England captain Harry Kane has expressed confidence ahead of his side's FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final against defending champions Argentina, saying the squad is fully prepared for one of the biggest matches of the tournament. Ahead of the crucial encounter, Kane shared photographs from England's final training session on social media platform X, accompanied by the message, "Ready to give it our all." The winner of the semi-final will advance to the World Cup final to face Spain, who secured a 2-0 victory over France in the first semi-final.

England enter the match aiming to reach only their second FIFA World Cup final and their first since winning the tournament on home soil in 1966. The Three Lions have progressed through the knockout stages with disciplined performances and now face arguably their toughest challenge against an Argentina side looking to defend its world title. The semi-final is scheduled to be played in Atlanta, where both teams will compete for a place in Sunday's championship match.

England have also received a significant boost with midfielder Declan Rice declared fit and available for selection after recovering from illness. According to Sky Sports, Rice had suffered a stomach infection following England's Round of 16 victory in Mexico City, leaving him bedridden for three days before the quarter-final against Norway. Despite the setback, the Arsenal midfielder has since returned to full fitness and completed England's latest training session without any reported issues.

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England manager Thomas Tuchel had previously explained that Rice's playing time in the quarter-final was carefully managed due to concerns over his physical condition and the demanding weather. Rice featured only for the opening 45 minutes before being substituted, with Tuchel stating that the decision was made to preserve squad balance and avoid potential substitution difficulties during extra time. The move ultimately proved effective as England progressed after a hard-fought victory over Norway.

Speaking after the quarter-final, Tuchel revealed that Rice had wanted to continue playing despite his illness but accepted the team's decision to withdraw him. The England coach praised the midfielder's commitment while emphasising the importance of managing player fitness during a physically demanding tournament. Rice's successful recovery is expected to strengthen England's midfield as they prepare to face one of the competition's strongest sides.

With Kane leading the attack and Rice returning to full fitness, England will look to overcome defending champions Argentina and book a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final. The highly anticipated semi-final is expected to feature two of international football's most accomplished teams, with a place in the final against Spain at stake and England seeking to move one step closer to ending a 60-year wait for another World Cup title.

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