It has been exactly 60 years. That is how long England's men have waited to reach another World Cup final — and on Wednesday night at the futuristic Atlanta Stadium, Thomas Tuchel's side will have their clearest shot yet at ending that extraordinary drought. Their opponents are Argentina, a rivalry loaded with history, controversy, and the kind of drama that makes football genuinely matter. The road here has been paved with near-misses that still sting.

In Moscow in 2018, Kieran Trippier's early free kick gave England the lead against Croatia, and then, somehow, the team froze. Croatia equalised, then won in extra time, and Gareth Southgate's side flew home with nothing. Three years later, at Wembley in July 2021, England were minutes from the European Championship trophy before Italy fought back and won on penalties. Two finals lost.

Zero trophies. The pattern has become almost too familiar. What feels different now is the setting and the man in charge. Tuchel — a German coach who has already won a Champions League with Chelsea — brings a tactical restlessness that previous England managers rarely showed.

His pre-match press conference had to be moved to a larger venue because so many journalists turned up, a small detail that speaks loudly about the scale of global anticipation surrounding this match. Argentina arrive as reigning world champions, carrying the legacy of a squad that lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022. England, meanwhile, carry 60 years of hope. One of these narratives ends in Atlanta on Wednesday — and the other one simply continues, searching for an answer that keeps slipping away.