IF I knew how to stop Lionel Messi I’d probably make the greatest manager of all time because a lot have tried and failed.
Messi is Messi and he’s proved in this World Cup that, when he wants to turn it on, Argentina still have a great player they can rely on.
At times he just seems to be walking around but then suddenly bursts into life. The quality when he has the ball is something else.
When I was playing for Manchester City at Paris Saint-Germain, we had him under control for 70 minutes and, all of a sudden, he did a one-two with Kylian Mbappe and bent it in the top corner.
You’ve done all that grafting to try and stop him, and then he sticks it in the top bin.
That’s why he’s probably the greatest player of all time.
I’m sure he’ll be more than up for England in the semi-final, to try and retain the trophy.
I was debating with the lads at my club, Burnley, whether you would man-mark him.
If you do, does that mean you are worrying about him too much without exploring the space behind him when he doesn’t get back as quickly as he should do?
I don’t mind man-marking, but I don’t think it’s going to work for us, and he’ll probably take it as a personal challenge to actually show people that you can’t man-mark him.
I’d say don’t poke the bear.
I had a few conversations with Sergio Aguero when he was at City about Messi because you’re obviously intrigued about what this great man does on the football field.
He obviously has a really good relationship as Messi is the godfather to his son.
He used to say Messi is a really down-to-earth person but he has his ways and his rules, and he’s earned that right, given he’s won eight Ballon d’Ors and what he’s achieved in football is completely extraordinary.
I’m lucky enough to have his shirt at home, which is definitely a collector’s item.
We played PSG three years in a row in the Champions League and I’ve actually got Neymar’s, Mbappe’s and Messi’s all in different strips from those three years.
I was quite greedy!
There’s not many people I go straight up to and ask on the field for their shirt after a game but Messi was one of them. I guarded that shirt with my life on the way home.
I know a couple of players in the Argentina squad.
Nicolas Otamendi is probably the biggest warrior that I’ve seen on the field.
Technically is he as good as John Stones, Vincent Kompany, Aymeric Laporte or Ruben Dias? No.
But as someone that you’re going to war with, he can definitely be beside you.
He has the heart of a lion, but he’s also very clever. He knows the dark arts, let me tell you.
And there’s Julian Alvarez who scored that fantastic goal against Switzerland when they really needed it.
To leave City and go to Atletico Madrid was a bit of a gamble for him but it’s truly paid off.
I was a little surprised but going to Atletico Madrid and being the main man up front has been a revelation for him.
And I can understand why he went because Erling Haaland was scoring the goals and he was probably playing second fiddle to him.
He’s a great player but, obviously, I hope he doesn’t have a great game against England. Then hopefully he can continue a successful career afterwards.
The Argentines at City were always a bit more relaxed than the rest of us. They can switch it on and off.
I, for instance, have to train as I play to make sure that I’m comfortable going into the game.
Those guys could just chill around, laughing and joking together, then it was game time.
We all know what Aguero could do on the field but we’re also seeing that from Alvarez.
But we are good enough for the Argentines to be worrying about us rather than us just concentrating on players like Messi.
I messaged my mate Stones after his excellent game against Norway and told him I couldn’t be happier at how this tournament is working out for him.
I spoke to the player liaison there as well to wish the lads all the best and tell them I’m rooting for them to finally cross that winning line.
The likes of Jordan Pickford, Stones, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson and Harry Kane are players who started this journey with me, and hopefully can go and get something at the end of it.
My first real World Cup memory is Michael Owen darting through all those players to score against Argentina and obviously David Beckham getting sent off.
That’s what drew me into England and football.
But this is going to be a tough ask. It’s not just a game of football, it’s about emotions and knowing what’s on the line.
It’s a big opportunity that England can’t really afford to miss this time.