Former President of the United States, Donald Trump, lauded Lionel Messi for his key role in Argentina’s semifinal triumph over England in the World Cup. Additionally, he expressed skepticism about Thomas Tuchel’s choice to deploy Harry Kane in a deeper defensive position after the English team took an early lead.
Event Context
During a FIFA event held at Trump Tower in New York City on Friday, Donald Trump made remarks alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, just days before the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain set for Sunday. The reception gathered various FIFA officials, dignitaries, and notable figures from the football world.
Trump praised Lionel Messi for his precise delivery that enabled Julián Álvarez to score, eliminating England’s chances of making it to their first World Cup final since 1966.
In response to Argentina’s mounting pressure, England’s coach Thomas Tuchel modified the team’s formation, shifting to a back five and eventually finishing the match with six recognized defenders. This tactical change led Harry Kane to focus much of his play close to his own penalty area during the final stages of the game.
Looking ahead, England will compete against France in the third-place playoff, while Messi and Argentina aim to defend their title against Spain in the upcoming final.
Trump amazed by Messi’s movement and decisive pass
Argentina secured a spot in the final after mounting a comeback to defeat England 2-1 in a thrilling semifinal match. England took the lead in the 55th minute thanks to Anthony Gordon, but Enzo Fernández equalized in the 85th minute, followed by Lautaro Martínez scoring the dramatic winner in stoppage time.
In discussing the pivotal play that led to Argentina’s winning goal, Trump expressed admiration for Messi’s ability to elude his defender and set up the crucial opportunity.
“I have a good understanding of sports, including soccer, and when I watched Messi, he was tightly marked,” Trump remarked. “Then suddenly, he was in a position on the right. Can you grasp what I mean? I just detected it. Nobody else seemed to mention it, but I noticed it.”
“I observed that pass from Messi,” Trump continued. “He was being guarded by an outstanding player, then he shifted to the right, leaving his marker behind. That pass was almost perfectly executed, within a quarter of an inch. It concluded the game, and it was simply brilliant.”
The former US President noted that the ability to consistently generate key moments sets the greatest football players apart. “These exceptional athletes keep delivering those moments time and again,” Trump stated. “They have that extra something special. I’ve known Ronaldo over the years, and he’s a fantastic individual.”
Also read: Donald Trump recalls how his conversation with Gianni Infantino influenced Folarin Balogun’s controversial red card reversal.
Trump then commented on England’s tactics after gaining the lead, questioning why Harry Kane was tasked with a deeper defensive role in the closing moments.
“You all know I played golf with a tremendous player from England, Harry Kane,” Trump said. “He’s been exceptional. It seems they made a mistake by moving him into a defensive position after taking the lead. They had him playing deeper, away from scoring.”
While acknowledging he’s not a football coach, Trump suggested that England might have been too defensive in their strategy to hold onto their edge.
“What do I really know about soccer?” he said. “They took the lead but moved their best player into defense. Shouldn’t they maintain an offensive mindset? But I won’t pretend to coach; that was just my observation. However, Harry is genuinely a great guy.”
Team Analysis
Tuchel defended Kane’s role on the field, stating that the captain had dropped deeper into his own half because the entire England squad was compelled to adopt a low defensive stance. The England manager acknowledged, however, that his team had become overly passive and struggled to maintain possession in the last 30 minutes.
