\n
![\"close\"](\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/cmc-predictor\/v2\/cross-icon.png?w=40\"){kind=icon}
\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Pundit Jay Boothroyd has singled out an England player who is capable of keeping Lionel Messi quiet in the FIFA World Cup semifinal. The Three Lions are set to take on Argentina for a place in the final of the competition, after their win over Norway. <\/p>\n
Speaking on Sky Sports, Boothroyd provided a preview of the game from his own point of view. He pointed out that Tottenham Hotspur man Spence has the physical tools to get the better of Lionel Messi in what will be a tough game, and could be Thomas Tuchel<\/a>‘s choice to handle him. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \nThanks for the submission!\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/template><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/template><\/p>\n “This game against Argentina, Messi is going to be manoeuvring, you know, around that right side to central areas a lot more than being on the left hand-side. And I feel like if you’ve got Spence in that position, I feel like one-on-one defender, there’s not better than him out there. One-on-one. A defender where you talk about positionally, maybe so. He is that defender that has that recovery pace. He is one of the fastest in the England team. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n Maybe Tuchel will be looking at that saying ‘you know he’s someone that could maybe get stuck into Messi’. And every single player on that pitch is going to want to get close to Messi and try and nullify his abilities. But it’s going to be a tough game”, he said. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n Djed Spence has been impressive for England this summer despite not being a nailed-on starter for the Three Lions at the FIFA World Cup. The versatile full-back has played in all six games in the tournament, starting twice against Ghana and DR Congo. <\/p>\n Lionel Messi<\/a> has been a menace to opposition teams throughout the summer, scoring eight goals and providing two assists in six games so far. The 39-year-old continues to shine for Argentina, and keeping him shackled will go a long way in deciding the outcome of the game. <\/p>\n Lionel Messi is set to face England in the semifinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup<\/a> in what will be a first meeting between them. The Argentina international has never played against the Three Lions in any match in his 22-year career with La Albiceleste. <\/p>\n Messi’s only chance to face England came in early 2006 when a friendly match was set up between both sides. The teenager missed the game through suspension, as he had been sent off on his international debut against Hungary three months earlier.<\/p>\n Lionel Messi and his teammates will face England in a rematch of the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal in which Diego Maradona<\/a> netted twice. Both sides will be out to secure a spot in Sunday’s final after this rare meeting. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Lionel Messi set for rare career first at FIFA World Cup <\/h2>\n