Messi Will Destroy England If He Gets the Ball, Mikel Obi Warns

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Former Nigeria midfield star John Obi Mikel says England face an uphill battle against Lionel Messi’s Argentina in tonight’s World Cup semi-final. Messi has netted eight goals this tournament and inspired late comebacks against Egypt and Switzerland. On “The Rest Is Football” podcast, Mikel argued that man-marking the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner would be a tactical error for England. “You don’t want Declan Rice chasing Messi,” he warned. “If he gets the ball there, you’re dead.” Mikel believes Argentina’s seasoned midfield will shield their captain and give the South Americans the edge.

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