Messi starts for Argentina in World Cup quarter-final against Switzerland
Argentina is set to face Switzerland in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup in Kansas City. The match will determine who advances to play England in the semi-finals, following England’s 2-1 victory over Norway. Kick-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.
Lionel Messi is in the starting lineup for Argentina, as the team continues its defence of the World Cup title. Switzerland aims to cause an upset against the reigning champions. The winner of this match will proceed to face England in Atlanta on Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET.
Team News and Preparations
Argentina’s head coach, Lionel Scaloni, has opted for an unchanged squad for this quarter-final clash. This marks the fourth time in eight years that Scaloni has selected an identical starting eleven. The team’s lineup includes E. Martinez, Tagliafico, L. Martinez, Romero, Molina, Paredes, De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Alvarez, and Messi.
Switzerland has made one change to their side, with Djibril Sow coming in for Ardon Jashari. Their starting lineup features Kobel, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez, Zakaria, Freuler, Xhaka, Sow, Rieder, Embolo, and Ndoye.
Argentina’s assistant coach, Roberto Ayala, commented on the upcoming match, stating that the team is prepared both physically and mentally. He acknowledged Switzerland as an organised team with strong individual players, suggesting that Argentina’s style of play could disrupt their opponents.
The conditions in Kansas City are challenging, with a temperature of 88F and a heat index of 90, alongside 55 percent humidity. These conditions are expected to test the players.
Suspension Risks and Tributes
Several players are at risk of suspension if they receive a yellow card in this match. For Argentina, defender Gonzalo Montiel, who is a substitute, is the only player facing this risk. Switzerland has more players in this situation, including starting right-back Denis Zakaria and captain Granit Xhaka, as well as substitute left-back Miro Muheim.
The second yellow card amnesty occurs after the quarter-finals, meaning that any bookings received in this match will not carry over to the semi-finals or final.
Prior to the match, FIFA approved a request from the Argentinian Football Association for the team to wear black armbands. This tribute honours Antonio Rattin, a legendary midfielder for Boca Juniors who represented Argentina in two World Cups (1962, 1966) and passed away earlier today at the age of 89.
Messi’s Impact and Team Performance
Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina’s former all-time leading scorer at the World Cup, shared his thoughts on Messi’s current performance. Batistuta admitted he had doubts about Messi’s form heading into the tournament due to his age and playing in MLS, which he considered less competitive. However, he noted that Messi’s goals in this World Cup have been of a higher quality compared to the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where many were penalties.
Despite Messi’s individual brilliance, Batistuta observed that the Argentine team as a whole has not consistently dominated games. He described Messi as the most significant positive for the team.
Argentina has maintained an undefeated streak, securing a narrow 3-2 victory against Egypt in the previous round to reach the semi-finals. They also overcame Cape Verde in the Round of 32. Switzerland also had a close encounter in their Round of 16 match against Colombia, winning on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
The presence of Messi has generated significant interest, with a notable increase in media presence for this quarter-final compared to earlier matches in the tournament.
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Source: nytimes.com
