Lionel Messi has described England as a 'powerhouse' and said it will be 'special' to face them for the first time after Argentina secured a World Cup semi-final berth against the Three Lions. Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1 in extra time on Saturday, while England also needed an additional 30 minutes to overcome Norway 2-1.
Messi's first encounter with England
The meeting in Atlanta on Wednesday will be the latest chapter in one of international football's most storied rivalries, although it will mark Messi's first appearance against England in an Argentina shirt. Speaking after the win over Switzerland, the 38-year-old told ESPN Argentina: 'Playing against England is special because they are a powerhouse, and matches against powerhouses are always special. It's the first time I'm going to play against them. I've played against everyone except England, so it will be nice for that reason too. We'll experience it for what it is: a World Cup semi-final against a great team, and we'll try to arrive in the best possible shape to compete again.'
Historical rivalry
Argentina and England share a long World Cup history, most famously their quarter-final meeting in 1986, when Diego Maradona scored both the controversial 'Hand of God' goal and one of the tournament's greatest solo efforts. Their rivalry was further fuelled by David Beckham's red card during England's defeat in the 1998 World Cup last 16.
Argentina's focus
Forward Jose Manuel Lopez acknowledged the significance of the fixture but insisted Argentina's focus remains solely on football. 'It's a match-up with a lot of history, but we're professionals,' he said. 'We'll approach it like every other game and give everything until the end.'
Alvarez praises England
Julian Alvarez scored a stunning extra-time goal to help Argentina overcome 10-man Switzerland, and believes England will provide another major test. 'We're very proud to be among the top four teams in the world,' he said. 'England have impressive players and are a great team. Now we need to recover well and prepare for the game.'
