"He Has the Discipline" — Sam Allardyce Names the Only England Player Capable of Stopping Lionel Messi

Former England national team manager Sam Allardyce has named Elliot Anderson as the single player in Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions squad disciplined enough to neutralize Lionel Messi in the upcoming World Cup semifinal.

With England set to clash with defending champions Argentina in a highly anticipated semifinal on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, tactical discussions have centered heavily on how to stop the 39-year-old talisman. Appearing on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, the 71-year-old tactical veteran insisted that executing a strict, man-to-man marking scheme is key—and that the newly signed Manchester City midfielder is the perfect man for the job.

"There's one individual who can keep Messi quiet for me because, firstly, he [Messi] doesn't challenge you physically too much. Secondly, we can afford to sacrifice one player, and that player has had an exceptional World Cup, but I believe he has the discipline to execute this man-for-man marking, which is, in my opinion, essential. Anderson."
— Sam Allardyce

Allardyce laid out a precise blueprint for how the 23-year-old midfielder should handle the Argentine legend, suggesting that physical confrontation is less important than total, unwavering mental focus.

Some pundits argue that sacrificing a highly creative player like Anderson to a man-marking role could blunt England's own attacking options, Allardyce is confident that silencing the tournament's biggest threat is a trade-off well worth making.

Do you think Sam Allardyce is right to suggest man-marking Lionel Messi with Elliot Anderson, or should Thomas Tuchel focus on a different tactical approach? Drop your comments below!

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