O'Reilly: Facing Messi a Once-in-a-Lifetime Chance
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- Nico O'Reilly described facing Messi as a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' ahead of Wednesday's World Cup semi-final, having never played against him at club level
- England beat Norway 2-1 in Miami on Saturday to reach the final four, setting up a match in Atlanta against defending champions Argentina
- Argentina advanced with a 3-1 win over Switzerland; the semi-final winner faces France or Spain (who play Tuesday) in the July 19 final at New York New Jersey Stadium
- Messi opened the tournament with a hat-trick against Algeria to equal Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup record of 16 goals, then scored five more — his 8 tournament goals put him joint-first with Kylian Mbappé in the Golden Boot race, lifting his career World Cup tally to 21
- Jordan Pickford warned England cannot focus solely on Messi, telling media in Kansas: 'We can't solely rely on [stopping] Messi. We've got to focus on their other strengths.'
Why it matters: England face a 39-year-old Messi potentially playing his final World Cup match, and Pickford's warning reveals a team aware that Argentina's supporting cast — not just the captain — can hurt them. A win Wednesday puts England in the July 19 final against France or Spain, with the loser going home and the winner lifting the trophy.
