KANSAS CITY, United States, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Argentina will carry South America's remaining hopes when the defending champion faces Switzerland in the World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday.
Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi (R) and midfielder #07 Rodrigo De Paul (L) take part in a training session at Sporting KC Training Centre in Kansas City on July 10, 2026, on the eve of the 2026 World Cup football match between Argentina and Switzerland. (File photo: AFP)
Lionel Scaloni's side became the last South American team standing after Brazil, Colombia and Paraguay exited in the round of 16. Argentina is now three victories away from becoming the first team to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1962.
Its progress has been anything but straightforward. Argentina needed extra time to overcome Cabo Verde 3-2 in the round of 32 before recovering from two goals down to beat Egypt by the same score on Tuesday.
Scaloni said those narrow escapes showed the resilience of a team seeking to add another title to the World Cup and two Copa America trophies it has won since 2021.
"I'd like this national team to be remembered as one that never gave up," the 48-year-old told reporters on Friday.
"Playing for Argentina means approaching the game the same way you did when you were seven or eight years old in the street. You never give up, and you're upset when the other team gets the ball. That's the mentality we want."
Argentina trailed Egypt 2-0 with 11 minutes of normal time remaining before goals from Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez completed a dramatic turnaround in Atlanta.
Scaloni dismissed any suggestion that Messi, 39 and likely playing at his final World Cup, was no longer capable of deciding matches at the highest level.
"He's not running any more or any less than before. The numbers haven't changed," Scaloni said.
"Physically, he's prepared extremely well with his fitness coach and that's paying off. He's giving everything."
Scaloni indicated he would make few changes to the team that started against Egypt and said pairing Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez in attack remained an option.
"In principle, we'll have a very similar starting eleven," he said. "The last match was crazy, but the team was excellent. They did a lot of things that I liked."
Switzerland reached the last eight for the first time since 1954 by defeating Colombia 4-3 on penalties following a goalless draw in Vancouver. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel saved Cucho Hernandez's spot kick before Ruben Vargas converted the decisive penalty.
Murat Yakin's side is unbeaten in the tournament and captain Granit Xhaka said Switzerland would need to deny Messi space without retreating into a purely defensive approach.
"I don't know if you can stop Messi for 90 minutes, but we have to be smart, stay compact and close the spaces," Xhaka said. "We also want to have the ball because if we have it, he doesn't."
Switzerland will be without midfielder Johan Manzambi, who scored three goals and provided two assists in his first four World Cup matches before missing the victory over Colombia with a knee injury.
"Johan is in a lot of pain," Yakin said. "It was a real shock because he had so much momentum and was enjoying his football. Unfortunately he'll have to support the team from the sidelines, and we'll have to do our best without him."
Argentina and Switzerland last met at a World Cup in the round of 16 in 2014, when Angel Di Maria scored in the 118th minute to give the South American side a 1-0 victory.
Xhaka, one of the survivors from that match in Sao Paulo, rejected suggestions that Saturday's encounter offered a chance for revenge.
"It's a completely different match from 2014," the 33-year-old said. "We're in the quarterfinals now and we want to win."
The victor will face either England or Norway in the semifinals.