Former Argentina international, Sergio Aguero, has said that the England players lack the ‘unity’ and ‘close-knit’ relationships that characterize Argentina’s team.
He emphasised that this aspect could be ‘crucial’ in the World Cup semi-final match tonight between the European and South American teams.
Aguero is concerned that the Three Lions may be susceptible to internal conflicts and ‘arguing with each other’ the moment ‘things are not going as planned at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
As the defending champions, Argentina has had to fight their way into the final four, overcoming significant challenges against Cape Verde and Egypt, and narrowly defeating Switzerland in extra time during the quarter-finals.
However, with Lionel Messi, Argentina boasts arguably the greatest footballer in history, as the 39-year-old is performing exceptionally well, accumulating eight goals and two assists throughout the champions’ campaign.
England has also demonstrated their prowess as an attacking team, spearheaded by captain Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, who netted two goals in the team’s thrilling quarter-final victory over Norway.
The winner of tonight’s match will go on to face Spain, who decisively defeated a lacklustre France to secure their place in this year’s final.
“What England lacks, which Argentina possesses, is a strong sense of unity among the team,” Aguero, a former Manchester City striker, told ESPN.
Having represented his nation in three World Cups, Aguero believes that the absence of ‘anger’ and ‘bad blood’ within Lionel Scalani’s squad will be vital for their successful title defense this summer.
“Argentine players are very close-knit, very friendly, and we maintain our friendships on the pitch,” he remarked.
“This camaraderie is crucial for achieving victory, as there is no anger or bad blood within the group.
“In England, when things start to go awry, you can observe them beginning to argue with one another, leading to conflict. That’s where we excel, in our group cohesion.”
