England prepare for Argentina challenge
England are set to face Argentina in a World Cup semi-final match in Atlanta on Wednesday. The encounter marks the sixth time these nations have met in the tournament. Previous matches include a controversial 1986 quarter-final where Argentina won 2-1, and a 1998 last-16 match where Argentina triumphed on penalties after David Beckham was sent off. England secured a 1-0 group-stage victory in 2002 with a penalty from Beckham, and also won 3-1 in the 1962 group phase and 1-0 in the 1966 quarter-finals.
Thomas Tuchel, England‘s head coach, anticipates a highly motivated Argentina team, noting they will be “fuelled by history.” He acknowledged the aggressive edge associated with the fixture, stating, “I can sense it. You can see it. They have this kind of edge.” Tuchel also highlighted the cohesion and sacrifice within the Argentina squad, describing their style as very emotional, similar to their performance in 2022. He added, “They are fuelled by history, it means a lot to them. So this is what we basically expect, and what we are up against. But we are also emotional, we have the grit, we have the mentality that it takes to go up against it. And we are ready for it.”
The Argentina team, who won the World Cup in 2022, are reportedly aiming to retain their title for Lionel Messi, in what is expected to be his final World Cup appearance. Following their 3-1 quarter-final win over Switzerland, some Argentina players chanted a song referencing the Falklands war and pledging to win the World Cup for “Las Malvinas, por Diego and por la ultima de Leo.”
Tuchel addresses team performance and Messi strategy
Tuchel expressed that the challenge posed by Argentina and Lionel Messi will bring out the best in his England side. He was critical of his team’s technical performance in their 2-1 extra-time quarter-final victory over Norway, noting too many technical errors and rushed decision-making. However, he expects an improved display against Argentina, stating, “A set-up like [from Argentina] will bring the best out of us and the best out of our players.”
Addressing the historical context of the match, Tuchel conceded that it carries special meaning beyond just a semi-final. He remarked, “If a fixture has iconic moments, you cannot say it is just another football match.” Despite this, he intends to minimise discussions about past events within the team to avoid distraction, focusing instead on the magnitude of the current game.
Stopping Lionel Messi is a key concern for England. Messi is currently leading the World Cup scoring charts with eight goals. Tuchel admitted considering a man-marking approach for Messi but ultimately plans for England to impose their own style of play. He acknowledged Messi‘s ability to find space and adapt, stating, “Everyone knows the spaces where he wants to show up. If you analyse matches, he sees things faster. The ball drops to him and he finds the gap.”
Squad updates and tactical considerations
Defender Marc Guéhi, who has recovered from a hamstring issue, is expected to partner John Stones in central defence. Ezri Konsa is competing with Reece James for a spot at right-back. Guéhi suggested that the pressure is on Argentina as the reigning world champions. He stated, “There isn’t pressure on us. What’s the pressure? The onus is on them. They’re the world champions. They need to come out, they need to defend their title. There’s no pressure on us at all.”
Konsa, who started at full-back against Norway, mentioned that the team had not yet reviewed Argentina‘s games but expected to do so in upcoming meetings to prepare for their opponents. Tuchel also clarified that there are no lingering issues between him and Jude Bellingham. Following the quarter-final win, Tuchel had been critical of the team’s technical performance, which Bellingham, who scored both goals, reportedly took exception to. Tuchel explained that his comments and Bellingham‘s reaction stemmed from a competitive mindset, and he had addressed the team and Bellingham directly to move forward.
Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey suggested that England could draw inspiration from Liverpool‘s 4-0 victory over Barcelona in 2019, a match where Messi was effectively contained. Heskey believes that if England can replicate that intensity, they have the ability to overcome Argentina. He advised against man-marking Messi due to his elusiveness but acknowledged that a player like Declan Rice could be tasked with such a role. Messi will be playing in his third World Cup semi-final and facing England for the first time in his international career on Wednesday evening.
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Source: theguardian.com
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Joel Kavanagh is a Sports News Writer at News-GB. He started on a Midlands sports desk. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from De Montfort University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Leicester, he plays amateur rugby and follows the fight calendar. “In sport news, the first ten minutes decide everything.”