"You think you have a chance?" Alexis Mac Allister asked England legend Jamie Redknapp with a grin before the World Cup began. Six months and a semi-final later, the Argentina midfielder is singing a different song. On the eve of their clash in Atlanta, Mac Allister has walked back his dismissal entirely, now calling the Three Lions "a really good team who we respect a lot."
Mac Allister's reversal
In the run-up to the tournament, Mac Allister ranked World Cup contenders with striking clarity: Spain, France, Argentina, and Brazil. England did not make the list. When Redknapp challenged him directly, asking for some hope for the Three Lions, Mac Allister's response was withering. He later characterized the comments as "a bit of a joke," but the dismissal was genuine at the time. England were omitted entirely from his serious contenders.
That world has shifted. Argentina have beaten Algeria (3-0), Austria (2-0), Jordan (3-1), and Egypt (3-2) to reach the last four. England have followed their own path through the knockout rounds. On Tuesday night in Atlanta, Mac Allister now acknowledges that his October certainty was incomplete.
He has since claimed the dismissal sat atop a foundation of real respect, framing his earlier comments as joking while insisting he always knew England possessed "amazing players and a really good coach." The reality is murkier. His October omission was a tangible slight, but his current respect may have existed all along. What has changed is not his view of England's quality, but the weight that quality now carries in his mind.
Stopping Messi, and everything else
Nico O'Reilly's defensive task is straightforward to name but formidable to execute. The Manchester City defender will face Lionel Messi, who has scored 8 goals in this World Cup, extending his all-time tournament total to 21 — a record that surpassed Miroslav Klose's previous benchmark of 16 goals. Messi sits level with Kylian Mbappé for the Golden Boot.
O'Reilly frames the assignment as an honour rather than a burden. "I can't wait," he told goal.com. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He's coming towards the end of his career. For me personally, he's the best player to ever touch a football pitch." Across five World Cup appearances, O'Reilly has recorded a 6.4 rating—workmanlike and reliable. Facing a 39-year-old operating at a 9.2 tournament average is a step beyond.
Jordan Pickford will anchor England's defence with a 6.8 rating across five matches and a 7.2 average in recent knockout football. Yet even solid goalkeeping cannot be a one-man operation when Argentina attacks. Pickford himself has sounded a tactical warning: "We can't solely rely on stopping Messi. We've got to focus on their other strengths and the weaknesses we can take advantage of." Messi has 2 assists alongside his 8 goals, underscoring his role as both finisher and creator. Tunnel vision risks leaving gaps Argentina will exploit.
The England vs Argentina semi-final will offer no margin for tactical tunnel vision. Argentina are not a one-man team, however transcendent that man is. England cannot afford to forget what else Argentina can do while fixating on what Messi will. Mac Allister's October dismissal of England looks almost quaint now—not because he misjudged their talent, but because the tournament resets all prior judgement. The pitch will decide.
FAQ
Did Mac Allister really dismiss England before the World Cup?
Yes. In October, Mac Allister named Spain, France, Argentina, and Brazil as World Cup contenders but omitted England entirely. He later characterized these comments as joking, though his dismissal was genuine at the time.
How many World Cup goals does Lionel Messi have now?
Messi has scored 8 goals in this World Cup, extending his all-time tournament tally to 21 — a record that surpassed Miroslav Klose's previous benchmark of 16 goals.
Can England stop Lionel Messi in the semi-final?
Jordan Pickford has warned against fixating solely on stopping Messi. With 2 assists alongside his 8 goals, Messi is both finisher and creator, and Pickford emphasizes the need to focus on Argentina's other strengths and tactical weaknesses.
What's Nico O'Reilly's role in the semi-final?
O'Reilly, averaging 6.4 across five World Cup matches, will face the challenge of marking Lionel Messi. He has called the matchup a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity despite the difficulty of the task.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →