England winger Noni Madueke declared on 14 July that the Three Lions have become a team that rivals fear at the FIFA World Cup 2026, insisting opponents are more worried about facing Thomas Tuchel's side than England are about them — a show of confidence ahead of a blockbuster semi-final against Argentina in Atlanta.

England's Road to the Semi-Finals

England secured their place in the last four with a hard-fought 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway, with Jude Bellingham scoring twice to complete a dramatic comeback. That result followed a 2-1 win over DR Congo and a 3-2 thriller against Mexico in the quarter-finals. Bellingham and captain Harry Kane have combined for five goals across the knockout stages, underlining the team's attacking firepower.

Madueke: 'Other Teams Will Be More Worried About Us'

Speaking in a video released by England Football, Madueke was unequivocal about his mindset heading into the Argentina contest. 'Very confident,' he said. 'Like B (Bukayo Saka) said, we have match-winners and going through the tournament we haven't really focused on the opposition in a sense where we're worried about them. I feel like other teams will be more worried about us.'

Madueke also pointed to the bonds forged during more than a month together as a squad. 'If you spend six weeks with people… you wouldn't normally do that throughout the season. For the rest of your team-mates who you don't see that often, I feel naturally you get closer, and you've all got a common goal as well, so that helps. It's been a good experience, coming into the last week now. It's all about finishing strong,' he said.

Saka and Eze Add to the Confidence

Bukayo Saka echoed that belief, stressing England's ability to produce decisive moments in tight matches. 'A lot of times it comes down to moments. We've got a lot of players who can produce those moments so you've just got to stay focused, keep the ball out of your net and then you just know that one of us in the front line is going to produce a moment of magic and win the game for the team,' Saka said.

Substitute Eberechi Eze, who entered at half-time against Norway, described reaching the semi-finals as a dream. 'It's obviously a massive moment for us, for the team to see what we're doing for people back home, it's special. I'm trying to focus and enjoy that as much as we can because to be in the semi-final, closer to winning the World Cup, is a dream for all of us,' he said.

What's at Stake on Thursday

England face Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final on Thursday, with the winners advancing to the final against either Spain or France. For England, it represents a chance to go one step further than their 2018 and 2021 near-misses and end a 60-year wait for a World Cup title. Tuchel's side will need to contain one of the tournament's most decorated squads — but based on the mood in the camp, belief is not in short supply.