The defending World Cup champs, Argentina, are back on the pitch tonight, squaring off against Switzerland in the quarter-finals. Lionel Messi and the crew are absolutely gunning to keep that trophy, the biggest prize in the sport. But let's be real, they just scraped by Egypt 3-2 in the Round of 16 after a wild, dramatic comeback that had everyone on the edge of their seats! That nail-biting win should have Lionel Scaloni sweating, because Murat Yakin's Swiss side isn't messing around, even if they had to fight tooth and nail themselves to get here.
Scaloni's Squad: Choices and Close Calls
Argentina’s path to the quarter-finals was anything but a smooth ride. That 3-2 victory over Egypt was one for the ages, a true comeback that almost saw the holders crash out of the tournament way too early. Scaloni himself knows he can't possibly underestimate these opponents after that near-disaster. The good news for Argentina is a fully fit squad, which means Scaloni has some big, strategic decisions to make. Up top, either Julian Alvarez or Lautaro Martinez will likely get the nod to start alongside the GOAT, Lionel Messi, who is absolutely ready to go and lead the charge. The only other real spot of concern, a true coaching dilemma, is at left-back, where Scaloni has to pick between Facundo Medina or Nicolas Tagliafico.
Here’s how Argentina’s possible starting XI could look for this massive match:
- Goalkeeper: Martinez
- Defense: Molina, Romero, Martinez, Tagliafico
- Midfield: De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister
- Forwards: Messi, Alvarez, Almada
Switzerland: Tricky Opponents and Injury Headaches
Seriously, do NOT sleep on Switzerland. Murat Yakin’s team might have scraped past Colombia on penalties in the last 16, but make no mistake, they’ve proven they can be a tricky customer, a team that can absolutely upset the giants. They'll be looking to make history tonight and send the defending champions packing! They've got some headaches on the injury front, though, which could impact their game plan. There are doubts surrounding key players like Michel Aebischer and Luca Jaquez. Even worse, 20-year-old Johan Manzambi is expected to be absent due to a knee injury that already kept him out of their tense win against Colombia. Manzambi’s knock is looking like at least a two-week recovery, which could unfortunately mean his entire World Cup campaign is already over. Talk about a tough break for a young player!
And here's how Switzerland might line up to try and pull off the upset:
- Goalkeeper: Kobel
- Defense: Zakaria, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez
- Midfield: Jashari, Xhaka, Freuler
- Forward: Ndoye
- Strikers: Embolo, Rieder
This massive quarter-final clash kicks off tonight, Sunday, July 12, at 8pm local time in Kansas City, which is 2am BST for our friends across the pond. The stakes literally could not be higher: the winner of this absolute blockbuster gets to face either Norway or England in the semi-finals. That next match is set for Wednesday, July 15, in Atlanta at 8pm BST. Get ready, because this is going to be an absolutely epic showdown! Don't miss it!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.