Sam Allardyce, the former England boss, claims Elliot Anderson is the sole member of the national squad equipped to handle Lionel Messi during their upcoming World Cup semifinal. Allardyce believes the Manchester City recruit has the necessary focus to shadow the Argentine captain effectively.
Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, the 71-year-old explained that Messi avoids physical duels, which plays into Anderson’s strengths. Allardyce advocated for a man-marking strategy, suggesting Anderson stay glued to the veteran star to disrupt his rhythm and cut off the service to him. He emphasized that unwavering concentration is vital because any momentary lapse against a player of Messi’s caliber could be decisive.
By sticking to a strict marking assignment, Allardyce believes England can cause frustration for the 39-year-old and limit his influence on the match. Argentina is scheduled to take on England in the semifinal round on Wednesday, July 15.
