‘It’s not normal’ – Lionel Messi praises Argentina ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final
(Courtesy : Getty)
La Albiceleste are set to face England in the World Cup semi-final on July 15.
Lionel Messi heaped praise on Argentina, insisting that “it is not normal” for the team to remain at the top of the quadrennial tournament ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final against England.
The defending champions dug deep to seal a hard-fought 3-1 win after extra time against Switzerland, with Messi setting up Alexis Mac Allister’s opener. The victory fired the South American side to a semi-final clash against England in Atlanta.
La Albiceleste are now in line to become only the third team – other than Italy and Brazil – to defend their World Cup title. The South American side had lifted the trophy in 2022, beating France on penalties in the final.
Also Read: What happened last time Lionel Messi faced England in FIFA World Cup?
Messi stresses ‘not normal’ achievements
The Argentina captain said that fans should appreciate what the current squad has achieved in the quadrennial tournament, telling ESPN, “It’s good that people are enjoying it as much as we are. That’s how we live it.”
“This group has got people used to doing things that aren’t normal,” he added. “It’s not easy to come back from being world champions, winning everything we won, and then continue competing and remaining at that level, among the top four, playing in another semi-final.
“It’s not normal; that’s why we have to enjoy it so much.”
The veteran forward, who leads the Golden Boot race with eight goals, has been in fine form. He added that his country had to wait a long time to become the world champion in 2022, having previously won it in 1986.
“We don’t know if it will happen again (or) when,” he said. “We went a long time without being world champions until the last time, so everything that comes next should be enjoyed and valued. We will try to rest, recover our strength and compete in the semi-final.”
Messi reflects on England challenge
La Albiceleste faced a tough challenge against Switzerland. Mac Allister’s opener was cancelled by Dan Ndoye in the 67th minute. Despite going down to 10 men after Breel Embolo was shown a second yellow card, the Schweizer-Nati remained the better side.
However, Julian Alvarez restored Argentina’s lead in extra time with a stunning strike before Lautaro Martinez sealed the victory in stoppage time.
“We expected a tough match. In the first half, even though we took the lead, they made it a hard game for us. They kept equalising; we couldn’t play our game; we couldn’t maintain possession for long periods. And without the ball, we sat too deep,” Messi said. “Their red card completely changed the game, but it was still difficult.”
Now, the 39-year-old will face England for the first time in his career. The fixture is historically important for both nations, with Diego Maradona scoring the infamous “Hand of God” in the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
However, Messi said that everything he remembers about the 1986 semi-finals “is from videos and images that Argentinians constantly watch and relive” but reiterated that La Albiceleste will treat it like any other fixture.
“Obviously, playing against England is special because they are a powerhouse, and matches against powerhouses are always special,” the talismanic forward said.
“Personally, it’s the first time I’m going to play against them. I’ve played against everyone except England, so it will be nice for that reason too. And we’ll experience it for what it is: a World Cup semi-final against a powerhouse, a great team, and we’ll try to arrive in the best possible shape to compete again.”
When is Argentina vs England FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final?
The semi‑final is on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. In India, the match will kick off at 12:30 AM IST on July 16.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.