Argentina prepares for quarter-final clash
Argentina is set to face Switzerland in the World Cup 2026 quarter-finals in Kansas City. The match will see Lionel Messi start for Argentina, who are the defending champions. This will be Messi’s 205th appearance for the national team. The team’s head coach, Lionel Scaloni, has opted for an unchanged lineup, marking only the fourth time in eight years he has done so. This decision follows considerable debate about potential changes after their victory against Egypt in the previous round.
The lineup for Argentina includes E. Martinez, Tagliafico, L. Martinez, Romero, Molina, Paredes, De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Alvarez, and Messi. Switzerland will counter with Kobel, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez, Zakaria, Freuler, Xhaka, Sow, Rieder, Embolo, and Ndoye. Djibril Sow comes in for Ardon Jashari in the Swiss lineup.
Argentina has progressed through the knockout rounds after overcoming Cape Verde and Egypt. Their match against Egypt saw them trail until the 79th minute before Messi led a comeback. Switzerland, making their first World Cup quarter-final appearance since 1954, reached this stage by defeating Algeria and then Colombia, the latter via penalties.
Tactical approaches and player insights
Switzerland’s approach to the tournament has been characterized by a rigid defensive structure and positional discipline, taking few risks. They demonstrated this against Colombia, limiting their opponents to just three shots on target over 120 minutes. Granit Xhaka, a key midfielder for Switzerland, acknowledged the challenge of stopping Messi, stating the need for smart, compact play to close gaps and deny him space. He also emphasized maintaining possession to limit Messi’s influence.
Argentina’s tactical approach often funnels possession through the middle, with much of their attacking play focused on finding Messi. This reliance on Messi can make their strategy predictable, as seen when Egypt managed to nullify it for a significant period by packing the central areas. Argentina will need to diversify their attacking patterns and have other players contribute more to secure a smoother progression.
Defensively, Argentina has shown vulnerability, conceding four goals in their last two games. Switzerland possesses quick and direct players like Dan Ndoye, Breel Embolo, and Ruben Vargas, who could exploit any sluggishness in the Argentine defense. Switzerland, however, has not scored from set-pieces in this tournament, which could be an area for improvement, especially if they spend long periods defending.
Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi, who has three goals and two assists in two appearances, is out with a knee injury for this match. He also missed the last 16 game. Gregor Kobel, the Swiss goalkeeper, has been noted for his consistent performances, achieving back-to-back clean sheets in the knockout rounds and making 16 saves in total. He previously played a significant role in Dortmund’s run to the Champions League final in 2024.
Historical context and match official
Argentina and Switzerland have met seven times previously, with Switzerland yet to secure a victory against Argentina. A notable encounter was in the 2014 World Cup last 16, where Argentina won in extra time. Lionel Messi, Granit Xhaka, and Ricardo Rodriguez, who all played in that match, are expected to feature again today.
The match will be officiated by Portuguese official Joao Pinheiro, marking his third appointment at this World Cup and his second involving Switzerland. Pinheiro, officiating in his first World Cup, previously showed a red card to a Bosnia and Herzegovina defender in a group-stage match against Switzerland. He also refereed the UEFA Super Cup final between Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain last year.
Both teams have a significant number of players from the 2022 World Cup squad, with 17 players from each side returning for this tournament, representing the joint-highest share. Argentina has scored nine left-footed goals in this World Cup, more than any other team, while Switzerland has scored only two right-footed goals, the fewest among quarter-finalists.
The kick-off for the match is scheduled for 9pm ET.
Source: nytimes.com
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