Lionel Messi cleared to play in semi-final against England
Lionel Messi has been handed the all-clear ahead of Argentina’s blockbuster World Cup semi-final against England after fears the football icon could be carrying an injury into Wednesday night’s showdown, reports BritPanorama.
The Argentina captain sparked concern during his side’s dramatic quarter-final victory over Switzerland after he was left bloodied following a collision with Granit Xhaka and appeared to be in discomfort as he repeatedly touched the area around his right eye.
However, Argentina have now received a significant fitness boost, with reports claiming the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has avoided any lasting damage and is expected to lead Lionel Scaloni’s side against England in Atlanta. Messi was one of several Argentina stars to emerge from Saturday’s exhausting extra-time victory nursing knocks, as the reigning world champions survived a major scare to keep their title defence alive.
Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez struck in extra time to seal a thrilling win over Switzerland after Dan Ndoye had cancelled out Alexis Mac Allister’s early opener and forced the contest beyond 90 minutes. According to Argentine outlet TyC Sports, the relentless schedule, soaring temperatures, long-distance travel, and successive extra-time matches have taken their toll on Scaloni’s squad during the expanded 48-team tournament.
Messi’s injury scare was arguably the biggest concern after Xhaka’s challenge left the veteran forward requiring treatment on the pitch before he battled on to the final whistle. It is understood that any pain quickly subsided, and Argentina’s medical staff have no concerns over his availability for the last-four clash with Thomas Tuchel’s side.
There is more good news for Argentina, too, as Tottenham defender Cristian Romero and midfielder Leandro Paredes were both substituted during extra time against Switzerland after appearing to struggle physically. However, both players are believed to have been withdrawn through exhaustion rather than injury and are also expected to be available for the meeting with England. Scaloni has already begun carefully managing his squad’s workload ahead of the semi-final, with only substitutes and unused players participating in Sunday’s recovery session.
“We are going to recover, which I think is what we need and is the most important thing,” the Argentina boss said after defeating Switzerland.
England are also monitoring the fitness of key players before travelling to Atlanta. Declan Rice was substituted at half-time during Saturday’s comeback victory over Norway after battling illness, while Ezri Konsa was forced off with cramp. Tuchel later revealed Rice had spent “most of the time in bed” before the match because of a sickness bug, although he insisted the Arsenal midfielder’s withdrawal was also influenced by his desire to make England more attacking.
There is considerable footballing history between the two nations. Argentina infamously beat England in 1986 due to Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal, while also overcoming the Three Lions in 1998. England did, however, beat their rivals at the 2002 World Cup due to a David Beckham penalty. They also won the last meeting between the two nations, which took place in November 2005, with Michael Owen scoring two late goals to secure a 3-2 victory.
As the anticipation builds, the historical weight of this encounter is palpable, evoking memories of fierce competition, iconic moments, and the relentless pursuit of footballing glory.
