Tuchel considered man-marking Messi ahead of Argentina-Inglaterra
Thomas Tuchel left open the possibility of using a man-marking assignment on Lionel Messi ahead of the World Cup semifinal between England and Argentina. The English coach also called for the past to be ignored and for focus to stay on the match.
The buildup to Inglaterra-Argentina has another major subplot: Thomas Tuchel admitted he studied the option of a man-marking assignment on Lionel Messi. On the eve of a World Cup semifinal, attention again falls on how the game will be played beyond the weight of history, something the English coach wanted to set aside.
Tuchel’s view comes amid a clash loaded with tension, with Argentina at the center of the stage and Messi one of the names that most shapes the rival game plan. At the same time, the English boss also stressed that he does not want the past to interfere in a stage that will be decided, above all, by the football of the present.
The idea England are weighing up to stop Messi
According to the approach Tuchel let slip, the possibility of a personal marker on the Argentina captain emerged as a real alternative in the buildup to the semifinal. It was not a confirmation of the system, but it was a clear sign that Messi is at the heart of England’s analysis.
Thomas Tuchel:
