In a press conference, England manager Thomas Tuchel analysed the clash with great respect for the opposition, but without losing confidence.
Making his World Cup debut, the German coach was keen to play down the natural ups and downs of a campaign of this scale.
"It's very rare to breeze through a tournament where everything just falls perfectly into place from game to game. It's normal to have to work hard and overcome difficulties. I think the fact that we're handling this well says more about our strengths than our weaknesses," Tuchel assessed.
The 'complete package' and Argentina's mental strength
When analysing Lionel Scaloni's side, Tuchel was emphatic in describing the opponents as a team with no loose ends and extremely resilient under pressure.
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"First of all, they have the mentality, they have the unity. They don't panic when they're behind on the scoreboard. It's a very, very competitive group," he highlighted.
"They've kept almost the same group of players, the main core. They have a very experienced and very good coach, they've been together for a long time. You can see that cohesion.
"They love to play through the middle, with short passes, always looking to break into space. And they can defend hard. For me, it's the complete package."
Despite the praise, the England manager sent a clear message: no one is unbeatable.
"We've prepared for the best version of Argentina. We hope, expect and demand the best from ourselves tomorrow for a top-level match. I think every team in the world can be beaten. Argentina can, and so can we. And both teams will try to prove it," he pointed out.
The Messi factor and England's strategy
As expected, Lionel Messi was one of the main topics at the press conference. Tuchel did not hold back in describing the impact of the Argentine number 10, detailing how the whole Argentina team revolves around their captain.
"The way he carries that team is simply incredible. He's the leader, the key player in everything they do. When he has the ball, there's a lot to worry about," admitted the coach, who revealed he had studied the best way to neutralise the star.
Imposing your own style is the key
While acknowledging the magnitude of the challenge and the weight of facing a battle-hardened Argentina, Tuchel assured that England will not abandon their identity to defend.
"We know how big the obstacle is and the price to pay, but we're ready for it. We're here to play the semi-final our way, to impose our style and our strengths," concluded the England manager.
The winner of England v Argentina will face Spain next Sunday (19th), in the final of the 2026 World Cup.
World Cup 2026
The 2026 World Cup will be held from June 11th to July 19th in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament will feature 48 national teams and will be played in 16 modern stadiums.
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