Looking to secure a spot in their first World Cup final since 1966, England will take on Argentina in their semi-final. The Three Lions have heavily relied on Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham this summer, but the Argentine press believe stopping another man could be the key to success.
Bellingham bagged a brace against Norway in the quarters, having also scored twice in the 3-2 win over Mexico. Kane also found the back of the next in that Last 16 victory, while his two strikes were enough to see England edge past DR Congo in the Round of 32.
In total, both Kane and Bellingham have six goals this summer, with Marcus Rashford the only other player to have netted at the tournament under Thomas Tuchel. Even so, it's felt that a different player is worth targeting if Argentina want to make their second successive final, having won the 2022 World Cup.
Joe Cole looks on as a TV pundit Related
Joe Cole's Strong Take on England Dealing With Lionel Messi and Argentina Goes Viral
Cole did not hold back with his World Cup comments.
'England Lose Clarity' - Argentina Told To Target Midfielder
England players pose for a team group photo before the matchPaul Childs via Reuters
In a lengthy article written by Argentinian journalist Bruno Distefano for TycSports, the writer explaned why it could be key for his nation to target Declan Rice in the match. He explained:
"Pressure on the build-up play. When Declan Rice receives the ball uncomfortably or with his back to goal, England loses clarity in their build-up play and begins to resort more frequently to direct play. Kane might win the initial aerial duel, but the team loses precision and continuity. Stifling that initial ball movement could prevent Bellingham from receiving the ball facing forward and reduce England's attacking threat."
Not only did he speak specifically about Rice, but the article also notes some other exploitable issues England may have. Distefano wrote: "They tend to be sluggish at the start of matches. In several games, they needed a considerable amount of time to settle defensively and struggled when the opposition managed to impose a high tempo from the outset. Striking early can not only alter the course of the game but also force Tuchel's team to abandon a game plan they are much more comfortable with."
The journalist also claimed that, "The mobility of the Argentine forwards and the overlapping runs of Molina and Tagliafico can create overloads on the flanks," if England lose possesion. Finally, he suggested that the Three Lions have 'accumulated more fatigue than Argentina' over the tournament, which could be important on the day.
Threat of Kane and Bellingham Also Highlighted
Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane celebrate during England's win over Slovakia
TycSports clearly feel as though the likes of Kane and Bellingham won't be able to do their thing if Rice is put under enough pressure in the middle of the park. That's not to say they have overlooked the indieifaul qualitty of the two England goalscoring threats.
Of the Real Madrid star, Distefano noted: "Bellingham has gone from being just an attacking midfielder to a game-changer, a player who unlocks the game from deep. He exploits the space Kane creates, appearing without a fixed target, and arriving in the box with incredibly precise timing. A moment of inattention is all it takes to find him finishing through the middle or attacking the far post."
Talking about the England captain, he then concluded: "Kane remains the attacking focal point, though no longer solely due to his goalscoring ability. He increasingly drops deeper to link up with the midfielders, pin back the center-backs, and free up the central channel for Bellingham's runs or Bukayo Saka's diagonal runs."