Argentina’s World Cup Knockout Hurdles
Argentina entered the 2026 World Cup knockout stage with high expectations, yet the run has resembled a steep learning curve. The team advanced to the quarterfinals by squeezing past Cape Verde after extra time and then rallying from two goals down to beat Egypt 3‑2. Those narrow victories have left Coach Lionel Scaloni wrestling with questions about consistency and defense.
Early Hardships in the knockout Phase
The quarterfinal opponent, Switzerland, sits on June 11, but the real test has been two prior fixtures. Against Cape Verde, Argentina logged ten shots on target and dominated possession, yet still needed a 120‑minute effort to secure a win. The subsequent game versus Egypt featured a frantic three‑goal comeback, with referee decisions drawing criticism from the Egyptian bench.
From a statistical standpoint, Argentina out‑scored Egypt 2.84 to 0.89 in expected goals, yet the margin did not fully reflect the edge in quality chances. Messi’s missed penalty in the first half further widened the gap, but the team ultimately delivered the result. The back‑to‑back victories have highlighted both the squad’s resilience and its vulnerability.
Scaloni’s Minimal Adjustments
Instead of overhauling the side, Scaloni has largely stuck with the game plan that delivered the early wins. He emphasized maintaining the team’s style, stating that beyond the chaotic moments, “the team did really good things, and I liked it.” The coach has used the same starting lineup only three times so far, but he indicated a repeat would not be “absurd.”
An important tactical tweak came when veteran midfielder Leandro Paredes was inserted in front of the defense against Cape Verde. Paredes recorded the most touches on the ball of any player and completed 119 passes with only four errors. Scaloni praised the impact, noting that circulation improved after Paredes’ arrival. Injuries also forced adjustments, sidelining players such as Julian Alvarez and Nico Paz.
Despite calls from fans to give younger talent like Giuliano Simeone or Nico Paz more minutes, the staff believes the current mix can still improve. Scaloni’s comments about Qatar suggest a willingness to experiment when a clear benefit is seen. The manager’s philosophy centers on incremental tweaks rather than sweeping changes.
Questions Beyond Messi’s Influence
Messi remains the focal point, scoring and dictating play even at age 39, but the supporting cast has stumbled at times. Julian Alvarez’s ankle injury has limited his ability to replicate his 2022 World Cup form, creating a void in the attack. Lautaro Martinez’s movement opens space, yet his finishing has been inconsistent, aside from the assist to Enzo Fernandez in the Egypt match.
Defensive discipline has also become a concern after a clean‑sheet start. A group‑stage loss to Jordan and subsequent goals against Cape Verde and Egypt exposed lapses in concentration. Center back Lisandro Martinez acknowledged the need for greater focus, noting that some goals are avoidable but are part of the game’s nature. The team’s speed on the ball is below that of many remaining contenders, making quick transitions risky.
Betting on Experience to Carry the Day
With only three knockout matches remaining, the expectation is that veteran leadership will see Argentina through. Cristian “Cuti” Romero echoed this sentiment, insisting that the squad is “good” and ready to improve wherever needed. The coach and players stress that while recent results cause concern, the foundation is solid.
The upcoming clash against Switzerland will test whether the experienced backline can tighten up and whether the attacking options beyond Messi can produce decisive moments. The message from the camp is one of optimism tempered by a focus on defensive organization. If the veterans can avoid the repeated errors, Argentina may smooth out the bumpy ride and keep its title hopes alive.
KANSAS CITY, MO — The 2026 World Cup knockout stage has been a bumpy ride for Argentina.
Lionel Messi and Co. are in the quarterfinals, facing Switzerland on Saturday, June 11. To get here, they needed all 120 minutes against Cape Verde and a furious three-goal rally to get past Egypt 3-2 in the round of 16.
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So, surely Argentina manger Lionel Scaloni is planning some huge overhauls to improve his team?
Well, not exactly.
“In principle, we’d play like the other day,” Scaloni said Friday in his news conference before the showdown with the Swiss. “Beyond the craziness of the game, I think the team did really good things, and I liked it.”
The 48-year-old has now managed 101 Argentina matches, more than all but one other man, and won more World Cup games than any other Argentina coach. Just three times has he used the same starting lineup as in the previous game, but he said Friday that it wouldn’t be “absurd” for him to do so again.
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But what did the coach and his staff find so convincing about a 3-2 win that the team had to pull out of the fire, one that featured a number of refereeing decisions so controversial that his Egypt counterpart called the game’s integrity into question?
Argentina creating a good number of chances in World Cup matches
First off, Argentina created a lot of scoring chances against Egypt, and generally limited the good opportunities the North Africans had. The match ended with Argentina holding a 2.84-.89 edge in expected goals, a stat designed to rate how likely it is a shot will end in a goal. Messi’s failed penalty in the first half pushes that number higher, but not so high that the discrepancy should be that large.
It was the same story against Cape Verde, with Argentina putting 10 shots on target and dominating possession but unable to deny Cape Verde’s two stunners.
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“I think we’re good – beyond the game with Cape Verde which took us to the 120 minutes, the team had a ton of chances, some specific errors,” Scaloni said. “Egypt we played even better, had more chances – but with the way the game went , generating situations, I think the team is good.
“We have to correct two or three things to say the team is still good, that we’re competing.”
Leandro Paredes fulfilled his role in the middle
The game against Cape Verde led Scaloni to insert veteran midfielder Leandro Paredes into the starting lineup, sitting in front of the defense and not only breaking up plays but also trying to connect play in midfield when Argentina wins the ball back.
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Paredes ended the contest with more touches on the ball than any other player on the field, and he put just four of the 119 passes he attempted wrong.
“With Leandro coming in, the team got a lot better with circulation, having the ball, being more present in the opposing half,” Scaloni said. “Alexis (Mac Allister) comes on the left. He’s given us more. I think we’ve made some small modifications.”
Paredes might have started the earlier matches in the World Cup were he fit. He, left back Nicolás Tagliafico, forward Julian Alvarez and, of course, Messi himself, came into the camp carrying injuries. Scaloni said “things were much darker than now” when it came to the injury situation.
Yet, he hasn’t wanted to make changes simply to make changes.
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Fans are clamoring for young players such as 23-year-old winger Giuliano Simeone, who also can play fullback, or 21-year-old playmaker Nico Paz to be given more opportunities. There also are very legitimate questions about how Rodrigo De Paul fits in with the rest of the midfield, especially after the insertion of Paredes.
“I think the things we’ve done, the changes we’ve made were because we thought the team always could get better. If we didn’t make changes, that’s why,” Scaloni said. “We’re always thinking about the team. We (made more changes) in Qatar because we thought it could make us better.”
Questions remain about attack beyond Lionel Messi
No one is worried about Messi, even at 39 years of age. He continues to score, continues to put in long shifts and continues to be the player the team looks to when there are difficult moments.
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The player alongside him is a bigger question. Alvarez hasn’t been able to fulfill the same role he did during Argentina’s 2022 title run with his ankle injury. But while Lautaro Martinez‘s runs clear more space for Messi and seem to allow him more freedom to operate, he has struggled to show his quality when he’s on the ball or in a shooting moment – with the notable exception of his pass to Enzo Fernandez on the winning goal against Egypt.
After keeping a clean sheet in their first two matches, Argentina conceded to Jordan in a relatively meaningless group game but then allowed a pair of goals against Cape Verde and two in a row to Egypt.
“We don’t like that they score goals on us, and without a doubt we have to be a bit more concentrated there,” center back Lisandro Martinez said Friday. “They’re goals you can avoid, but it’s part of (soccer). It’s better that it happens now to give us better concentration, with our feet firmly planted, and when those scoring situations come up, try to avoid them.”
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An uptick in focus or fewer responsibilities going forward do seem to be pathways to conceding less for Argentina. Many of the chances conceded have come in transition moments when the team is not yet in its defensive posture as it looks to score.
Without as much speed in the squad as many other teams still alive in the World Cup, Argentina can’t afford to get caught up the field and have to get back in transition.
Argentina betting on Lionel Messi and the veterans
The reality is that with three potential World Cup matches left, there is no overhaul coming. There is no savior on the bench who will radically change this Argentina team and fix the issues shown against the African opponents.
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“We’re good. We definitely have to get better because they’ve scored four goals in the last two matches. It bothers us a bit that they scored on us, but beyond that we’re always ready for the team, to give our best,” center back Cristian “Cuti” Romero said. “The manager says anyone can play. All the guys are good.
“We’re happy we’re playing in the way we are, but we’ve go to keep correcting, keep improving. We’re ready for tomorrow.”
Against Cape Verde, it almost seemed that Scaloni was waiting for his veterans to find a response. Against Egypt, those older players delivered.
Now, it will be on them once again to not put themselves into the same type of situation. It has been a bumpy ride. Messi and the Old Guard will have to be the ones to smooth things out and keep the title defense alive.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What will Argentina change after Cape Verde, Egypt scares? Surprisingly, not much
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