England vs. Argentina Best Bets: Three Picks for the World Cup Semifinal

The World Cup semifinals conclude on Wednesday when England and Argentina meet in Atlanta.

Here are our three best bets as these sides vie for the right to meet Spain in Sunday’s final.

Team Total Goals

Lionel Messi continues to defy Father Time. But this defense just isn’t very good by the standard of a World Cup semifinalist.

The Albiceleste have conceded five times over the first 90 minutes of their last four games, even though the list of opponents is hardly imposing: Jordan, Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland.

The last of those was playing arguably without its most important attacker of the tournament, Yohan Manzambi.

England is just light-years ahead of those sides in attacking options. Either Harry Kane or Jude Bellingham would be the best attacker for any of Argentina’s previous opponents. Instead they play together.

For me, the big question is whether Argentina can score often enough to stay in this. But I think England have a strong chance to score twice, so I’m backing them to do just that.

Team Total Goals: England over 1.5 (+186, Caesars)

Both Teams To Score

That said, the Three Lions haven’t covered themselves in defensive glory either. Essentially, they’ve played four capable attacking sides, and they’ve conceded to all four.

They were also very fortunate not to allow a second to Norway when their go-ahead tally after halftime was wiped off the board for a push by center forward Erling Haaland.

Argentina might be a better matchup defensively since they’re less physically or athletically imposing. But they still have Lionel Messi roaming the pitch looking for pockets of space.

Whether he’s directly involved or just the instigator, his presence is probably good enough for at least one Argentina goal. So I’m playing yes on both teams to score at almost even money.

Since I’m already on England to score 2 or more, I’m laying off the parlay on both teams to score and the over as insurance for a 1-1 draw that forces extra time.

Both Teams To Score: Yes (-110, BetMGM)

Player Assists

Argentina’s particular weaknesses are on the flanks, and they have yet to play an opponent who has a talent there like England’s Anthony Gordon.

The FC Barcelona winger has three assists in this tournament, all of those coming in the knockout stages. And he should have plenty of gas in the tank after his 70th-minute exit in England’s extra-time triumph over Norway.

The assist market can be tricky. But with Harry Kane in the middle and Argentina’s strength in the middle of the park, you have to think Gordon is going to be a critical part of England’s attack that should look for width whenever they can.

And the odds on here are certainly worth taking a calculated swing on.

Player Assists: Anthony Gordon 1 or more (+550, theScore)