England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has insisted that Argentina are World Cup champions because of the quality in their entire squad, not just their captain, Lionel Messi. England are set to face Argentina in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Pickford emphasized that England's preparation has focused on Argentina as a team, not solely on Messi. 'They are world champions for a reason, and that's because of the whole squad, not just one player,' Pickford said, as reported by the BBC.
The match is highly anticipated, with both teams having strong tournament runs. Argentina, led by Messi, are defending champions after winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. England, under manager Gareth Southgate, are seeking their first World Cup final appearance since 1966.
Pickford also noted the importance of staying disciplined defensively against Argentina's attacking threats. 'We know they have quality players like Julian Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez, so we have to be ready for everything,' he added.
