Micah Richards, a former defender for Manchester City, has revealed that England faces a significant challenge against Argentina in the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The Three Lions made it to this point by overcoming Norway in the quarter-finals, while Argentina progressed with a hard-fought 3-1 extra-time win against Switzerland.
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Richards, speaking with BBC Sport, cautioned that Messi’s extraordinary presence and awareness on the pitch pose a distinct challenge that England’s defense has yet to face.
He pointed out that while England possesses the speed advantage to outpace Argentina, the entire Argentine team is structured to support Messi.
“We all know they didn’t perform well enough (vs. Norway) to be champions. However, there’s something about getting over the line,” he told BBC Sport.
“I think back to Real Madrid a few years ago when they triumphed over PSG, Man City, and Chelsea in the final moments of those matches. It’s that aspect of England’s game that I find encouraging at the moment, their ability to secure a win.”
“They need to enhance their performance, and the manager rightly pointed this out. He’s conveying a message. He understands it wasn’t sufficient. They completed the task – but there’s a lot of work ahead if they aspire to win the World Cup.
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“England may have the speed to surpass Argentina, but they possess that unique genius in Messi. The whole team plays for him. There’s plenty of reason for excitement.
“Marking him is a daunting task because he doesn’t track back. He finds pockets of space where he ideally shouldn’t be. He activates at the right moments and boasts exceptional technique. His awareness of space is remarkable. He has a powerful shot.”
