So the last non-European team remaining at the World Cup faces a rare meeting with European opposition in Saturday’s quarter-finals – with two more Old World rivals ahead – if it is to retain its crown.
Four years ago, Argentina beat France in a penalty shootout to become world champions in Qatar, and then went three-and-a-half years without facing a European team. Their last warm-up match before this tournament was a comfortable win over Iceland, and Austria destroyed the group stage with equal ease, but now things get more serious.
Switzerland may not be the most attractive opponent for Saturday’s clash in Kansas City, but they are organized, patient and a menace at the break – a lumbering opponent who won’t easily look stylish against. Lionel Messi will have no illusions. He will surely remember the round of 16 clash with the Swiss in Brazil in 2014, when Argentina were pushed to the end before snatching a 1-0 victory in the final stages of extra time.
He and his colleagues will be well aware that if they want to avoid another dangerous decision, they will have to up their game.
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A sense of celebration has hung over Argentina since Qatar, throughout CONMEBOL’s long World Cup qualifying campaign, even after winning the Copa America two years ago, and of course in the friendlies of the last few months and in the group games of this tournament. It all often felt like an extended lap of honour, not just to commemorate a third World Cup but even more to acknowledge the final stages of Messi’s remarkable career.
Even in the second half of last Friday’s knockout match against Cape Verde, it felt like the team was on cruise control playing out their way to the exhibition match. And then they suddenly found themselves in a difficult situation, forced to climb out of trouble.
Cape Verde breathed life into Argentina and it benefited them greatly in Tuesday’s round of 16 tie against Egypt, where they produced perhaps their best performance of the competition – and even so they lost by two goals. They fell behind for the first time in 17 tournament matches since that shock defeat to Saudi Arabia in the opening match of Qatar 2022. The hole they found themselves in was much deeper than in the match against Cape Verde, but against a backdrop of controversy and in inspiring style, Argentina were able to climb out again.
Such a victory is undoubtedly good for morale, but it cannot last forever. After two dramatic 3-2 wins over their African opponents, Argentina will almost certainly have to be more effective against the Europeans ahead.
So where can they improve?
Julián Alvarez’s work will be vital in lifting some of Argentina’s creative burden off Lionel Messi’s shoulders. Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Defense has always been a concern. Four years ago, Argentina succumbed to pressure in the playoffs against Australia, the Netherlands and France, but there were no significant changes to the national team. Coach Lionel Scaloni considered a number of young defenders but none convinced him. In fact, he might even be tempted to turn back the clock against Switzerland.
Centre-back Lisandro Martinez was to blame for both of Egypt’s goals conceded and perhaps could have done better with Cape Verde’s opener. The ease with which he was defeated in the air against Egypt may well have been cause for concern. Scaloni could give him a vote of confidence or could decide to bring back old warhorse Nicolas Otamendi to face an opponent who is sure to test Argentina’s ability to defend crosses.
Perhaps even more worrying is the team’s vulnerability on the counter-attack, which cost them one goal (and almost two) against the Egyptians. Indeed, shortly before the late winner, defensive midfielder Leandro Paredes intervened with a tackle when it looked as if Argentina were about to be overrun again. Scaloni will be paying a lot of attention to this aspect of his team’s play, trying to get them into the best position but also, crucially, that once they lose possession they will immediately put pressure on the Swiss and stop the counter-attack at its source.
What if Messi has a day off? Before the tournament there was suspicion that Argentina’s number 10 would be looked after, that Messi would not play every minute of every game. He came on with about 15 minutes left in the Algeria game and only appeared for the final half hour against Jordan, but was forced to stay for the full 120 minutes against Cape Verde and was there until the end of the drama against Egypt. Will he pay the price for this? And what will Argentina do if he fails to live up to his peerless standards?
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Scaloni will feel his team was prepared for this eventuality. You could argue they even improved two years ago after Messi went off injured in the Copa America final against Colombia. He was also absent from arguably the best performance of Scaloni’s glorious reign: the 4-1 massacre of Brazil in Buenos Aires last March.
The match illustrated the importance of Julián Álvarez, who became the first choice alongside Messi during the Qatar 2022 campaign and, in subsequent years, even laid claim to being Argentina’s most potent attacking weapon. Before this tournament.
After a grueling season with Atlético Madrid, Alvarez developed an ankle problem and was not allowed to play in Argentina’s warm-up matches. He has been slowly brought back into this campaign where he strives for maximum spice. The signs are promising. He started against Egypt and was only sent off in the closing stages after producing his best performance.
Alvarez sets the team rhythm. A striker with the soul of a midfielder, he does everything that is required of Messi’s partner up top, combines well and is a threat on goal.
If Argentina are to make it past Saturday’s European tournament (and the next two after that), they need Alvarez to be at his best.