The rollercoaster experiences of the matches against Cape Verde and Egypt are familiar to Argentina supporters. During their victorious run in the 2022 Cup, Argentina lost their lead on four occasions, including twice in the thrilling final against France. This narrative undoubtedly adds to the drama, but it also poses risks for the team.
Switzerland, lacking Johan Manzambi, is not the same offensive threat they showcased earlier in the tournament. However, if they can penetrate Argentina’s defense, the South American side might struggle to recover.
Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel has not received the spotlight enjoyed by some of his peers in this tournament, yet he has been quietly impressive. With back-to-back clean sheets in the knockout stage and a total of 16 saves, he has proven himself. This tournament marks his first significant run with Switzerland, having taken the reins from Yann Sommer after the 2024 Euros. His experience in leading Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final in 2024 adds to his credentials.
The victor of this match between Argentina and Switzerland will advance to face England in the semi-finals.
Coach Lionel Scaloni has kept the same lineup that staged a remarkable comeback against Egypt in the last 16. Unsurprisingly, Lionel Messi is in the starting eleven, marking his 205th appearance for the national team.
Swiss coach Murat Yakin has made one adjustment to the lineup that faced Colombia, replacing midfielder Ardon Jashari with Djibril Sow.
Argentina (4-1-3-2):E Martinez; Tagliafico, L Martinez, Romero, Molina; Paredes; Fernandez, Mac Allister, De Paul; Alvarez, Messi
Switzerland (4-2-3-1):Kobel; Zakaria, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Ndoye, Sow, Rieder; Embolo
Referee:João Pinheiro (Portugal)
Earlier in the tournament, Jonathan Wilson produced an enjoyable piece featuring an interview with Luciana Alvarengue, the former math teacher of Enzo Fernández and Julián Alvarez in Buenos Aires.
Lionel Messi is certainly making his mark at this World Cup. He has become the all-time leading scorer in the men’s tournament, celebrated his 200th cap for Argentina, turned 39, and maintained a goal streak across six knockout matches dating back to the 2022 final.
For some trivia to share during the match, only two players in World Cup history have scored in every match of a tournament-winning campaign: Alcide Ghigga of Uruguay in 1950 and Jairzinho of Brazil in 1970. Notably, they had fewer matches to accomplish this, with Ghigga playing four and Jairzinho six.
Argentina and Switzerland have clashed seven times previously, with the Swiss yet to secure a victory.
One of the most significant encounters was in the 2014 World Cup round of 16, where Argentina triumphed in extra time, leading them to the final. Lionel Messi, Granit Xhaka, and Ricardo Rodriguez all participated in that match and will take to the field today.
How does Xhaka plan to contain Messi?
“Football is this, not just tactics and strategies,”
Argentina must rely on Lionel Messi and much more to overcome Switzerland. They need to maintain their intensity for extended periods and cannot depend solely on emotional momentum, which has characterized their play at times this summer. Nevertheless, many fans love the chaotic spirit of this Argentina team, and perhaps Lionel Scaloni shares that sentiment.
“Those things are important, no doubt, but if we hadn’t had the heart we had, we would’ve been out.” he expressed emotionally following the Egypt match. “Those things are important, no doubt, but if we hadn’t had the heart we had, we would’ve been out.”
In the other quarter-final, Jude Bellingham has given England the lead.
Team news for Argentina v Switzerland will be available shortly, with just over 90 minutes remaining until kick-off in Kansas City.
In Miami, where the atmosphere is both hot and tense, Norway and England are heading to extra time in the other quarter-final. Scott Murray has the latest updates.
Welcome to the fourth and final quarter-final of this World Cup!
Argentina versus Switzerland. The reigning champions against the underdogs. The team with three World Cups faces a side that has never reached the semi-finals. A clash of methodical strategy versus emotional unpredictability. A place in the semi-finals on Wednesday against either Norway or England in Atlanta is at stake. If Argentina emerges victorious, they will continue their pursuit of back-to-back World Cup titles. Conversely, a Swiss victory would mark their best performance in a major tournament and secure an all-European last four.
How did both teams arrive at this point? Argentina breezed through the group stage but faced significant challenges in the knockout rounds: first against Cape Verde, where they needed extra time, and later against Egypt, where they were down 2-0 until the 79th minute. Lionel Messi, as usual, led a quick turnaround to propel his team into the quarter-finals.
Switzerland has reached the World Cup’s final eight for the first time since 1954. The Group B winners defeated Algeria in the last 32 and then edged past Colombia in a tense last-16 match that was decided by penalties. Their experienced players have been effective in knockout scenarios, but much of their success has hinged on the attacking prowess of 20-year-old Johan Manzambi, who bagged three goals and provided two assists in two matches. Unfortunately, he is sidelined with a knee injury for this game.
Will Switzerland manage to pull off an upset? Can Messi deliver his magic once more? I’ll return soon with team news. In the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts at ella.brockway@, and keep an eye on the conclusion of the Norway versus England match, which appears to be headed for extra time.
