England’s Harry Kane (right) takes part in a training session with teammates. (PICS: AFP)
Doha, Qatar: England will aim to end Lionel Messi’s bid for back-to-back FIFA World Cup titles and then charge their way into the final when they face defending champions Argentina in a heavyweight semi-final clash at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium today.
The last-four showdown pits one of international football’s oldest rivalries, with a place in the World Cup final at stake.
Thomas Tuchel’s England are targeting a place in their first World Cup final for the first time since lifting the trophy in 1966, while Argentina are chasing a third appearance in the final in the last four editions. The Messi-led side is also hoping to become the first team after Brazil (1962) to successfully defend the world title.
For Messi, the man who carries the tag of owning most number of goals scored in World Cups (21), today’s semi-final carries extra significance as he prepares to face England for the first time in his career.
“I have played against everyone except England and it is special because they are a major nation, a powerhouse, and it is always nice to play against a side like that, especially in a World Cup semi-final,” Messi said ahead of the encounter.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has already inspired Argentina’s title defence journey, scoring eight goals, but Lionel Scaloni’s men faced few near misses on their way to the semi-finals.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi (second right) with teammates during a training session.
After comfortably topping their group, Argentina edged Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time before rallying late to beat Egypt by the same scoreline. They then overcame Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in the quarter-finals, extending their unbeaten run at the World Cup finals to 12 matches since their shock opening defeat to Saudi Arabia at Qatar 2022.
“This squad does not get tired of making history. They keep wanting more,” Messi said after the victory over Switzerland.
“It is not easy to have been world champions, to have won all that we have won, and to once again keep competing at this level and be back in the semi-finals.”
The 39-year-old maestro, who is probably playing his last FIFA World Cup, will be the biggest threat to England today, but English skipper Harry Kane believes his team must focus on Argentina as a whole, instead of individuals.
“We know how good a player he is, we know what he’s done in the game, how consistent he’s been for so long,” Kane, who was top scorer at the 2018 World Cup, said.
“But the game is against Argentina, not against Lionel Messi. So yeah, we have a lot of preparation to do. We’re coming up against a great unit, a great team with fantastic players,” Kane said.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford echoed Kane’s views, saying: “We all know how good Messi is but we also know how good Argentina are. We can’t solely rely on stopping Messi.”
“We’ve got to focus on their other strengths and the weaknesses we can take advantage of.”
England, powered by a brilliant double by Jude Bellingham, claimed a comeback win over Norway in an extra-time thriller to book the Argentina meeting, following another 3-2 win over Mexico in the pre-quarters despite playing with 10 men.
England opened their campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia, drew with Ghana and defeated Panama 2-0 before surviving another scare against DR Congo to secure a 2-1 win in the Round of 32.
Overall, England hold the upper hand in the head-to-head record, with six wins to Argentina’s two, while five matches have ended in draws. England also lead the World Cup head to head record with three wins so far, while Argentina’s victories came in the gripping 1986 quarter-final and the shootout in 1998.
England’s most recent meeting saw them clinch a thrilling 3-2 friendly win in 2005, and fast forward 21 years, a whole new generation of The Three Lions are up against one of the pre-tournament favourites this time.
