2026 FIFA World Cup: Quarterfinals - Argentina vs. Switzerland

After the last two matches, Switzerland can field their entire B team, its not going to convince me that they're going to be worsed.

 

Him being injured is definitely rigged for Argentina

 

I get it, but this Argentina team seems capable of conceiding out of nowhere. In 2022, we never looked bad againts counter. We only allowed goals due to being complacent after 2 goals lead.

Our players now are having trouble to match opponents physicality. Jordan goal was similar to Egypt second goal, a fast counter followed by a simple cross and a tap in. Egpyt first goal happened because we invited them to spam a long ball like we did againts Netherlands in 2022. We should have been pressing them in first half instead giving them so much space & freedom.

The constant backpassing to Dibu only allowed our opponents to settle and eventually having a confident to attack us.

 

All of it has been constructive. No one is immune to criticism. No matter their past record. In football you are judged on what you are doing in the present.

This nonsense that Paz and Messi cannot play together is a nonsense. It really is. Both players are of a high footballing IQ. Teams have played fluid formations and interchanging positions in the past. Paz has played all across the front this season. He has made his critical passes and assists and goals all over the final third.

He has been lucky in that the Netherland and France didn't then go ahead and we would be giving him a kicking. And also the dithering of bringing young players who were in form into the side. Armani for instance was clearly struggling and it took an age to get Dibu into the side and Enzo, Julian and Alexis all in form may have missed out if Lo Celso and Correa had not been injured. Think about that. Staggering really.

The issue is with the coach for not having bothered to try this in the last few WCQs and friendlies. Having 2 axes of play also makes it harder to stifle a side. Julian is an equally capable playmaker and all the merrier if all three ever played together.

Top class players accommodate each other.

 

That is massive, the guy was having a great tournament.

 

The problem with our defense is that it is wide open and can be cut open with ease. We scramble. We saw it in 2022, we saw it in 2024 at the CA (Ecuador being case in point) and we see it even more so now. I hold onto dear life when we are under attack. Thank God for Cuti. Licha was doing fine until the last match... I don't know, I worry about the defense. I see flashes of 2010 and 2018 when sooner or later some good team is going to light us up. Maybe we can defend like we did v Croatia in 2022 and the first 80 minutes v France.

 

Honestly, I would genuinely fear for us if we had to play France, our defence goes awol in games, even in Qatar, look at the games against Saudi, Netherlands, the final, hell, even against Australia Dibu had to save us. Not being negative but can't help thinking reaching the semi final with this squad would be a success.

Of course if Julian and Lautaro find their goal scoring boots it could all change.

 

- Saying that he is lucky is not a constructive criticism. Nobody said that he wasn't immune to criticism. Constructive Criticism needs to be balanced with credit to which I haven't seen much or any credit given. Agree that you should be judged on what you are doing in the present, but since we were talking about the Netherland and France match, then yes, past record matters too when talking about those topics where both credit and constructive criticism should be given.

- Nobody said that Paz and Messi can't play together, Scaloni even played them together vs Bolivia in the WCQ. The truth is that Paz does operate his absolute best in the same areas as that of Messi. Dybala also has a high IQ but can't seem to play with Messi. Profile of a player matters a lot more than individual quality.

- Armani wasn't struggling at that time in a football sense (cuz of Covid lol) and Scaloni would have probably played Dibu ahead of him just as how Scaloni played Cristian Romero ahead of Quarta/Otamendi and selected Molina in the Copa 2021 squad even without having him called up previously.

- Julian played a lot more minutes in the friendlies and the Finalissima leading to the World Cup than Joaquin, so I wouldn't think that Joaquin would be ahead of Julian.

- Yes, Scaloni should have experimented a lot more for the friendlies, but he did experiment (just not the players that we would have wanted like Rojas, Rivero and etc.)

 

You've always been negative even before 2022 lol

 

There is a possibility we are peaking at the right time. I mean the relentless attack after the subs vs Egypt was amazing.

Also, I have this theory that we have selected this skillset where our power level goes up xtimes vs stronger opponents

 

Our power levels need to go up or we're out, the Swiss are considerably better than CV and Egypt.

 

Are they really better? I cant recall much vs colombia aside from defense. Based on current form (not fifa rankings) I dont see swiss getting much vs CV and egypt other than a tie.

I doubt they can keep us from scoring

 

They are better, but not considerably. It's still the kind of opponent Argentina can beat playing 'average' but let's hope it doesn't go down to the wire yet again.

 

I believe Paz can be effective as second half sub, but he's definetely thrives more when he has a complete freedom to roam and orchastrating the attack rather than being limited to a supporting role. We saw that with how he played at Como. So its not that he cant play with Messi but more that you cant max out his output when you limit his role. To

 

As long we dont sleepwalking. Our team seems always stuck in first gear until opponent has really threaten or scoring. We played with no intensity whenever we have the lead.

Also, I have a theory that the ref awarded a penal to puts preasure on Messi.

 

Lionel Scaloni press conference:

“I think we’re doing well, beyond the match against Cabo Verde, where we played 120 minutes. But the team generated a ton of chances. With Egypt, we created even more and had some specific errors. But I think the team is doing well.

“For all of us, they’re playing one of the games of their lives and that counts because if the opponent plays well, it’s twice as difficult. We’ve gotten used to that and the team rebels and competes. It’s not easy to play the way we played in Qatar.

“Lautaro and Julián have done more than they have to do. Generally one plays but like the other day, it can happen that we have the option for them to play together sometimes. The assessment is positive with both.”

Scaloni also spoke about Lionel Messi:

“Leo runs about the same in the matches. He’s decisive and the team helps him. He’s done a great preparation and he’s giving everything he’s got. When he senses that he can create danger, he’s a machine. It doesn’t surprise us.

“As long as he wants to, he’s going to be the best. That’s what those of us who know him and see him train think. I don’t even want to imagine what it must have been like for him at 23-24 years old at Barcelona. It doesn’t surprise me.”

He also spoke about Switzerland:

“There is no easy opponent, we all already know that. Switzerland is a very good team that competes with the best national teams and comes out on top. It has a World Cup tradition and experienced players. It will be a tough opponent, one we respect.”

About people wanting Argentina to lose at the World Cup:

“It’s been a long time, 40 years as you just said, since 1986, right? They were saying we were favored back then too. So it’s not something new. As far back as I can remember, Argentina has always been one of the teams that stirs up the tournament, always.

“And in a way, as you rightfully pointed out, it’s used to show the players that there are people who don’t want Argentina to win. But that’s normal, just like there will be people who don’t want another national team to win.

“The thing is, we might have a lot more people who don’t want us to win because we won the last one and well, we take that into account. And yeah, it gets to the players.

“We use the criticism or the comments that are made to rebel. To stage a rebellion and make the players play even better.

“I think with VAR and all these things, it’s very hard for them to help you. Very hard, very hard. There’s no double interpretation with VAR.

“Plus, they made it crystal clear to us in that course they give us before the World Cup starts. They showed us all the footage. This is how it’s going to be, it’s going to be like this, like that. And it’s been followed to the letter.”

 

Yes, they are better than Cape Verde (current FIFA ranking 64) and Egypt (current FIFA ranking 24). Swiss are ranked 14th. I mean, honestly, does everything have to turn into an arguament. FFS .

 

Is Molina injured? I see many people predicting Montiel to start

 

Would be nice to have a rather dull game which we comfortably win 2 nil with no drama. Is that too much to ask for?

 

Maybe this can be our Croatia match from last run

 

We can save that for the semi final

 

Cape Verde = Saudi Arabia
Egypt = Mexico
Switzerland = Poland

 

Rankings dont mean much settle down