Carragher: England Must Exploit Messi in World Cup Semi-Final

Jamie Carragher believes England’s route to the World Cup final runs straight through Lionel Messi – and not just by stopping him.

Messi has lit up this tournament at 39, with eight goals and two assists, dragging Argentina to the brink of a second successive final. Thomas Tuchel’s England, still searching for their first World Cup final in 60 years, now stand in his way in Atlanta.

Most managers obsess over how to contain him. Carragher wants England to think a little braver.

‘Exploit Messi as much as stop him’

"It's nothing new with Messi. He's been around for 20 years and no one has found the answer," Carragher said. "There has to be a plan. I don't think it will be a man-marking job, but they need a plan. The players will be expecting that. It's not admitting defeat in any way. You're coming up against arguably the greatest player of all time. He's shown that in this tournament too."

Then came the twist.

"Also, they should be thinking about how they can exploit Lionel Messi as well. He walks about when the opposition have got the ball, so that doesn't mean England's left-back should stand next to him for the whole of the game.

“They can exploit the fact that Argentina only defend with nine outfield players."

That is the gamble Carragher wants England to take: respect Messi, but not to the point of paralysis. When England have the ball, he wants Tuchel’s side to be bold enough to attack the spaces Messi leaves rather than simply shadowing him out of fear.

Echoes of Croatia – and a different kind of game

Carragher expects the semi-final to feel more open than most of England’s tournament so far. His mind goes back to the win over Croatia in the opening game.

"I don't think there's too much between the teams. I'm hoping that this game has got elements of the Croatia game in it, where you're playing against a side who fancy themselves as a good team," he said.

"I certainly don't think they'll be getting everybody behind the ball. They'll try to tackle us, and will that leave space for ourselves to attack? Their full-backs like to go high and wide, but they don't really play with wingers, so maybe that's something we can exploit.

“I'm hoping that it's a different type of game than what we've seen from the majority of England games throughout this competition. I still don't think England have been anywhere near the best in performance-wise."

Argentina’s adventurous full-backs, the lack of natural width ahead of them, and Messi’s selective pressing all point to one thing: if England are precise and ruthless, the semi-final could turn into the most open contest they’ve had all summer.

Tuchel’s blunt verdict defended

Off the pitch, Tuchel’s straight-talking has stirred almost as much debate as his tactics. His criticism after the nervy quarter-final win over Norway – questioning England’s quality on the ball and saying they nearly threw the game away – prompted a pointed response from Jude Bellingham.

Bellingham suggested Tuchel did not fully grasp what it was like to play in the extreme Miami heat, with temperatures above 33C and the humidity pushing the feel closer to 40C.

Carragher, though, sees no crisis brewing.

"I didn't think there was anything wrong at all with Tuchel's comments," he said. "He's probably a little bit emotional after the game. England didn't play particularly well and could have easily lost that game against Norway.

"I totally understand Tuchel. We know what he was like at Chelsea. That's one of his plus points. He tells you straight. You've seen him against [Djed] Spence in this tournament.

“In a World Cup, a manager's got to be decisive. He's got to make big decisions, he's got to tell people straight. You can't wait. Things need to happen right away. I thought the interview from the manager was brilliant.

"Jude, again, he's emotional after the game. He's just scored a couple of goals, and then he's realised how hard it was on the pitch, and the conditions as well. I could understand that, but Thomas Tuchel will be absolutely fine with that."

Honesty, in Carragher’s eyes, is not a problem. It is a necessity at this stage of a World Cup.

Saka over Madueke – no saving players now

On the team sheet, Tuchel’s choices are narrowing. Declan Rice is fit. Reece James is back, having come on against Norway. The real debate sits on the right flank.

Noni Madueke has started four times this summer. Bukayo Saka, his Arsenal team-mate, has three starts and has been nursing fitness issues.

Carragher still thinks the decision is clear.

"I think Madueke's had a lot of chances in this tournament," he said. "It hasn't quite happened for him. Saka certainly hasn't been at his best, but as we know, he's not 100 per cent fit.

“I'm just hoping with each minute or longer he's on the pitch and other appearances, we start to see a little bit of what we know of Bukayo Saka.

“These are the games you take a chance in. If he's right, or you think you can get something from him, you've got to pick him. There's no worrying about what comes after that. I know it's a World Cup final after that, but this game is too important."

No rotation. No saving legs. Carragher wants Tuchel to load his best weapons now, even if they are not quite at full power.

England stand one match away from a World Cup final and face the greatest player of his generation. The question is no longer just how they survive Messi, but whether they dare to use his freedom against him.