Argentina’s World Cup Campaign Continues
Argentina is set to face Switzerland in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup in Kansas City. The defending champions are looking to secure another knockout victory, while Switzerland aims for an upset. Argentina previously advanced by overcoming Cape Verde and Egypt in earlier rounds. This match marks Switzerland’s first appearance in a World Cup quarter-final since 1954.
The kick-off for the match is scheduled for 9pm ET. The winner of this quarter-final will proceed to face England in the semi-finals on Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET in Atlanta. England secured their spot in the last four after defeating Norway.
Team Line-ups and Preparations
For Switzerland, there is one change to the starting line-up, with Djibril Sow coming in for Ardon Jashari. This substitution mirrors a change made by coach Murat Yakin during the half-time of their Colombia last-16 tie. The full line-up for Switzerland includes Kobel, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez, Zakaria, Freuler, Xhaka, Sow, Rieder, Embolo, and Ndoye.
Argentina, led by coach Lionel Scaloni, will field an unchanged team. This marks the fourth time in eight years that Scaloni has selected an identical starting eleven. The team will feature E. Martinez, Tagliafico, L. Martinez, Romero, Molina, Paredes, De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Alvarez, and Messi. The presence of Lionel Messi has drawn significant media attention, with reports indicating a substantial increase in media presence compared to previous matches.
Switzerland’s manager, Murat Yakin, addressed questions regarding how to contain Lionel Messi, stating that the team will focus on performing as a unit, making good passes, and pressing high. Swiss captain Granit Xhaka acknowledged the difficulty of stopping Messi for the entire match, emphasizing the need for smart, compact play to close gaps and limit his space. Xhaka also mentioned the team’s intention to maintain possession to reduce Messi’s opportunities.
Match Dynamics and Expectations
Argentina’s tactical approach often funnels possession through the middle, with a significant portion of their attacking play aimed at finding Messi between the lines. This strategy was largely neutralized by Egypt in their previous encounter, which saw Egypt pack the central areas. Switzerland is considered a strong defensive side, having conceded only three shots on target in 120 minutes against Colombia, demonstrating their ability to create a compact and difficult defensive structure.
To succeed, Argentina may need to diversify their attacking patterns and rely more on Messi’s supporting players. The team has also shown vulnerability on counter-attacks, and Switzerland possesses quick and direct players like Dan Ndoye, Breel Embolo, and Ruben Vargas, who could exploit any sluggishness in Argentina’s play. Switzerland could also benefit from refining their set-piece routines, as they are the only quarter-finalist yet to score from such situations.
The referee for today’s match is Portuguese official Joao Pinheiro. This will be his third match at this World Cup and his second involving Switzerland. Pinheiro previously officiated a group-stage match where he issued a straight red card to a Bosnia and Herzegovina defender against Switzerland. He also refereed the UEFA Super Cup final last year.
Switzerland enters the match unbeaten in their last four games at this World Cup, having drawn their opener against Qatar and recently defeated Colombia in a penalty shootout. Argentina has faced challenges in their recent knockout matches, including a dramatic comeback victory against Egypt. The Swiss captain, Granit Xhaka, expressed his team’s determination to perform well against Argentina, noting the improved mentality and new generation of players in Swiss football since their last World Cup encounter in 2014.
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Source: nytimes.com
