England vs Argentina World Cup semifinal sparks tactical talk from Tuchel and Konsa

England coach Thomas Tuchel said ahead of the semifinal that he had considered assigning a man‑on‑man marker to Argentina captain Lionel Messi, describing Messi as a leader whose presence shifts the game. Tuchel praised Messi’s influence and noted the importance of team cohesion, while stressing England’s focus on football rather than historic rivalry.

England defender Ezri Konsa warned that "there are no friends on the pitch" as his side prepares to face Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez, also his club teammate at Aston Villa. Konsa emphasized concentration on the match, downplaying external noise and previous comments from teammates.