Joe Cole has backed England to ‘put Lionel Messi to bed’ when they face Argentina for a place in the World Cup final.
Argentina stand in England’s way of a first World Cup final since 1966 after Thomas Tuchel’s side beat Norway in a cagey quarter-final.
The Three Lions were far from at their best against a spirited Norway side but Jude Bellingham’s brace sent them into their fourth World Cup semi-final.
England will face Argentina in Wednesday’s second semi-final after the World Cup holders came through another tricky tie against Switzerland.
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Momentum appeared to be with the Swiss after Dan Ndoye cancelled out Alexis Mac Allister’s early opener but Argentina then received a huge boost as Breel Embolo was sent off.
Ten-man Switzerland took Argentina to extra-time and were on course for penalties before goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez sent the defending champions through.
Messi failed to score for the first time in this World Cup but remains the joint top goalscorer in the tournament alongside France’s Kylian Mbappe.
England will be acutely aware of the threat of arguably the greatest player in history but Cole believes the Three Lions can ‘put Messi to bed’ in the World Cup semi-final at the Atlanta Stadium.
‘We will have to put Lionel Messi to bed,’ Cole said on The Rest is Football. ‘We’re going to put him to bed.’
Micah Richards then told his fellow ex-England star that ‘you can’t say that’ but Cole doubled down, adding: ‘We are, 100 per cent.
‘I’m saying it now, England are going to the World Cup final, we’ve got too much pace for Argentina and we’re going to beat them, I feel it in my bones.’
While Cole expects England to reach the World Cup final, Ally McCoist views the Three Lions as only the ‘third-best team left in the tournament’.
‘At this moment in time, England are the third-best team left in the tournament,’ the ex-Scotland striker said.
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‘But the good news is you’re playing a team that I think you’re better than. I think England are better than Argentina.
‘France look like the best team in the tournament but concentrate on the semi-final.
‘Defensively, Argentina aren’t great but going forward, we know Messi is capable of doing something out of nowhere and that’s the thing you have to guard against.
‘But what a game we’ve got to look forward to there.’
European champions Spain face 2022 World Cup finalists France in the other semi-final tie.
France, the standout team of the tournament, beat African champions Spain in the quarters, while Spain edged out Belgium.
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