersey and our country in the best way possible on the field, that’s what we’ve always done and what we want to do again. Hopefully it turns out the best way possible.”
England has enjoyed the upper hand in World Cup meetings between the two countries, winning three of their five previous encounters.
However, Argentina’s two triumphs remain among the most memorable in tournament history. The first came in the 1986 quarterfinals, where Diego Maradona produced two iconic goals, while the second was a dramatic 1998 round-of-16 victory secured through a penalty shootout after England’s David Beckham was sent off.
Mac Allister netted his maiden goal of the current World Cup during Argentina’s quarterfinal success against Switzerland. Throughout the competition, the 27-year-old has operated in a deeper midfield role compared to the box-to-box position he regularly occupies for Liverpool.
The former Boca Juniors midfielder also praised head coach Lionel Scaloni for encouraging open discussions within the squad, saying the coach’s willingness to listen has strengthened the team.
Scaloni’s effect
“He [Scaloni] is like that with everyone, especially when we watch the post-match videos, we try to exchange a lot of opinions,” the former Boca Juniors player said.
“He’s a good listener and we’re grateful for that. We understand it’s because of his experience – he’s Argentine, he went through the national team, he knows what it means, and in the end we all want what’s best for the team. On our part, we’re grateful, because sometimes it’s complicated to see,” he said.