Argentina haven’t produced consistently outstanding football to reach this stage, yet they have managed to come up with some spectacular strikes. They are a battle-hardened, savvy side, and they are the current holders of the trophy.
They are not operating at the same level as when they lifted the title four years ago, but what they have excelled at is constantly discovering a path to a positive outcome whenever they have been required to dig deep.
Having Messi leading the line clearly helps. Everything Argentina construct flows through him, and the moment they regain possession they immediately look to locate where he is.
How do you neutralise him? Well, deploying a player like Djed Spence in a man-to-man marking role, shadowing his every move, would be one approach, but I feel England will maintain the same system they have deployed across their last six matches.
Therefore, rather than assigning one individual to stick tight to Messi, the task will likely involve one or two of our players closing him down quickly to restrict his room for manoeuvre whenever he collects the ball.
There will be duels taking place all across the field too, so for England to come out on top we will need to do far more than simply muzzle Messi, but if we can succeed in that then plainly our prospects improve significantly.
Even so, if I am going to highlight Messi, I also have to talk about our own elite performers. Harry Kane has been outstanding, while Jude Bellingham is enjoying the tournament of a lifetime.
Just like Messi, Bellingham has collected four individual match accolades – or Superior Player of the Match as Fifa terms them – to this point, which is remarkable.
Both are firmly in the discussion for the tournament’s finest player and both are decisive difference-makers. You sense that whoever progresses to the final, one of them will have an enormous influence.
I am backing England to get the job done – I believe we will have the tools to overcome Argentina, because we will present them with more difficulties than they will pose us – but I am certainly not anticipating a comfortable evening.
Not a single one of our fixtures at this World Cup has been straightforward or relaxed up to now, with perhaps the only exception being the second period of our curtain-raiser against Croatia, and I do not see this contest unfolding any differently.
I will be present once more, on co-commentary alongside Guy Mowbray, and my advice to the audience back at home would be to buckle up – it has the potential to be a glorious night for all of us, but it is sure to be a turbulent journey.
Alan Shearer was talking to Chris Bevan.
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