FIFA World Cup 2026: Pickford backs England to keep cool ahead of SF against Messi's Argentina
Georgia, July 14
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford on Monday backed his teammates to keep their cool ahead of their FIFA World Cup semi-final clash against the defending champion Argentina, despite the historical rivalry between the two sides, according to ESPN.
The match marks the first World Cup encounter between England and Argentina since the 1998 tournament, when David Beckham was sent off after an altercation involving Argentina's Diego Simeone.
Speaking ahead of the highly anticipated fixture, Pickford said England have shown discipline throughout the tournament and have avoided unnecessary confrontations.
"I think you've seen throughout the tournament our desire to win tackles; we've not got into any scuffles or anything. We've been very well respected within the game," Pickford said, as quoted by ESPN.
"Decisions go our way, they don't go our way, we just reset, we go again, and we let the football do the talking," he added.
The England goalkeeper highlighted the team's discipline, pointing out that apart from Jarell Quansah's red card against Mexico, the squad has avoided suspensions and second-yellow card offences.
"It just shows the mentality we have, and we don't get wrapped up in things like that. We stay focused, we stay together," Pickford said.
England secured a 2-1 victory over Norway to book a semi-final clash against defending champions Argentina, bringing an end to Norway's best-ever FIFA World Cup campaign.
The quarter-final marked a historic milestone for Norway, which reached the last eight for the first time in tournament history after returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1998.
Despite the heartbreaking exit, Erling Haaland enjoyed another outstanding tournament. The striker scored in every group-stage match as well as in the Round of 32 and Round of 16, finishing as Norway's top scorer with seven goals.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, Norway's run was the highlight of this World Cup for me. Haaland is a monster—7 goals! But England's defence is solid. If they can keep Messi quiet, they have a chance. Football is finally coming home? Let's see. 😅
Pickford talking about staying cool is ironic given his own history with meltdowns! 😂 But credit where it's due—England have been calm this tournament. Argentina are the defending champs for a reason though. Messi vs Bellingham—who blinks first?
As an American who loves the World Cup, this is going to be epic. I'm rooting for Argentina because of Messi, but England's discipline is impressive. The Beckham-Simeone rivalry adds so much spice. Can't wait for this semi-final!
Respect to Norway for their best-ever run—Haaland is a generational talent. But England vs Argentina is a classic rivalry. Pickford is right about discipline, but Argentina's experience in big games is unmatched. Will be a thriller, no doubt. 🇦🇷⚔️🏴
I just hope the match is about football and not about fights. The 1998 incident was so frustrating to watch. Both teams have world-class players—let them play. Pickford has a point about discipline, but Argentina will test that to the limit.
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