Why is Nico O'Reilly benched for England vs Argentina in FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final?

Nico O’Reilly has started in all six of England’s fixtures.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is currently underway with its semi-final fixtures. The footballing world is set to witness the renewal of a historic rivalry. The England national football team are all set to face Argentina in a heavyweight clash at the Atlanta Stadium in Georgia, USA.

England and Argentina share a highly competitive history, with both nations having played 14 times before this fixture. They are set to face off in a World Cup knockout match for the first time in 28 years. Meanwhile, their last World Cup meeting came during the 2002 edition.

Also read: Why is Rodrigo de Paul benched for Argentina vs England FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal?

Why is Nico O’Reilly’s benched?

One of the most surprising changes to England’s starting squad in the monumental clash against Argentina was the exclusion of young left-back Nico O’Reilly. Before this fixture, O’Reilly had started in all group stage and knockout fixtures, locking down the left-back role.

A key reason to exclude him from the lineup was a potential injury the player was carrying. In England’s quarter-final encounter against Norway, Nico O’Reilly suffered a minor concern, leading to his substitution in the 86th minute.

It was later revealed that Nico O’Reilly had suffered a minor hamstring injury. Though manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed that all players were fully fit and available, the decision may have been prompted by a tactical decision.

The decision to start Djed Spence and Reece James can be attributed to the manager’s plans to control Lionel Messi, Argentina’s most instrumental attacking force.

Djed Spence earned his starting spot at left-back following several highly impressive, impactful performances off the bench throughout the tournament. His best outing was in the quarter-final victory over Norway. He made nine defensive contributions, leading the manager to start the in-form talent.

On the other side, Reece James was preferred due to his profile as one of the best right-backs in world football. When fully fit, he will undoubtedly be the team’s ultimate starter, providing immense physicality and defensive positioning. Most crucially, experience in high-stakes knockout games, which will be vital against the Argentinian attackers.

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