Jordan Pickford has declared that England are fully prepared to overcome Lionel Messi and Argentina as they aim to reach their first World Cup final since 1966.

The highly anticipated semi-final will mark Messi’s first-ever encounter with the Three Lions. Much of the pre-match discussion has centred on whether England can contain the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who continues to perform at an elite level even at 39 years of age.

“Naturally, everyone will talk about Messi because he’s one of the greatest players of all time,” Pickford acknowledged. “But we can’t overlook the quality and talent within our own squad.”

He added, “Going forward, defensively, and in terms of togetherness, we have everything we need, and that’s what we must demonstrate on Wednesday.”

“We can’t only focus on Messi. Argentina are a strong team and the reigning champions, so we know they have quality throughout,” the England goalkeeper continued.

“We possess immense ability in attack, and we’re difficult to break down. Our resilience, unity, and mentality define us – that’s what makes a great team.”

This fixture will be the first meeting between England and Argentina in more than two decades. Given the long-standing rivalry between the two nations, it promises to be a fiercely contested match.

Pickford emphasised, “It’s the top four nations in the world facing off in the semi-finals, so it’s going to be a fantastic game, with an incredible atmosphere – exactly the kind of occasion we want to embrace.”

“Whoever stands in front of us, we’re ready and determined to beat them,” he said. “Argentina will come with the same intention, but our focus is on delivering our best performance to secure the win.”

“We know it’s going to be a tough battle, just like every other game. We never take any opponent lightly. It’s all about being at our absolute best and fully prepared for the challenge ahead.”