World Cup: ‘There’s none better than him’ – Bothroyd names England star to stop Messi

Former England forward, Jay Bothroyd, has suggested that Tottenham Hotspur, subordinate Djed Spence could assistance Thomas Tuchel successful containing Lionel Messi during the Three Lions’ semi-final lucifer against Argentina successful 2026.

Spence has participated successful each six of England’s matches astatine the existent World Cup, including 2 starts, and has played successful some right-back and left-back positions. Given Reece James’ wounded and Jarell Quansah’s suspension, helium is expected to play a important relation successful the upcoming brushwood against Argentina.

On the different hand, Messi has emerged arsenic a beardown campaigner for the tournament’s Golden Ball award, having scored 8 goals and provided 2 assists successful six matches truthful far, making him a cardinal fig successful Tuchel’s antiaircraft strategy.

Speaking connected Sky Sports, Bothroyd asserted that Spence could bash amended than regular left-back Nico O’Reilly successful presumption of the conflict with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. Urging Tuchel to play the 25-year-old connected the left, the erstwhile Arsenal academy postgraduate said via Metro, “Especially erstwhile helium plays connected the left-hand side. I consciousness similar if you’ve got Spence successful that position, I consciousness similar arsenic a one-on-one defender there’s nary amended than him retired there. 

“Maybe Tuchel volition beryllium looking astatine that and reasoning he’s idiosyncratic who could get stuck into Messi.”

The eagerly awaited semi-final betwixt England and Argentina is...