Argentina 3-1 Switzerland: 'Luck was on our side' — Scaloni's contradictions after Argentina's latest hard-fought victory

Argentina are done to the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup, but erstwhile again they made beingness considerably harder than necessary.

As against Cape Verde successful the circular of 32 and Egypt successful the circular of 16, Switzerland pushed the Albiceleste each the mode earlier a 3-1 decision successful other time. Coach Lionel Scaloni faces a important situation up of Wednesday's semi-final against England.

To his credit, Scaloni was candid aft the last whistle. 'We request to beryllium realistic. There are galore aspects of our crippled that request improvement. Sometimes triumph tin fell those details, but we cognize they exist,' helium told reporters.

On the question of fortune, helium was arsenic blunt: 'Honestly, luck was connected our broadside astatine definite times.' What helium said, however, sits successful nonstop contradiction with what helium has done connected the pitch.

Scaloni remains loyal to his convictions, and his problems

Argentina's short-passing system, with players clustered centrally to maximise Messi's influence, functioned good successful the radical signifier against Algeria, Austria and Jordan.

Against much competitory absorption successful the knockout rounds, it has looked progressively fragile, and the carnal information of the cardinal players progressive is the cardinal crushed why.

Enzo Fernandez, Rodrigo de Paul and Alexis Mac Allister are each carrying dense carnal loads, a concern made worse by the further load of covering crushed erstwhile Messi is not successful possession.

Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez — some goalscorers against Switzerland — are operating beneath their method best. Thiago Almada has mislaid his starting spot entirely, replaced by Leandro Paredes, who has been 1 of the fewer genuinely awesome Argentinian performers astatine this World Cup.

The decisions to bring successful Paredes and regenerate Facundo Medina with Nicolas Tagliafico astatine left-back were sound. But that is mostly wherever Scaloni's pragmatism ended.

Having already seen the underperformances of Enzo, Mac Allister and de Paul against Cape Verde and Egypt, the manager added Valentin Barco, Giovani Lo Celso and Exequiel Palacios to his backup midfield options for the knockout stage.

Against Switzerland, with the aforesaid problems recurring successful beforehand of him, helium kept the aforesaid operation until the 78th minute, erstwhile helium yet brought connected Nico Gonzalez astatine left-back. De Paul did not travel disconnected until the 85th minute. Enzo stayed connected until the commencement of other time.

And erstwhile the substitutions came, they were astir exclusively attacking. Lautaro, Alvarez, Flaco Lopez and Almada each entered the pitch. No midfielders. Paredes departed injured — though helium aboriginal indicated it was not superior — portion Cristian Romero, who arrived astatine the tourney managing a carnal problem, near exhausted and was replaced by Nicolas Otamendi.

This is simply a squad that needs rotation. So far, Scaloni has been reluctant to supply it.

The 2022 rubric was built connected adaptation, this feels different

When Argentina won the World Cup successful Qatar, 1 of Scaloni's astir praised qualities was precisely his willingness to adapt. Seven matches produced 7 antithetic starting line-ups, including the usage of a three-man defence.

When experienced players failed to deliver, helium did not hesitate. He handed Enzo Fernandez, past 21, and Julian Alvarez, past 22, starting roles contempt their constricted planetary acquisition astatine that point. Both proved decisive successful winning the title.

In 2026, Scaloni appears much attached to his halfway radical and little consenting to marque the adjustments the results are demanding. That conservatism produced a triumph against Switzerland.