Argentina topped Group J and was widely considered to have a favorable knockout draw at World Cup 2026. The reigning champions successively faced Cape Verde (ranked 67th by FIFA) in the round of 16, Egypt (29th) in the quarter-finals, and Switzerland (19th) in the quarter-finals.

However, Argentina endured three challenging matches. The South American side defeated Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time, then came from two goals down to beat Egypt 3-2. In the quarter-finals, they were held to a draw by Switzerland in regular time, only deciding the match in extra time.

Head coach Lionel Scaloni observed from the sidelines during Argentina's 3-1 victory over Switzerland in the World Cup 2026 quarter-finals at Kansas City, US on 11/7. Photo: AP

Scaloni also rejected the idea of an easy draw for Argentina, citing the Switzerland match as proof that no game in the knockout rounds is straightforward.

"My job is to find ways to improve what the team hasn't done well," he said after the match. "First, we must acknowledge our opponents. Don't say Argentina had an easy path. Switzerland made things extremely difficult. Matches like these help us better understand the challenges ahead. To reach a World Cup semi-final, inevitable moments of struggle occur. Therefore, the whole team has a right to be satisfied with this result."

At Arrowhead Stadium on 11/7, Argentina took the lead with a header from Alexis MacAllister, before Dan Ndoye equalized for Switzerland. The turning point came when Breel Embolo was sent off in the 71st minute. With a numerical advantage, Argentina dominated, scoring two consecutive goals in extra time through Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez to secure a 3-1 victory.

Scaloni acknowledged that Argentina struggled against Switzerland's physical play and was fortunate when their opponent played with one less man, creating more attacking opportunities. Despite not being entirely satisfied with the performance, the 48-year-old coach considered Argentina reaching the World Cup semi-finals for the second consecutive time a proud milestone.

According to Scaloni, the resilience accumulated from major tournaments helped Argentina overcome difficult moments. "I understand the squad I have," he emphasized. "Despite any adversity, we do not change our approach. The players are accustomed to it. At the World Cup 2022 in Qatar, we were inexperienced, but now such situations no longer cause the team to lose composure. We know we always have players on the bench capable of making a difference."

Argentina scored the opening goal.

In the semi-finals scheduled for 16/7 in Atlanta, Argentina will face England, who also defeated Norway 2-1 after two periods of extra time. However, Scaloni preferred not to spend much time analyzing the opponent, prioritizing the physical and mental recovery of his players after the 120-minute match.

"Whether the opponent is England or Norway, it's the same," he stated. "We will face a very strong team, led by an excellent coach. The most important thing right now is recovery. It's just a football match. Don't look for any other meaning. England has a very good coach in Thomas Tuchel, whom I admire greatly, but ultimately, it's still just a football match."

Nevertheless, Scaloni spoke of his ambition to defend the title at the end of the press conference. "We had a very positive group stage and will thoroughly analyze today's performance," he said. "The most important thing is that Argentina has reached the semi-finals. This is an achievement not easy to attain in top-level football. We will fight to the end, with everything we have left, to aim for the championship. If luck is on our side, we will make the most of it."

Argentina sealed the 3-1 victory.

Hong Duy (according to Marca, La Nacion)