Alan Shearer, reflecting on England's past World Cup encounters, still feels the sting of the 1998 defeat to Argentina but believes the current squad has the potential to achieve a different outcome.
Argentina, the defending champions, have reached this stage by finding ways to secure results, despite Shearer's assessment that their football has not been consistently outstanding. He noted that the team's strategy heavily relies on Lionel Messi, with all offensive plays directed through him. The challenge for England, Shearer suggests, will be limiting Messi's space through coordinated defensive efforts rather than a strict man-marking assignment.
"If we can do that then obviously we have got a much better chance," Shearer stated regarding containing Messi. However, he stressed that England must perform comprehensively, not solely focus on neutralizing one player. The potential matchups also highlight England's own star players, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, who have been pivotal for the team. Bellingham, in particular, has received four player-of-the-match awards, matching Messi's tally and positioning both as strong contenders for the tournament's best player.
Shearer has backed England to advance, anticipating they will pose more problems for Argentina than they will receive. He cautioned, however, that the match is unlikely to be straightforward, recalling that no England game in the tournament thus far has been comfortable, with the exception of the second half against Croatia in their opening match. He advised fans to prepare for a potentially thrilling but challenging evening.
"Strap yourself in - it could be a wonderful evening for us all, but it will definitely be a bumpy ride," Shearer told BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.