Thomas Tuchel told exactly how to stop Lionel Messi before England's World Cup semifinal: 'Shadow him everywhere'

With eight goals and two assists in this World Cup, Lionel Messi remains England's biggest obstacle ahead of Wednesday's semifinal in Atlanta.

Updated on: Jul 14, 2026, 14:09:06 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Argentina's defensive frailties have been exposed throughout the knockout stages, yet Lionel Messi has repeatedly found a way to drag the defending champions through. With eight goals and two assists in this World Cup, the Argentina captain remains England's biggest obstacle ahead of Wednesday's semifinal in Atlanta. And while many have tipped Thomas Tuchel's side as slight favourites, the England manager has now been handed a straightforward solution to contain the 39-year-old.

Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina runs with the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Argentina and Switzerland at Kansas City (Getty Images via AFP)

Former Watford striker Troy Deeney believes England must make one key change to their starting XI by dropping left-back Nico O'Reilly in favour of Djed Spence, arguing that the Tottenham defender is far better equipped to deal with Messi.

Speaking on talkSPORT Drive, Deeney launched a scathing assessment of O'Reilly's tournament.

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"By the way, he's been getting away with murder. Because he's been playing just as good as Madueke. And I don't think Madueke has had a bad game. He's just been in the middle," Deeney said.

"I'm just saying, the level of what you look for in an attacking player is much different to what you look for in a defensive player. Nico O'Reilly hasn't been great. He's been okay. For a player of his talent, and a player of his ability, okay shouldn't be good enough."

Deeney then explained why he would make the switch against Argentina. With Messi expected to drift into England's left defensive channel, he believes Spence's pace, athleticism and defensive instincts make him the ideal option to shadow the Argentina captain.

"It's just coming up against Messi, because that's what he's going to come in on the [England] left side," he said.

"I would probably have to go Djed Spence just to match him. And say to Djed Spence, 'Just follow him. If he goes inside, go inside.'"

Spence has featured in all six of England's World Cup matches so far but has started only twice. The versatile full-back has operated on both flanks during the tournament, with his impressive cameo against Norway underlining why many believe he could be England's best weapon to limit Messi's influence in the semifinal.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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