An Argentina-England match always brings extra tension beyond the field, with history, politics and a long rivalry giving the contest a distinct atmosphere. But ahead of the World Cup semifinal in Atlanta on Wednesday, England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford sought to cool that heat. Like Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, he called it “just another football match” for them.
At the pre-match press conference, Pickford said: “We know what an extraordinary footballer Messi is, and we also know how strong Argentina are as a team. But this is not just a match against Argentina — it’s a semifinal between two of the best four teams at the World Cup. Both teams have passionate supporters.” The England keeper also praised Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez, saying: “I played against Dibu when he was on loan at Wolverhampton and I was playing for Preston North End. He has proved himself brilliantly since getting his chance in the national team. He is a top-class goalkeeper.”
Asked whether Lionel Messi, who has missed two penalties at the World Cup, would be afraid to take another, Pickford said: “I don’t think Messi will fear taking a penalty again in the slightest. Everyone talks about Messi because he is one of the greatest footballers in history. But we also have to focus on our own team and players.” The past rivalry between the sides, the 2005 friendly and the much-discussed David Beckham-Diego Simeone incident at the 1998 World Cup also came up at the press conference. But without getting into those controversies, Pickford said: “When did we last play? In 2005? That was a long time ago. Everyone has seen how we have played throughout the tournament. We just want to win and avoid any kind of trouble. Our aim is to play with respect for the opponents.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report