adminFormer England star Joe Cole has boldly declared that the Three Lions will “put Lionel Messi to bed” if they face Argentina in the World Cup semifinals.
Even with the challenge of taking on the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Cole is convinced England’s superior speed will be too much for the Argentines.
Cole’s daring forecast for the Atlanta clash
Excitement is building as England gear up for their fourth World Cup semifinal, and Cole is leading the rally with a confident prediction.
On The Rest is Football, the ex-Chelsea and West Ham winger insisted that Thomas Tuchel’s squad has what it takes to neutralize the all-time great. “We will have to put Lionel Messi to bed,” Cole said on the podcast. “We’re going to put him to bed.”
When fellow pundit Micah Richards warned him against making such a claim, Cole stood his ground. “We are, 100 per cent,” he added. “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 path to the semifinals
England secured their spot with a 2-1 quarterfinal win over Norway, thanks to a decisive double from Jude Bellingham. Though the display wasn’t flawless, the result kept alive hopes of a first World Cup triumph since 1966.
Argentina faced a tougher route, requiring extra time to beat a stubborn Switzerland side that played with ten men after Breel Embolo was sent off.
Goals from Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez finally broke Swiss resistance, though Messi drew a blank for the first time in the tournament.
Despite that, the veteran remains joint-top scorer alongside France’s Kylian Mbappé with eight goals. His influence looms large over Wednesday’s showdown, but Cole is confident England’s defensive setup can hold firm.
Mixed opinions on England’s chances
While Cole is brimming with confidence, not everyone views England as clear favorites. Former Scotland international Ally McCoist offered a more cautious take, ranking England behind some European rivals.
“At this moment in time, England are the third-best team left in the tournament,” McCoist said. “France look like the best team in the tournament but concentrate on the semifinal.
“The good news is you’re playing a team I think you’re better than. I think England are better than Argentina. Defensively, Argentina aren’t great but going forward, we know Messi is capable of something out of nowhere – that’s what you have to guard against. But what a game we’ve got to look forward to there.”
Messi relishing ‘special’ England clash
The man in the spotlight is equally eager for the fixture. Messi has already called this semifinal “special” as he prepares to face England for the first time. “Playing against England is special because they are a powerhouse, and matches against powerhouses are always special,” Messi said. “Personally, it’s the first time I’m going to play against them.
I’ve played against everyone except England, so it will be nice for that reason too. And we’ll experience it for what it is: a World Cup semifinal against a powerhouse, a great team, and we’ll try to arrive in the best possible shape to compete again.”
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