Friday, July 17, 2026
Sports

How coach-on-pitch Messi undid England's tactics on the fly

England pride themselves on their physicality, so shouldn't it have suited them to face a 39-year-old who spends most of his time walking? Not this 39-year-old. BBC Sport football tactics correspondent Umir Irfan explores a Lionel Messi masterclass.

How coach-on-pitch Messi undid England's tactics on the fly
Image: BBC Sport
England pride themselves on their physicality, so shouldn't it have suited them to face a 39-year-old who spends most of his time walking? Not this 39-year-old. BBC Sport football tactics correspondent Umir Irfan explores a Lionel Messi masterclass.

Originally published at BBC Sport

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