England and Argentina’s semi-final encounter created an unwanted piece of World Cup history, becoming the first match since records began in 1966 to reach half-time without a single shot on target. The opening period in Atlanta was marked by a scrappy and highly physical battle between the two footballing giants.

The first 45 minutes saw a total of 19 fouls — 12 committed by Argentina and seven by England — as both teams struggled to find rhythm in a tense and ill-tempered contest. This was their first World Cup meeting since 2002, and the renewed rivalry clearly brought added intensity.

The first attempt on goal did not come until the 33rd minute when John Stones’ header drifted wide, followed by a long-range effort from Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez that sailed over the crossbar. Neither England’s Jordan Pickford nor Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez was called into action during the half.

Referee Ismail Elfath was in the spotlight after a string of physical challenges. He issued only two yellow cards — one to England’s Elliot Anderson for a foul on Lionel Messi and another to Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez — despite the high number of infractions.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson criticised Elfath’s officiating, describing it as far too lenient. “That's one of the worst refereeing performances I've seen at this World Cup,” Robinson said. “He didn’t take control of the game from the beginning. He’s allowed too much to go unpunished, and both coaches are clearly frustrated. England have had to dig in because it’s been a tough, stop-start match. There’s a clear tactical approach, but no real flow to the game.”

Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham was seen chuckling off some aggressive behaviour from Argentina’s Leandro Paredes amid the heated exchanges early in the semi-final. The opening 20 minutes were dominated by fouls, underlining the fierce anticipation surrounding the renewal of this historic rivalry.

England’s Anderson was repeatedly targeted with hard tackles and became entangled with Chelsea midfielder Fernandez. Later, Giuliano Simeone — son of Diego Simeone, who famously got David Beckham sent off in 1998 — went down after minimal contact from Jordan Pickford.

Argentina’s players appeared eager to unsettle their English counterparts, with Bellingham caught up in an early confrontation. The pre-match atmosphere was equally charged, as Argentina’s supporters drowned out England’s national anthem with boos and chants, prompting Three Lions fans to respond in kind.

The clash, steeped in footballing lore, carried additional historical tension due to the lingering memory of the Falkland Islands conflict, adding an extra layer of significance to this high-stakes semi-final in Atlanta.