​As the world has honed in on the same patch of land in Atlanta, to the point that the FBI has discussed England vs Argentina with new geopolitics about oil surrounding the Falklands, the two teams have just banded together in different ways.They are all that matters here, after all. Not the history. Not the noise. Not the Falklands.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAnd, on that, Thomas Tuchel’s staff have intuited an opportunity. If it had been felt that the post-Norway comments by the manager and Jude Bellingham might bring tension – and potentially break “the brotherhood” – it has done the opposite.Tuchel has opted for the oldest trick in sport, as England seek to scale new heights. There’s a classic “siege mentality”.The players are said to have been aggravated by some questions – even if this feels unfair – and it’s allowed the creation of a vintage “external enemy”; exactly like what was showcased with Michael Jordan in The Last Dance.This is tap-in sports psychology, and is an old trick because it works so well.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementArgentina, of course, don’t need to create such a mood. They always have a siege mentality. As Lionel Messi carried the World Cup itself through the Lusail mixed zone back in 2022, they were singing about “whore journalists” – many of whom were naturally celebrating the victory.It’s just the same spirit that can be seen in the dressing room throughout this campaign, the entire squad jumping up and down together and singing about “Malvinas”. Those on the ground in Argentina say significant sections of the country have gone into hysterics about the game.Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have guided England to the World Cup semi-finals (PA Wire)And if that has partly channeled into positive scenes like the supporter playing a trombone on the back of a motorbike in the middle of a throng of fans, it has also got to the point where the Falklands veterans have felt the need to issue a statement calming it all down.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“Sport is not war”, the Federacion de Veteranos de Guerra de Malvinas said, while pleading for calm and respect. “The semi-final is a sporting event of global scale, not an armed retaliation or a historic compensation.”They echo the sentiments of Tuchel’s decent-minded counterpart, Lionel Scaloni, who has instead been trying to concentrate on banding the team together in a more technical way.With Argentina so conscious of England’s pace on the break – describing them as a side that “explodes” – their coaching staff have sought to make that compact middle even tighter.Coaching staff have trained with Nicolas Otamendi in the place of Rodrigo De Paul.England’s Jude Bellingham during training (Reuters)On the other side, Tuchel has been conscious of how that midfield can actually give Argentina a greater control – of both territory and the ball, for whenever Messi decides to step up.AdvertisementAdvertisementAd