Tuchel sends strong message to Messi
England manager Thomas Tuchel has issued a bold declaration ahead of his side's FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal against Argentina. The match is scheduled for Wednesday at Atlanta Stadium, one of the marquee venues selected for the tournament.
The fixture carries enormous historical weight, with Argentina having famously defeated England on multiple occasions at previous World Cups, including Diego Maradona's controversial 1986 quarter-final winner.
Tuchel plans to neutralise Messi
Tuchel stated that his team will find a method to neutralise the threat posed by Lionel Messi. The German acknowledged that the history between the two nations serves as additional fuel for Argentina heading into the match. However, the former Bayern Munich coach made clear that England are not approaching the occasion with any sense of trepidation.
According to Yahoo Sport, Tuchel said: “We will find a way to stop Leo Messi. It's incredible how he just pulls it off every single time - in so many different ways. We must be brave around him and just stop the support.”
Tuchel also made it clear there was no lingering issue between him and Jude Bellingham, per the Telegraph.
Messi's World Cup dominance
Messi has scored a total of 21 goals in World Cup history, making him the highest goalscorer of all time at the tournament. At the 2026 edition, he has scored eight goals and provided eight assists to help Argentina reach the semifinal. His performances have sparked debate about whether he could win another Ballon d'Or if he leads his team to the title.
