(Kyle Walker. Photo by BBC News)
Former England right-back Kyle Walker has offered advice to head coach Thomas Tuchel on how best to nullify Lionel Messi ahead of the Three Lions’ semi-final clash with Argentina on Wednesday.
England are set to face the reigning world champions at the Atlanta Stadium, with Messi having enjoyed a remarkable tournament so far.
Even at 39, he continues to be Argentina’s most influential player, having netted eight goals and provided two assists across six matches, putting him at the top of the tournament’s scoring charts.
Walker, who won 96 caps for England before retiring from international football in 2025, expressed admiration for Messi while suggesting that his limited defensive contribution could present a tactical opening for England.
Writing in his newspaper column, he said: “It’s difficult to pinpoint any weaknesses in Messi’s game.
Perhaps the fact that he doesn’t engage in much defensive tracking could be one.
“However, he is supported by a strong team that enables him to focus on his strengths.
The players around him understand his capabilities and work hard to facilitate his play.
“He conserves his energy for when he is in possession, which is a key factor in Argentina’s well-deserved victory in the 2022 World Cup.
I am confident he will be highly motivated against England in the semi-final, aiming to defend the trophy.
“I was discussing with my teammates at Burnley whether we should employ a man-marking strategy against him.
If we do, does that imply we are overly concerned about him, potentially neglecting the space behind him when he doesn’t recover as quickly as he ought to?
“I am open to man-marking, but I doubt its effectiveness for us, and he might view it as a personal challenge to prove that he cannot be contained in that manner.
My advice would be to avoid provoking him.”