- Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz stadium comes alive hosting its last tournament’s match
BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – Lionel Messi and Harry Kane are generation-defining captains set to confront each other in one of sport’s great rivalries that sees defending Champions, Argentina battling England in an ever feisty encounter in the second semi-final of this year’s World Cup tournament.
Comparatively, the Argentina Captain holds the edge in the tournament’s Golden Boot race with eight (8) goals to Kane’s six (6), averaging 1.4 goals per 90 minutes with a higher expected goals (xG) rating compared to Kane’s 1.0 per 90.
Interestingly, the two elite forwards have only shared the pitch twice before, during the 2018/2019 UEFA Champions League group stage. Both will be renewing one of football’s bitterest rivalries. From the controversial “Hand of God” goal by Diego Maradona in 1986 to David Beckham being red-carded for kicking Diego Simeone in 1998, England versus Argentina matches at the World Cup have never been devoid of drama.
Battling each other today, both nations will be meeting at the World Cup for the sixth time. Head-to-head, they have met 14 times in competitive and friendly matches with England having the upper hand, recording six wins, while Argentina have three and five of the games have ended in a draw.
For tonight, as they meet again on the sport’s grandiose football stage after 24 years, a new chapter opens in their storied history. It marks the first time Argentina legend, Messi will face England, who have their own heroes in Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.
Winners of this explosive pairing will proceed to face Spain in Sunday’s final for a chance to be crowned the world champion again. The Spaniards, who are the reigning European Champions decisively humbled one of the tournament’s favourites, France 2-0 on Tuesday night.
As of Monday, Opta’s supercomputer gives England a 38.9 percent probability of winning in regulation time, while Argentina’s chances of winning are 34.1 percent. The model estimates a 27-percent probability of the game going to extra time inside the Atlanta Stadium, commonly known as Mercedes-Benz Stadium, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
Today’s tie signals the last of the seven World Cup matches held at this venue, which has a capacity of 68,239 for the tournament. The stadium, boasting a retractable roof and a 360-degree halo video display, undoubtedly has the most space-age architecture of the 16 host cities.
The Walking Statistics That Defy Logic
Meanwhile, football pundits admit that Messi’s walking habit on the pitch has continued to produce statistics that defy logic. While some might see a player walking as a sign of physical decline, the data suggests that for the Argentine and Inter Miami Skipper, it is a calculated tactical choice.
Staggering statistics revealed that Messi has walked for 47 percent of the distance he has covered during this tournament. However, this energy conservation allows him to remain fresh for the explosive sprints and creative passes that have helped him keep pace with Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race.
Not mincing words, former Manchester United and Arsenal defender, Mikael Silvestre has warned Thomas Tuchel’s side that the Inter Miami superstar is at his most dangerous when he appears to be doing the least, prowling the pitch in search of his next match-winning moment.
According to Silvestre, who recalled his experiences trying to monitor the diminutive genius, “I played against Messi. He just disappears at some points. He goes into an area and you forget about him. You have to speak to each other more than usual. This is so important for the back four especially, you need to speak to one another explain he will be on the right shoulder, the left shoulder, it is so important for the back four to communicate with the midfield.” – With Agency reports
