OpinionGraeme SounessJuly 15, 2026 — 6:00amIf France versus Spain is the semi-final of the gunslingers, the race between the Ferrari and the Lamborghini, England versus Argentina is the BMW against the Mercedes: two resilient, dependable teams who are pragmatic and aggressive. They are not a great watch, but they get the job done.What elevates Argentina, however, is Lionel Messi. A video has been in circulation recently on social media from the 2011 Champions League final – at which time Messi was 23 and had “only” won the Ballon d’Or twice and three European Cups – in which I called him the greatest player of all time.Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona are beloved by fans.Getty ImagesWhy was I so sure? Simple. I was watching him do things that nobody else would even attempt. I didn’t feel it was outlandish because he was playing in the Champions League every week, the highest level of football, and embarrassing world-class defenders consistently.A little while after that, I told my son, James, to ensure that he watched Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as often as he could and enjoy it while he can. They are a pair of freaks, built with bravery and attitude, and the only man who gets close to Messi is Diego Maradona.I played against Maradona five times after signing for Sampdoria, including in Naples when he scored his first Serie A goal in September 1984. He was a magician, his level of anticipation was frightening and he was always two steps ahead. Talent was one thing; his football brain was something else.That is where the very best take you apart. I remember partnering Zico, the great Brazilian, in central midfield for a charity game at the end of the season. We were the undici, the top 11 foreign players in the league, taking on the champions Hellas Verona.Argentina’s captain Maradona holds up the World Cup after his side beat West Germany in the 1986 final.APZico saw things totally different. I would try to anticipate where he would pass the ball and then make myself available for the next pass but, time and again, he saw it differently. If I went right, he would go left. It was an education to be on the pitch with him and, sadly, a realisation there was another level.Usually, most players receive the ball and the aim is to pass it from A to B. The top ones, when they pass from A to B, they are thinking ahead and looking to see how it will influence C then D. But with Zico, Maradona and Messi, the realms they are going to are G, H and beyond.Trust me, there is no point for England manager Thomas Tuchel thinking of setting traps for Messi because he can see them coming a mile off – and embarrass you in the process. I think back four years and some people were saying if he didn’t win a World Cup his career wouldn’t be complete, but here he is, at 39, trying to retain it.I have always believed Argentina produce the best footballers, they have creativity and steel. A huge amount of Italians immigrated to Argentina after the Second World War, almost 400,000 from 1946 to 1957, and that had a significant impact on the demographic of the population.Argentines are tough and I don’t believe it is realistic for England to think they are going to stop them for 90 minutes. They had the right result against Norway but the level of performance has not been what it should – yet.Tuchel’s team were on the front foot for the first 30 minutes against Norway, without creating anything, but it was understandable they ran out of steam in the humidity. It was their good fortune they went in all square thanks to Jude Bellingham.His goal changed the landscape and they deserved to win, but what they really showed in Miami is they have the capacity to dig deep in the face of pressure – and that is why they have a puncher’s chance of winning the tournament.England are not technically as good as France or Spain; really, they are the least attractive of the four teams remaining, but that doesn’t matter – they are trying to win a cup. This is not like the league, where you must be the best to prevail over an entire season.They have the heart for the fight and that is a big tick. But they have to be better – it is why Tuchel made his point.Tuchel’s interview after England edged past Norway on Saturday has caused significant debate. Do you know what was wrong with it? Nothing.I loved what I saw from the manager, I thought his point was bang on. Bellingham, on the other hand, missed the picture over what was being said. Tuchel was making a point, as he knew the display he had seen in Miami would not be good enough, if repeated, to beat Argentina in Atlanta.Tuchel made me smile as I thought of a tactic Ronnie Moran and Joe Fagan employed at Liverpool. I remember our team photograph being taken in 1980. We were lined up, Ronnie and Joe stood either side, flanking us. As usual, the league championship was in front of us.“We obviously weren’t very good last year, Ronnie,” Joe said, deadpan, talking across us. “We’ve only got one trophy.”I looked around, listening. Next minute, Joe repeats what he said just to make sure we had heard it the first time. All he was doing was dangling bait, waiting for one of us to bite. That one of us turned out to be me.“What do we mean we weren’t good enough?” I asked, incredulously. “We won the league!”“Yes,” Joe said. “But if you’d have been a bit better, you’d have got a couple more trophies.”Joe knew what he was doing. Even before a ball had been kicked in the new season, they were at us. That was the Liverpool way.It was all about not allowing standards to drop and keeping the fires burning. It worked, because 12 months later the next team photograph had the European Cup and the League Cup on the front row.That is all Tuchel was doing – and good on him. He was putting a marker down because things are about to go up a gear against Argentina. What is the problem with trying to squeeze out more improvement and getting the players fired up?Tuchel knows his team can get better – and they need to.It is why I felt Bellingham had not taken it all on board. He’s a young man, a brilliant player who is full of confidence and having a fabulous tournament. It is clear he feels he has the authority to speak up and say: “I’m not sure I agree with that, boss”, but he has failed to see what Tuchel was getting at.In my last year at Anfield, when I was 31, captain of Liverpool and Scotland, with five league titles and three European Cups in the locker, do you know what Joe, Ronnie or Roy Evans would have said if I’d questioned them? I’ll tell you: “What have you done in the game to makes you think you have an opinion worth listening to?”In other words: get on with your job. Everything they did at Liverpool was designed to drive us to a higher level and Tuchel sees things the same. England have shown a terrific mentality so far but, to cross the next obstacle, they are going to have to deliver the performance of their lives.The Telegraph, LondonNews, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.More:FIFA World CupOpinionDiego MaradonaLionel MessiArgentinaEnglandFrom our partners