Former England forward, Jay Bothroyd, has suggested that Tottenham Hotspur, player Djed Spence could assist Thomas Tuchel in containing Lionel Messi during the Three Lions’ semi-final match against Argentina in 2026.
Spence has participated in all six of England’s matches at the current World Cup, including two starts, and has played in both right-back and left-back positions. Given Reece James’ injury and Jarell Quansah’s suspension, he is expected to play a significant role in the upcoming encounter against Argentina.
On the other hand, Messi has emerged as a strong candidate for the tournament’s Golden Ball award, having scored eight goals and provided two assists in six matches so far, making him a central figure in Tuchel’s defensive strategy.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Bothroyd asserted that Spence could do better than regular left-back Nico O’Reilly in terms of the battle with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. Urging Tuchel to play the 25-year-old on the left, the former Arsenal academy graduate said via Metro, “Especially when he plays on the left-hand side. I feel like if you’ve got Spence in that position, I feel like as a one-on-one defender there’s none better than him out there.
“Maybe Tuchel will be looking at that and thinking he’s someone who could get stuck into Messi.”
The eagerly awaited semi-final between England and Argentina is scheduled to take place at the Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday, July 15.