HARRY KANE has warned his England team they cannot just worry about Lionel Messi in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Superstar Messi will face England for the first time in his 206th international for Argentina in Atlanta.
Harry Kane says England cannot just worry about Lionel Messi in the World Cup semi-final against Argentina Credit: Getty
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has netted eight goals at the World Cup so far Credit: Getty
England captain Kane said: “It’s crazy when you think about it, how long he’s been at the top of his game and never played against England. So yes, it will be a unique occasion.
“We know how good a player he is. We know what he’s done in the game, how consistent he’s been for so long. But the game is against Argentina not against Lionel Messi.
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“So yes, we have a lot of preparation to do. We’re coming up against a great unit, a great team with fantastic players. So yes, as much as it’ll be built up around Messi and the big players, we know it’s a lot more than that.”
Messi and Kane have been among the top stars at the World Cup. Messi, 39, who has walked 63 per cent of his matches, has struck eight times and Kane has scored six.
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The Bayern Munich striker, speaking to ITV Sport, said: “He’s been one of, if not the best player in the world for almost 20 years straight. So everyone knows how dangerous it can be.
“People play football in so many different ways, and people like to kind of put a blanket on everyone, and it has to be this way or that way.
“People say ‘you have to run this much’. Are there many people who can do it like him? Absolutely not, because you can’t get away with it.
“But obviously he’s so effective when he has the ball and especially in his team.
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“When the team believes in him and everything’s built around him, they have that belief amongst each other.
“So that’s, you know, another test that we’re going to have to come through and have to deal with.”
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