Argentina continue to show ‘heart’ but flaws are apparent before Switzerland clash
Close calls against Cape Verde and Egypt show Scaloni’s side are vulnerable, despite all the brilliance of Lionel Messi
It is among the defining moments of this World Cup: Lionel Messi wandering the pitch in Atlanta with tears rolling down his face. Minutes earlier, Argentina had been down two goals to Egypt and on the brink of elimination in the last 16. Messi had missed a penalty and was set to bear blame for the result. Instead, the Argentina legend created the same magic he always seems to, spearheading a miraculous, three-goal swing in just over 10 minutes and pushing the Albiceleste into the quarter-finals.
And now he was crying. And so were his teammates. And so was his head coach, Lionel Scaloni, who could not contain his emotion in a post-game interview. His own players, the coach says, have taken to calling him el llorón. The crybaby. “I can’t even look at you,” Scaloni told a touchline reporter, in tears. “I’m sorry. I’m obviously very emotional. What a group of players, brother. I’m sorry. That’s it, I have to go.”
No team at this World Cup have provided fans with a broader spectrum of emotions than the defending champions. Things started brightly – Argentina barrelled through the group stage without breaking a sweat and Messi, at 39, is in the midst of his greatest World Cup. In the opening match, a hat-trick handed the captain the tournament joint-goalscoring record, one he continues to add to.
Every one of Messi’s appearances has been dotted with brilliance but Argentina have faltered in recent matches. The scare against Egypt was nothing compared with their last-32 encounter with Cape Verde in Miami, where only stoppage-time heroics averted what would have been arguably the greatest upset in the history of professional sport. These recent performances have raised fresh questions about this Argentina side.
Scaloni is revered in Argentina, having ended a 28-year trophy drought, leading them to their third World Cup star and a pair of Copa América titles. It has led to a dynamic, at times, where the press who cover the team have asked fewer questions than normal of him, having known little else other than triumph. In this World Cup, that seems to have changed. On many occasions, it has led to Scaloni butting heads with the press over somewhat basic questions.
He has also been insistent, in both of Argentina’s close-run knockout encounters, that his side were always in control of the match, something that feels almost farcical to even a casual observer. Cape Verde were, at worst, on an even footing and Egypt outplayed them for stretches. This is nothing new, of course: in 2022, Argentina lost a lead no fewer than four times, including twice in the final against France. That dynamic makes for fantastic storytelling but does not inspire much confidence, especially before their meeting with a well-organised, disciplined Switzerland side. Should Argentina relinquish a lead, they may have a much harder time clawing it back.
Argentina have not been helped by events off the field. Their match with Egypt was rife with controversy and has led to allegations from Egypt’s head coach that the encounter was rigged, and the Argentinian federation (AFA) is reportedly under investigation by the FBI for alleged mishandling of its commercial agreements in the United States. The federation has denied wrongdoing and Tomas Regalado, an AFA ambassador in North America, said last week: “Investigative measures alone do not determine responsibility or guilt.”
In the stadium, little of this has mattered. With the exception of the host nations they are the most well-supported team at the tournament and at every point in the journey Argentinians have followed, bringing the banderazo with them. It is a sight to behold, an undulating mass of humanity singing, jumping and dancing in unison, urging their team forward.
This is the case whether Argentina are handily in the lead or, more often than not, fighting for their lives. The team, and Scaloni, have leaned on their supporters heavily. After the last-minute escape against Egypt, Scaloni said they had made it difficult for their fans all tournament.
Scaloni has also faced criticism for his tactics and squad rotation as he has continued to lean on an older core. And then, of course, there is Messi. It may be tempting to call him an ageless wonder but he certainly looked the worse for wear after the match against Cape Verde, taking to the podium for his post-match remarks sporting a massive shiner on his forehead. Moments later, he said the same players who “kick the crap out of him” ask for his jersey.
Argentina will need Messi and much more against Switzerland. They will need to stay in high gear for longer stretches. They cannot rely on vibes alone as they have sometimes seemed to this summer. Yet to many, the chaotic energy of this Argentina side is exactly why they are beloved. Perhaps Scaloni is among them.
“Football is this, not just tactics and strategies,” he said, his voice tinged with emotion after the Egypt match. “Those things are important, no doubt, but if we hadn’t had the heart we had, we would’ve been out.”