Joe Cole vows England to silence Messi before World Cup semifinal

Joe Cole declared that England will “put Messi to bed” as the Three Lions prepare for the World Cup semifinal against Argentina. The former English midfielder’s confident remarks came on The Rest is Football podcast, where he insisted the English side have the speed to silence the Argentine star.

The Clásico between England and Argentina is already firing up emotions ahead of the World Cup semifinal. Fans of both nations are keenly watching the buildup as the two footballing powers gear up for the decisive encounter.

“Well, we’re going to have to put him to sleep. We’re going to put him to sleep,” Cole said, adding, “I’m saying it now, we’re going to reach the World Cup final. We’ve got plenty of speed for Argentina and we’re going to beat them. I can feel it in my bones.” He referred to the Argentine forward as Leo Messi during the interview.

Cole noted that this will be the first time Argentina faces a Top 10 team during the World Cup, questioning whether the South Americans can stop the Three Lions’ charge. The prospect of the Lions confronting Messi adds a dramatic layer to the semifinal narrative.

The article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence, with the original version available in Spanish. The use of AI highlights the growing role of technology in delivering football content.

A lingering question remains: Is this the first time Messi will play against England? Cole’s certainty suggests the English side feel ready to meet the challenge and push forward to the final.