England national team coach, Thomas Tuchel, confirmed that facing Argentina in the 2026 World Cup semi-finals requires special preparation due to the presence of Lionel Messi, stressing that the Argentine star is still capable of making a difference despite his advanced age.
Tuchel explained that the Argentine national team does not depend on Messi alone, but rather has a group of players who give him full support on the field, and are always ready to exploit any situation. A moment in which he makes a difference, which increases the difficulty of the task.
The German coach added that the technical staff will work to prepare an appropriate plan to reduce the danger of the Argentine captain, but at the same time he acknowledged that it is not possible to focus on Messi only or find an ideal solution to stop him throughout the match.
Tuchel indicated that the key to the confrontation will be to show courage and tactical discipline, while closely monitoring Messi’s movements when The ball is in his possession, confirming that the England national team is aware of the magnitude of the challenge that awaits it in front of the world champion in the struggle to qualify for the World Cup final.