The knockout stages have not been kind to Argentina. After surviving two stern tests against Cape Verde and Egypt, Lionel Scaloni’s side are now set to face Switzerland in the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The defending world champions are still alive, but only just. First came Cape Verde, where Argentina needed extra time to scrape through after underestimating the African side. Then came Egypt, where Scaloni’s men spent nearly 80 minutes looking devoid of ideas before producing a trademark late surge to overturn a two-goal deficit and snatch a dramatic 3-2 win.
One has to wonder why Argentina have made life so difficult for themselves.
The answer, perhaps, lies in the way they have approached the knockout rounds.
Argentina have tried to make Lionel Messi the focal point of almost every attack. Now, that is not necessarily a bad thing when you have arguably the greatest footballer of all time in your side. But football has never really worked that way.
ARGENTINA’S STRUGGLES IN WORLD CUP
The 2022 World Cup-winning side did not become champions because Messi touched the ball every minute. They became champions because everyone around him kept moving. Julian Alvarez constantly made runs through the left channel, Alexis Mac Allister attacked spaces, Rodrigo De Paul carried the ball through midfield, allowing Messi to pick his moments rather than create every single one.
This Argentina side have looked different.
Far too often, the attacks have ended with the ball at Messi’s feet and everyone else waiting for him to do something extraordinary. And to his credit, he usually does.
The 39-year-old already has eight goals in this World Cup. Against Egypt, he once again rescued Argentina, scoring the equaliser before Enzo Fernandez netted the winner in stoppage time.
But asking Messi to rescue you every knockout game is not a sustainable strategy.
Switzerland are unlikely to be as forgiving.
The Swiss have quietly built one of the best defensive records in the tournament, conceding just four goals in five matches. They let in one goal in each of their three group-stage games and have not conceded a single goal in the knockout rounds, eliminating Colombia after a penalty shootout in the Round of 16.
Captain Granit Xhaka knows stopping Messi completely is almost impossible.
“I don’t know that we can stop him over 90 minutes. It’s going to be difficult,” Xhaka said.
“But we have to be smart, compact, close the gaps and not give him too many spaces. We just try to play our game.”
That is exactly where this game could be decided.
If Switzerland succeed in crowding Messi out, who steps up for Argentina?
WILL ARGENTINA MAKE CHANGES?
Perhaps this is the game where Scaloni finally injects some pace down the right through Giuliano Simeone. Argentina have looked predictable in wide areas, and Simeone’s direct running could force Switzerland’s compact backline to spread out.
Then there is Julian Alvarez. One of Argentina’s trademark moves in their 2022 triumph was releasing Alvarez through the left channel. They have barely gone back to that pattern in this World Cup, relying instead on Messi to unlock packed defences.
Against a side as disciplined as Switzerland, that approach may not be enough.
The build-up to the quarter-final has not been without controversy either.
Argentina’s comeback win over Egypt has been followed by allegations from the Egyptian camp that refereeing decisions favoured the defending champions because tournament organisers wanted Messi to progress deeper into the tournament. Argentina have stayed away from the noise.
“It wasn’t easy to come back from a 2-0 deficit in a World Cup knockout match, especially given how games are going these days, where no one gives you anything for free,” Messi said after the victory.
“But thank God, we did it once again.”
Scaloni, meanwhile, continues to marvel at his captain.
“He tries again and again, and I get goosebumps,” the Argentina coach said.
The problem for Argentina is that they cannot keep relying on goosebump moments.
They have escaped twice already in the knockout rounds. Switzerland have conceded just four goals in five matches and will almost certainly present their toughest defensive test of the tournament.
Messi will, as always, have his moments.
The question is whether Argentina can finally show that they have enough inspiration beyond their captain. If they cannot, their World Cup defence might not survive another scare.
ARGENTINA vs SWITZERLAND: PREDICTED STRARTING XI
Argentina:
Martinez, Molina, Romero, Lisandro, Tagliafico, De Paul, Enzo, Paredes, Mac Allister, Messi, Lautaro/Alvarez
Switzerland:
Kobel, Zakaria, Akanji, Elvedi, Rodriguez, Xhaka, Fruler, Ndoye, Rieder, Vargas, Embolo
ARGENTINA vs SWITZERLAND: TV AND STREAMING GUIDE
Kick-off: 6:30 AM IST (July 12)
Venue: Kansas City Stadium, Kansas
Live-streaming (India): ZEE5 app and website
TV telecast (India): DD Sports and Unite8 Sports
FIFA World Cup | FIFA World Cup Schedule | FIFA World Cup Points Table | Football News
– Ends
