Looking for a place in the 2026 World Cup final, England will face reigning champions Argentina in the semis. Ahead of the game, a great deal of focus is on how to stop Lionel Messi.
Now 39, the Inter Miami star might not quite be the same player that he was in his pomp, or even at Qatar 2022 when he led his nation to World Cup glory. That said, there's still more than enough magic in his boots to fill even the greatest defenders with fear.
Messi has eight goals to his name so far this summer, with only Kylian Mbappe keeping pace wit him. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are joint fourth on the top scorers list, with six strikes each. It seems very likely that at least one of those three have a huge say in how things go when England play Argentina at Atlanta Stadium.
Former Three Lions Joe Cole has given his thoughts on how things might play out, and his comments have caused quite a stir.
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England will face Argentina at a major international tournament for the first time since 2002 on Wednesday night.
Joe Cole Makes Bold England vs Argentina Prediction
Joe Cole
Cole played 56 times for England, perhaps most memorably scoring a wondergoal against Sweden in the 2006 World Cup. He was speaking about the current generation's hopes against Argentina on The Rest is Football podcast, when he made a rather eye-catching claim.
Indeed, the former Chelsea and Liverpool star said that he fully expects the Three Lions to end Messi's World Cup dreams. He said:
"We will have to put Lionel Messi to bed. We’re going to put him to bed."
Fellow pundit Micah Richards then interjected to warn against overconfidence, but Cole doubled down on his comments, adding:
"We are, 100 per cent. I’m saying it now, England are going to the World Cup final, we’ve got too much pace for Argentina and we’re going to beat them, I feel it in my bones!"
The quotes have gone viral after being shared in a number of places online, generating a huge reaction.
England's Notable World Cup History Against Argentina
Diego Maradona Hand of God Argentina vs England 1986 World Cup
While Cole's comments are likely to rub plenty of Argentina fans up the wrong way, it's not as if there's a lack of animisoty between the two nations already. Indeed, there have been some unfortgetable World Cup classhes in the past.
Most famoulsy, Diego Maradona scored his controversial 'Hand of God' goal against England in 1986, as his nation beat the Three Lions 2-1 in the quarter-finals, before winning the tournament. At the same stage in 1966, Sir Alf Ramsey's men beat Argentina 1-0 as they also went on to lift the World Cup.
The Argentine's got one over England in 1998, winning on penalties in a game which will forever be remembered for that infamous red card from David Beckham after he clashed with Diego Simeone. Four years later, Beckham redeemed himself somewhat with a penalty against the same opponents, to give his nation a 1-0 group stage in 2002.
In all men's international football, the two countries have met 14 times, with the Three Lions winning six times compared to Argentina's five victories, with there also being three draws.