World Cup live – France vs Spain line-ups, England vs Argentina ‘high risk’

By Jeremy Cross at Royal Birkdale.

JUSTIN Rose has urged England not to give him a sleepless night ahead of his bid to win the Open. Rose will be glued to the television watching the Three Lions take on Argentina in a titanic World Cup semi final in Atlanta tonight (WED).

The showdown will be the biggest game England have face since winning the World Cup in 1966. Rose admits he wouldn’t miss it for the world – but is just hoping there is not too much emotion involved.

The former US Open champion is due to tee off at 9.30 the following morning – and is banking on a win for Thomas Tuchel’s men – without too much excitement.

Rose said: “I was kind of hoping for a later tee time. Actually 9.30 isn’t too bad unless England, actually, I’d take a win on penalties if it happened, but obviously we’re looking for a short, sharp match and a reasonable bedtime.

“Obviously we’re going to be watching. But at the same time, I’m going to watch it with an eye on what’s important for me as well – and not get too high and low. Keep my own emotions in check.

“We’ve got big things as well to do this week, but at the same time, it’s a match where if you think that you’re not going to watch it, you’re probably kidding yourself.

“Obviously I’ll be rooting the boys on, but at the same time, trying to make sure I’m able to sort of rest up pretty soon after the match.

“It’s probably a futile kind of exercise, isn’t it? It’s going to be a hard-fought game, and it’s going to probably be a nail biter. I can only try, though.”