World Cup 2026: Walker Advises England on Best Way to Contain Messi

Former England defender Kyle Walker has offered tactical advice to the Three Lions ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final clash with defending champions Argentina, urging the team to avoid focusing solely on Lionel Messi.

Walker believes England must adopt a balanced approach rather than assigning one player to shadow the Argentine captain throughout the match.

According to the former Manchester City full-back, attempting to man-mark Messi could create unnecessary problems by leaving space for Argentina's other dangerous attackers.

The retired international acknowledged Messi's outstanding performances during the tournament, describing the Inter Miami forward as the player capable of deciding games with moments of brilliance.

Despite approaching the latter stages of his career, Messi has continued to demonstrate why he remains one of the world's elite footballers, contributing goals and assists to Argentina's successful campaign.

Walker identified one aspect of Messi's game that England could potentially exploit, noting that the Argentine icon is less involved in defensive duties.

However, he stressed that Argentina's tactical setup allows Messi to conserve energy for attacking situations, making him even more dangerous when his team regains possession.

The 96-cap England international warned that trying to frustrate Messi with constant close marking could have the opposite effect by motivating him to produce another memorable performance.

Instead, Walker encouraged England to remain organised defensively, trust their tactical structure and ensure they do not become overly obsessed with stopping one player.

England face a formidable challenge against the reigning world champions, but Walker believes discipline, teamwork and concentration will give Thomas Tuchel's side the best opportunity to secure victory and book a place in the World Cup final.