1 hour ago
3
I don't think Argentina have played great football to get this far, but they have scored some great goals. They are an experienced and streetwise team, and they are also the defending champions.
They are not as good as they were when they won it four years ago, but what they have been great at is always finding some way to get a result when they have needed it.
Having Messi up top obviously helps. Everything Argentina do goes through him, and they always look for where he is whenever they win the ball.
How do you stop him? Well, using someone like Djed Spence to mark him man-to-man and track him wherever he goes would be one option, but I think England will stick with the same shape they have used in their previous six games.
So, instead of someone focusing on following Messi, it will probably be a matter of one or two of our players getting across to him to limit his space whenever he gets the ball.
There will be other battles going on all over the pitch as well so, for England to win, we will have to do more than just keep Messi quiet, but if we can do that then obviously we have got a much better chance.
Still, if I am going to mention Messi, I have to speak about our superstars too. Harry Kane has been brilliant, while Jude Bellingham is having the tournament of his life.
Like Messi, Bellingham has won four man-of-the-match awards - or Superior Player of the Match as Fifa likes to call them - so far, which is incredible.
They are both in the conversation for the player of the tournament and they are both match-winners. You have to think that, whoever goes through to the final, one of them will play a huge part.
I am backing England to make it - I think we will have enough to beat Argentina, because we will cause them more problems than they will cause us - but there is no way I am expecting it to be straightforward.
None of our games at this World Cup have been easy or even comfortable up until now, with maybe the exception of the second half of our opening match against Croatia, and I don't see this one being any different.
I will be there again, co-commentating with Guy Mowbray and my message to the viewers back home would be strap yourself in - it could be a wonderful evening for us all, but it will definitely be a bumpy ride.
Alan Shearer was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan
