Alan Shearer, England's captain in 1998, vividly recalls the "pain" of his nation's penalty shootout loss to Argentina in the France World Cup, a memory that still lingers 28 years later. He remembers the Argentine players celebrating next to the English team's bus after the intense last-16 tie, a stark image of his own World Cup dream ending.

Shearer was part of an "outstanding" England squad that he felt had a real opportunity to make a significant impact on the world stage. The sting of that defeat, he explained, was not just personal but also due to the team's perceived potential that was cut short.

Now, as England prepares to face Argentina again in the semi-finals of the World Cup 2026 in Atlanta, Shearer sees a similar, yet distinct, opportunity for the current squad. He described the upcoming match as a chance for the players to "change their lives forever" and achieve "immortality" by reaching the final.

The history between England and Argentina, marked by dramatic and controversial encounters in 1986 and 1998, adds an extra layer of spice to this semi-final. Shearer highlighted the "great rivalry" and the "drama and the controversy" of past meetings, but emphasized that the prospect of a place in the final makes this encounter even more exciting.

Adding to the intrigue is the presence of Lionel Messi, whom Shearer refers to as the "little genius" and "arguably the greatest player of all time." The fact that Messi has never faced England before at a World Cup makes this a "mouth-watering tie" that Shearer believes England can win. He urged the current players to ensure they "land on the right side of the result this time" to avoid the regret he still feels.

Reflecting on the 1998 match in Saint-Etienne, Shearer described it as one of the most "memorable" and "talked about" games he ever played. The match was filled with sub-plots, including Michael Owen's stunning goal, a brilliant Argentine free-kick, David Beckham's red card, England playing with 10 men for 75 minutes, and a disallowed Sol Campbell goal, all culminating in the penalty shootout agony.

Despite the passage of time, Shearer admitted he is "still not over it" and believes "the best team didn't win" in 1998. He warned that the events of that game should serve as a "warning to England now," as such high-stakes matches can see "tempers boil over and affect the result."

Shearer expressed concern about the potential for another red card in the upcoming semi-final and voiced unease regarding the refereeing standards and the potential impact of VAR. These unresolved questions and historical parallels underscore the high stakes and emotional weight of England's upcoming World Cup semi-final.