England urged to emulate Liverpool tactic to upset Argentina and Lionel Messi
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England will be aiming to silence Lionel Messi and Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals, and Thomas Tuchel has been urged to follow Liverpool's lead against the defending championsLionel Messi will be hoping to guide Argentina to another World Cup final(Image: Getty Images)England boss Thomas Tuchel has been urged to follow Liverpool’s lead against Argentina, with the Reds’ famous win over Barcelona in 2019 serving as the “blueprint” to handle Lionel Messi.The Three Lions will be aiming to secure a spot in the World Cup final for the first time since 1966 as they take on their old rival in Atlanta later today. Having needed extra-time get past Norway in the quarter-finals, England fans will be hoping for a much less nervy experience this time around.They’re unlikely to get that against the reigning world champions though, who remain on course to defend their crown.Argentina has also been made to work hard to reach this stage of the tournament, having needed extra-time against Cape Verde and Switzerland, while also coming back from 2-0 down to see off Egypt in controversial cirsumstances.Once again though, Messi has proven to be his country’s talisman.
The 39-year-old has eight goals to his name so far, having become the all-time top scorer in World Cup history during the tournament.If England is looking for a way to keep him quiet, then Emile Heskey thinks Liverpool may have already given it the answer.Reds fans will remember their last meeting with Messi well, having seen Jurgen Klopp’s side beat Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield in 2019, overturning a 3-0 defeat at the Camp Nou in the process to book their place in the Champions League final - which they would go on to win for the sixth time.Lionel Messi and Barcelona were left stunned at Anfield in 2019(Image: Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)Although circumstances might be different for England on this occasion, Heskey nevertheless thinks Liverpool’s triumph should serve as inspiration.“The difficult thing with that is you're not at Anfield, you're not in England, and you're not in that weather,” Heskey told 10bet. He would have never seen anything like that before coming to Anfield – where, one, the atmosphere is intense, and two, the players look possessed with the amount of aggressive running they are doing.
So he probably had never experienced that before, but that is definitely one blueprint.“I think if England can play with that intensity; Premier League intensity, they have the ability to run over Argentina.Get Liverpool's new 2026/27 home kitThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn moreLiverpool FC have launched their new home kit for the 2026/27, inspired by iconic adidas strip worn during the club's 1989/90 title-winning campaign.“Personally, I wouldn't man-mark Messi, he’s too elusive and he’ll find a way or a moment – he has the intelligence to know when to make his runs or find a pocket of space, but I could completely understand it if the manager did decide to put someone like Declan Rice on him and ask him to do a job.”England can make history if it does manage to beat Argentina today, with Tuchel’s side aiming to become the first to reach a World Cup final since winning the tournament 60 years ago.Messi and his Barcelona teammates were left in stunned silence after their experience at Anfield - the Three Lions will be hoping they can do the same to the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.