FIFA grant special request to Argentina ahead of England World Cup semi-final

England are gearing up for their fourth World Cup semi-final, and ahead of the showdown in Atlanta, FIFA have granted Argentina's special request.

The Three Lions secured their place in the last four of the competition with a nail-biting 2-1 victory over Norway on Saturday, while Argentina also prevailed in extra time against Switzerland.

The two historic rivals will now do battle for a place in the World Cup final against Spain on Sunday, with this fixture producing some memorable moments over the years.

Diego Maradona's infamous "Hand of God" goal that helped Argentina clinch a 2-1 win over England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final is an injustice the Three Lions are still looking to avenge, and the same goes for David Beckham's red card for kicking out at Diego Simeone at the 1998 tournament.

La Albiceleste wore navy or dark blue during those two victories over England, whereas on the two occasions they donned their traditional blue and white striped kit, they tasted defeat against them at the 1966 and 2002 World Cup.

Unsurprisingly, Argentina asked for permission from FIFA to wear their blue away shirt as a potentially positive omen, and their request has now been granted ahead of the showdown.

When asked about whether he was aware of the 'lucky' kit's significance, a confused Thomas Tuchel said: "You talked to the wrong person, who was not aware of what kit we will be wearing until tomorrow's warm-up.

"Argentina plays in blue and we play in white and that is because it's a lucky shirt or they chose this?"

Tuchel then elaborated when he was told England were listed as the home team and will wear their traditional white kit.

"If there was any superstition then I would have done the same so credit to Argentina," the German added.

"I was not aware of that, I have my superstitious routines, you can call it superstitious or routines, I will not tell you that because if I tell you, it will not work.

"I can't but we have routines that keep you grounded and calm through the day and that will not change. These things are just normal in high-level sport."

Thomas Tuchel reveals plan to stop Lionel Messi

At his record-equalling sixth World Cup, Lionel Messi has continued to dazzle on the big stage, with the 39-year-old producing some iconic performances.

READ MORE: How one of the worst debuts in football history stopped Lionel Messi from facing England

Messi is the tournament's joint-top scorer with France's Kylian Mbappe, as well as producing three assists, and it is clear that if England are to advance into the final, they have to stop Simeone's little magician.

"I was thinking about this, if we do a proper old-school man-mark on Messi," Tuchel said ahead of the clash.

"I'm not sure if we follow through with this idea, but it crossed my mind. I think everyone knows the spaces where he wants to show up. It's just like, you analyse the matches, you feel he just sees stuff earlier than anyone else on the field."

A man-mark job sounds good on paper, but executing that tactic against one of the most intelligent footballers ever is easier said than done.

The Inter Miami star likes operating in the half space between the left back and centre-back, giving Nico O'Reilly and Marc Guehi the unenviable task of shutting him down.

However, while he's difficult to stop in the final third, Messi has walked the most of any player at the World Cup, and England can exploit that statistic in transition.