England defender Marc Guehi insists the pressure will be on Argentina when the two nations meet in tonight's World Cup semi-final. The match at Lusail Stadium will decide who advances to the final, with England seeking their first appearance in the showpiece since 1966.
Guehi's Nine-Word Challenge
Speaking to BBC Sport, Guehi said: "What's the pressure? The onus is on them. They're the world champions." He then issued a nine-word challenge: "They need to come out and defend their title." The Crystal Palace centre-back believes the defending champions face greater expectations to retain their crown after winning in 2022.
Guehi added: "A big game with big players. Both sides have great players. When you have that, it's just going to be a good game. You know it's going to be a fun watch and one we will be talking about for a long time."
Build-Up Tensions
The match renews a historic rivalry, with the build-up already tense. Argentina players sparked controversy by chanting about the Falkland Islands. The team has also been at the centre of a row over refereeing decisions, particularly after their dramatic victory over Egypt in the round of 16. Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan amplified conspiracy theories about the World Cup being tipped in Argentina's favour after the final whistle.
Additionally, there has been debate about kit selection, with Argentina granted special permission by FIFA to wear their dark blue away strip. They have a winning record against England wearing those colours as opposed to their iconic blue and white stripes.
Stopping Messi
The main challenge for England will be containing Lionel Messi, who will face the Three Lions for the very first time. England manager Thomas Tuchel said: "They buy into the idea to support Messi, to help him, and they're just ready when he bursts into action to make the difference. We will prepare for that of course. Can you prepare for that and find a recipe and focus too much on him? No. We need to be brave around him and we need to stop the support, and we need to take care of all the movements that happen when he's on the ball."
Tuchel added: "We're totally aware that they cannot stop him all the time and for one hundred per cent. It's a very different player than Erling Haaland, but we did very, very well in our way, in the way you maybe should play against Erling. We will find a way now."
Match Significance
England have not reached a World Cup final since their 1966 triumph. Argentina, the defending champions, are chasing back-to-back titles after their 2022 victory. The winner of tonight's semi-final will face either France or Portugal in the final.
