England vs. Argentina: How to Stop Lionel Messi in World Cup Semifinal
Sports Illustrated • • sports
Key Points:
- England faces a tough challenge in their World Cup semifinal against Argentina, with Lionel Messi making his first-ever appearance against the Three Lions at age 39.
- Messi has been in exceptional form, scoring eight goals and providing two assists in six games, becoming the World Cup's all-time leading scorer with 21 goals.
- Argentina's team is built around Messi, with a midfield designed to supply him, making it crucial for England to cut off his service and limit his influence on the game.
- England must also prevent Messi from dropping deep to create chances, requiring vigilance from midfielders and fullbacks to close passing lanes and block through balls.
- To counter Messi's impact, England may need to adopt an aggressive, fast-paced attacking approach, leveraging stars like Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane to exploit Argentina’s narrow midfield setup.
