FIFA World Cup 2026: "Messi is leader and key player," England coach Thomas Tuchel ahead of Argentina showdown
Georgia, July 15
England head coach Thomas Tuchel hailed Lionel Messi as the driving force behind Argentina ahead of their FIFA World Cup semifinal, saying the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner remains the leader and key player for the defending champions, according to Sky Sports.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the last-four clash, Tuchel said Messi's influence on Argentina goes beyond his individual brilliance.
"It is just incredible how he (Messi) carries that team. There are no words. Who am I to talk about that? No words left for this kind of achievement," Tuchel said, as quoted by Sky Sports.
"He is just the leader and the key player in any team he plays. You can see the cohesion, and they are experienced in tournament football. They have a good coach and have been together for a long time. They love to play in the middle of the pitch with the short passes, always looking for gaps. When Messi has the ball, the movement starts," he added.
Tuchel said England would need to be at their best to contain Argentina's captain but insisted his side would remain true to its own style of play.
"The technical execution of the supply of Messi is on the absolute highest level. There is a lot to take care of. We are here to play our way and impose our style. We are here to play the semi-final our way. We know how big the ask is but we are ready for it," he said, as quoted by Sky Sports.
Reflecting on England's quarterfinal victory over Norway, Tuchel admitted his side had lacked composure in possession and called for a sharper display against the defending champions.
"We had too many technical errors in our last match that held us back from finding a rhythm. We were rushed in our decision-making, not patient enough or disciplined enough and it cost us our rhythm," he said.
The England manager, however, praised his team's defensive improvement during the tournament and expressed confidence that the occasion would bring the best out of his players.
"We improved in the tournament in defending and defending as a team. This is something we need at the highest level tomorrow. The acceleration, combined with technical execution, has to be at a higher level. A setup like tomorrow will bring the best out of us and the best out of our players," Tuchel said.
He also dismissed suggestions that England would draw motivation from past meetings with Argentina, saying the focus was firmly on the present challenge.
"We don't use it as fuel. We know we are here, we were never shy of expecting that from us and dreaming it. We are in the semi-finals and we arrive very hungry. We want to have the next win," Tuchel said, as quoted by Sky Sports.
"We respect our opponent, but we don't dip into historic events and make it bigger than it is. It is a big football match but we are very excited and ready to go," he added.
England face defending champions Argentina in the second FIFA World Cup semifinal, with the winners set to meet Spain in the final after La Roja defeated France 2-0 in the first semifinal.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally, a coach who respects Messi instead of making excuses. I remember how some European coaches used to downplay his abilities. Tuchel's humility is refreshing. But England's technical errors in the quarterfinal are concerning - against Argentina, even small mistakes will be punished. Messi will feast on that.
As someone who follows both cricket and football, I see parallels between Messi's leadership and MS Dhoni's captaincy. They both elevate their teammates and make everyone around them better. Tuchel knows what's coming but stopping it is another matter entirely. Argentina's midfield control through short passes is reminiscent of our own passing game.
I appreciate Tuchel's honesty about his team's flaws. However, saying 'we don't use history as fuel' when England-Argentina rivalry is legendary seems naive. The 1986 Hand of God, 1998 Beckham red card... these moments are seared into football history. But maybe that's smart psychology - keep the players focused. Still, my gut says Argentina will win 2-1. Messi magic in the second half. 🇦🇷
Tuchel is a top-class coach but his tactics against Argentina will be tested. England's defensive improvement is nice but Messi's vision and passing can unlock any defense. I think England's best chance is to press high and disrupt Argentina's build-up play - like how Liverpool used to do. If they sit back, it's game over. Also, that Norway quarterfinal performance was not convincing at all. 🤔
Respect to Tuchel for acknowledging Messi's greatness instead of the usual European arrogance. But his comment about not using historical rivalry is
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