Thomas Tuchel hints at a competition in central England, and Messi is preparing for his final international match with Argentina

England coach Thomas Tuchel said that Declan Rice faces competition for his position in the midfield after Alex Scott's impressive performance in his first start with the England national football team during the 7-0 crushing victory over Croatia, last Saturday.

After Rice withdrew from the squad, Bournemouth player Scott participated in the midfield alongside Elliot Anderson in the European Nations League match, and the duo succeeded in imposing their style despite facing veteran Croatians Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic.

In response to a question about whether Arsenal player Rice might be concerned about his place in the team? Tuchel told reporters: “Of course, and indeed it is, we need such a performance.” This is the nature of things. We will not be able to survive with only two defensive midfielders. "Declan knows how important he is, he is one of the best midfielders in Europe."

He continued: “This will not change anything.” But this is exactly what we need. We need more and more and more diversity. We need more and more and more options. Then it's always about the players in the camp. "Alex was at the highest level."

England, which ranks second in its group behind world champion Spain, will host the Czech team at Wembley on Tuesday.

The “Monumental” stadium, belonging to the River Plate club in Buenos Aires, will be scheduled, on Tuesday, for the last match of the legend Lionel Messi in the colors of the Argentine national football team, when coach Lionel Scaloni’s men meet in a friendly match with Benin.

Messi was called up to the national team squad so that he could be given the farewell he deserves, according to what was previously reported by the head of the country’s football federation, Claudio Tapia.

In late August, Messi decided to retire from playing with the Argentine national team at the age of 39, after more than two decades of a relationship full of passion that included winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and losing the 2026 final in North America, in addition to winning the “Copa America” in 2021 and 2024.

Tapia said in a video clip on the “X” platform in mid-September that coach Scaloni decided to summon Messi “so that he can have the farewell that he truly deserves... here in Argentina.”

The match with Benin will be the third and final match for Argentina during the current international window; It previously defeated Bolivia 4-0 at the Mario Kempes Stadium in Cordoba, then defeated Burkina Faso 7-0 at the Monumental Stadium, which is also hosting Tuesday’s match.

The retirement of the current American star of Inter Miami, Barcelona of Spain, and former Paris Saint-Germain of France will leave a big void in the world of football, which has become accustomed to the achievements of the Argentine captain since his first international appearance in 2005.

Messi had also previously announced his international retirement after losing the Copa America final in 2016, before rescinding his decision and returning to participate in the 2018 World Cup, then achieving glory four years later in Qatar.

Recently, in addition to losing the World Cup final to Spain 0-1 on July 19 in New York, the Argentine was greatly affected by the death of his father, Jorge, at the age of 68; What prompted him to say in mid-August that he no longer saw himself able to continue playing for a “long period.”

He said at the time: “I don’t know what I would do without you, and I don’t know how to continue.” "I've only played football, and now I have serious doubts about continuing to do so for much longer."

He played 207 matches with Argentina, and is also the national team's all-time top scorer with 125 goals during an international career that spanned 21 years.

In this year's finals, Messi inspired Argentina to reach a new final after scoring eight goals and providing two assists, including a prominent contribution in the exciting comeback against England in the semi-finals.

But the dream of lifting the cup again stopped in the last match. The Argentine national team lost to Spain at MetLife Stadium.

Messi will now have his international farewell in front of 85,000 spectators, along with a number of his teammates with whom he reached the pinnacle of football glory, as well as members of the rising Argentine generation. Which makes the match a symbolic opportunity to pass the torch.

When he announced his retirement from international football in August, Messi wrote: “I gave everything I had, and I no longer have anything to offer, and besides that, there are wonderful young players who deserve their chance.”

Messi is still under contract with Inter Miami until 2028. Members of the 2022 World Cup winning team and their families will join Messi in his farewell match on Tuesday.

Angel Di Maria, who retired from international football in 2024, will be among those present to continue handing the baton to a new generation charged with continuing the golden era of “Albiceleste.”

Some new faces, such as Franco Mastantuno and Leonel Flores, had not even been born when “La Pulga” played his first match with Argentina in 2005, as part of a team whose history has long been dominated by the legend of Diego Maradona.

“It will be an unforgettable day for everyone,” Scaloni said. Everyone wants to be present in this match, and now all we have to do is enjoy it.”

The new generation of Argentina has already shown what it can do without its captain, although no one claims that replacing a player considered by many to be the greatest in the history of the game will be easy.

Scaloni said: “We will collectively try to fill the void that Leo will leave.”

Scaloni will also bid farewell on Tuesday to the team's second captain, Nicolas Otamendi, 38 years old.

As is the case with Messi and Otamendi, midfielders Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso have been called up specifically for the Benin match; Which opens the door to the possibility that they will not represent Argentina again.

It is certain that a number of the 2022 World Cup champions who will carry the Argentine banner after Messi will participate, even from the bench, including defender Cristian Romero, midfielders Alexis McAllister and Ensu Fernandes, and strikers Julián Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez.

Solid defender Romero is expected to inherit the captaincy that Messi wore for the first time at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

At a time when the features of Argentina's future are beginning to take shape, based on the recent two major victories over Bolivia and Burkina Faso, a small question remains, but it has great symbolic significance: Who will inherit the No. 10 shirt that Messi wore?

Scaloni said: “We will not give the number 10 to any player before the Leo match. "After that, we'll see."