Na World Cup semifinal wey get plenty pepper: England vs Argentina, and inside am, na Lionel Messi versus Jude Bellingham. Di two number 10 dem go face for Wednesday match for Atlanta.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford talk say, “We know how good Messi is.” Di Argentina legend don show im brilliance again even at 39 years old. Messi and Bellingham don inspire dia teams reach di final four, and who get di biggest say on di day go decide di match.
Messi dey play England for di first time for im whole career. Pickford add, “He’s scored so many goals and contributed to so many goals as well throughout his career, it’s great to finally go up against him.” Many people don already call Messi di greatest soccer player of all time, and e dey on a mission to settle di debate. As di all-time top scorer for World Cup with 21 goals, e fit pass Argentina icon Diego Maradona by leading im country to back-to-back world titles.
Messi eight goals dis tournament don be key for Argentina run, and im moments of magic don drag di team through big scares against Cape Verde and Egypt. Maradona as captain win World Cup for 1986 and be runner-up four years later when dem lose to West Germany for di final. Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister say, “Trying to draw inspiration from what Diego did is difficult. Only Leo can do that. Diego is a national icon for us, and hopefully, we can achieve something similar to what that team did.”
England get dia own talisman for Bellingham, wey dey di opposite end of im career to Messi. At 23 years old, Bellingham dey play im second World Cup and fourth major tournament for England. E get six goals, including two each for di last two rounds against Mexico and Norway. Dis na big tin for a player wey coach Thomas Tuchel drop for di lead-up to di World Cup, wey make people talk whether e go even start for England.
For a long time, Bellingham don be one of English soccer brightest talents and one of di global game biggest names. But im relationship with Tuchel cast doubt over im role for di England team, with Morgan Rogers threatening to take im place. No doubt again about a player wey Tuchel call “world class” after im double against Norway for di quarterfinals.
Bellingham na different type of number 10 from Messi, relying on im athleticism, power and speed when running beyond defenders. E also get technical gift with im touch and range of passing, but nobody fit rival Messi individual control of di ball, im dribbling ability or vision. Bellingham maturity always stand out. E make im debut for second-division Birmingham at 16, and despite many England top teams wanting to sign am, e resist di likes of Manchester United and move to Borussia Dortmund for Germany instead. Birmingham know dem don lose special talent and talk say dem go retire im number 22 shirt.
After starring for Dortmund, Bellingham join Real Madrid, wear di great Zinedine Zidane number 5 shirt, and help di Spanish giant win Champions League and Spanish title for im first season for 2024. Dat same year, e be part of England team wey reach di final of European Championship, scoring an overhead kick for stoppage time to save im country from elimination earlier for di tournament. With record like dat, no surprise say Bellingham, along with captain Harry Kane wey also get six goals, don be such inspiration for dis World Cup.
Pickford talk, “Everyone talks about Messi because he’s one of the GOATs of the game, but you can’t look past the ability and talent we have in the squad.” England vs Argentina na fierce rivalry wey pass soccer field, with tensions also relating to di 1982 conflict over di Falklands Islands. Plenty clashes don happen for World Cup. Argentina captain Antonio Rattin, wey die on Saturday, bin get red card for a bad-tempered quarterfinal match against winner England for 1966. Maradona score im infamous “Hand of God” goal for 1986, and England also feel aggrieved when David Beckham get red card for kicking out against Diego Simeone for 1998 and lose for penalty shootout. Most recently, England beat Argentina for di group phase for 2002, with Beckham scoring from di penalty spot.
Rather than dey weighed down by disappointments of previous clashes, Kane say na dat win stand out for im mind. “We all knew what Beckham went through previously against Argentina and that kind of redemption story of scoring that penalty, his celebration, he’s pulling the shirt and his face. I think that’s one of my favourite England memories,” Kane tell ITV. “That was always one of my favourite memories, Beckham being a big idol of mine, so that one stands out for sure.”
