KANSAS CITY, MO — The guide is out on . Three consecutive groups with little else in frequent have sophisticated life for the reigning champion: , and, Saturday, .
It could not matter.
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After , Argentina is into .
The workforce retains taking part in with fireplace, however time is working out for it to truly get burned. Its passage to the ultimate 4 of the match signifies that the lofty normal for the defending champion is all however met.
“We’re not all the time going to play effectively, which is what we wish, to play effectively, to assault. Successful each recreation 3-0 can be nicer, however generally you have to undergo like we’ve got on this ,” attacker stated after the sport. “The vital factor is that we’re shifting on.”
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Messi’s Argentina and Switzerland collide in World Cup quarterfinal
Messi’s Argentina and Switzerland collide in a World Cup quarterfinal with a spot within the semifinals at stake.
See moments from the showdown in Kansas Metropolis because the defending champions attempt to hold their title protection alive in opposition to an upstart Swiss aspect.
Above, Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina warms up earlier than the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Ultimate match between Argentina and Switzerland at Kansas Metropolis Stadium on July 11, 2026 in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri.
(Carl Recine, Getty Photographs)
1 / 6
Messi’s Argentina and Switzerland collide in World Cup quarterfinal
Messi’s Argentina and Switzerland collide in a World Cup quarterfinal with a spot within the semifinals at stake.
See moments from the showdown in Kansas Metropolis because the defending champions attempt to hold their title protection alive in opposition to an upstart Swiss aspect.
Above, Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina warms up earlier than the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Ultimate match between Argentina and Switzerland at Kansas Metropolis Stadium on July 11, 2026 in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri.
(Carl Recine, Getty Photographs)
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Messi’s Argentina and Switzerland collide in World Cup quarterfinal
Granit Xhaka #10 of Switzerland warms up earlier than the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Ultimate match between Argentina and Switzerland at Kansas Metropolis Stadium on July 11, 2026 in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Photographs)
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Messi’s Argentina and Switzerland collide in World Cup quarterfinal
Switzerland’s defender #13 Ricardo Rodriguez warms up forward of the 2026 World Cup soccer match quarter-final match between Argentina and Switzerland on the Kansas Metropolis Stadium in Kansas Metropolis on July 11, 2026.
(CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, AFP through Getty Photographs)
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Messi’s Argentina and Switzerland collide in World Cup quarterfinal
Argentina’s followers cheer their workforce forward of the 2026 World Cup soccer match quarter-final match between Argentina and Switzerland on the Kansas Metropolis Stadium in Kansas Metropolis on July 11, 2026.
(CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, AFP through Getty Photographs)
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Messi’s Argentina and Switzerland collide in World Cup quarterfinal
Argentina followers cheer within the stands earlier than the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Ultimate match between Argentina and Switzerland at Kansas Metropolis Stadium on July 11, 2026 in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri.
(Carl Recine, Getty Photographs)
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Messi’s Argentina and Switzerland collide in World Cup quarterfinal
Argentina followers cheer within the stands earlier than the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Ultimate match between Argentina and Switzerland at Kansas Metropolis Stadium on July 11, 2026 in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri.
(Lars Baron, Getty Photographs)
Sure, Argentina got here to the U.S. hoping to win as soon as once more, to ship their icon out on a excessive, to take away all doubt about his standing among the many finest gamers ever with a second World Cup trophy and a fourth star over the Argentina badge. However even Diego Maradona could not defend his 1986 trophy − together with his workforce struggling mightily on the way in which to the 1990 closing, needing a penalty shootout to get previous Yugoslavia within the quarterfinals (Maradona missed his kick) and in opposition to within the semis (he made that one), solely to fall to West Germany within the closing.
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The stress is off Argentina in a approach it has by no means been within the Messi period.
“This group performs with the privilege and honor having gained the final World Cup. We’ve the very best participant of all time. I feel that makes us completely different,” ahead José Manuel “Flaco” López stated after the win.
This can be a workforce that refuses to panic, that will not modify its model. Argentina supervisor Lionel Scaloni did not even change his beginning lineup after the scare from Egypt. There all the time is the peace that Messi might come to the rescue − although he did not stand out Saturday night time and Argentina wanted a roller to lastly discover a second and keep away from a nervous penalty shootout.
There’s the data that the workforce has executed it earlier than. Why would not they do it once more?
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Nonetheless, it’s clear that if Argentina is ready to keep champion, it will likely be a flawed one. That is, in fact, if Argentina can defend its championship.
“We’re seeing on this World Cup the video games are like this,” Alvarez stated. “We have had some, different groups have too. Numerous additional time, numerous video games like that, however we all the time struggle to the top, give our all and we’re scoring the objectives on the finish. So long as we try this, it is all optimistic.”
There’s an uptick in high quality from Switzerland to , and naturally appears to be like much more prone to punish the ‘s deficiencies within the semifinal this week. However in every spherical Argentina finds a technique to survive.
It appeared like Saturday can be the workforce’s first stroll within the park for the reason that group stage. Regardless of an encouraging begin for the Swiss, ‘s header within the tenth minute swung the whole lot in Argentina’s favor. But, the Swiss response to the opener was optimistic. Argentina discovered its protection examined.
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Switzerland attacked proper again , persistently the weak hyperlink within the Argentina protection, and after an aggressive opening to the second half that had him because the participant with probably the most touches within the field, after which beat the beforehand resolute Argentina goalkeeper, Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez, who ended the night time with 4 saves.
But, simply when it appeared just like the match’s momentum might have been shifting, tried to attract a foul, made a meal of it and received a piece of within the course of, and that means Switzerland must discover a second aim .
Argentina instantly took management of the sport, however there was hardly a flurry of exercise. It took 17 minutes from Embolo’s crimson card for the primary shot try Argentina would make.
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The South Individuals’ lack of urgency is a characteristic reasonably than a bug. Up a person, they patiently moved the ball as Switzerland sat again and tried to increase issues to a penalty shootout − or discover a set piece aim prefer it practically had within the 107th minute when whipped a free kick from the wing between the goalkeeper and the road however no Swiss teammate may put within the contact that will’ve really examined Argentina’s persistence.
As an alternative, it was Alvarez lashing his aim in, and Argentina discovering one other by means of on a late counter-attack after choosing the pocket of a Swiss workforce looking for an equalizer.
A cheerful ending for the champions. A spot within the final 4. “All optimistic,” in response to Alvarez. And the workforce is taking part in with some quantity of home cash.
But, between the shortage of focus resulting in low-cost objectives, the problems at proper again, the struggles to find objectives earlier than the ultimate moments of the match… Nicely, take it from Scaloni: “We’ve to enhance. That is evident.”
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However there are solely two extra matches by which Argentina could also be burned by the hearth it is taking part in with, by the dangers it’s working. To this point, taking part in effectively or taking part in poorly, Argentina is profitable. The weaknesses are clear. What is not is whether or not or not anybody will make them pay for these weaknesses and provides the world a brand new winner.