Argentine Lionel Messi, with an eye mark, looks back during the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal match between Argentina and Switzerland in Kansas City, Missouri, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo)
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said that his team’s 3-1 victory over Switzerland after extra time in the quarter-finals of the World Cup on Sunday showed how comfortable they are in dealing with difficult situations.Scaloni said that remaining calm during difficult moments has become one of the team’s biggest strengths.The coach said: “We knew that we would suffer, and this is part of our blood, this is part of our DNA, and this brings peace of mind.”
Argentina’s path to the semi-finals was not easy. They twice squandered the lead against Cape Verde before winning 3-2 in the round of 32. Against Egypt, they trailed 2-0 until the 79th minute before pulling off another comeback.Scaloni believes that winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar helped his players deal better with pressure.He said: “In Qatar, we did not have enough experience, and I personally am among them, and this type of situation was very difficult.”“However, we are now more experienced because we know what it means for an opponent to dominate the ball, and to concede an equalizer, so today we maintained our composure. The team knew how to remain calm, and of course, we will never give up.”
Switzerland equalized in the 67th minute and seemed capable of taking the match further, but goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez in extra time guaranteed Argentina’s place in the semi-finals.Scaloni praised Switzerland for making things difficult for his team.“He was a tough competitor,” Scaloni said. “It was very difficult for us to win games, stringing more than five or six passes together.“They were very strong, they faced that struggle in different areas of the pitch.
We suffered a lot.”The Argentina coach also highlighted the impact of his substitutions and the strength of the team.“We also have players on the bench who can turn the game around, which is a very good thing,” he said. “At the end of the day, we always find solutions.”Scaloni said that the team’s unity played a major role in their World Cup campaign.“This is thanks to the players because they had to trust the process,” he said.
“We are a collective team. We are together. We are very united. This is proof that football is complex.”He also praised Alexis McAllister, who scored Argentina’s opening goal with a header from a Lionel Messi corner kick.“Alexis McAllister is one of the greatest players. So all praise to him because he has been working extremely hard,” Scaloni said.The victory sent Argentina to the semi-finals for the sixth time in the last six major tournaments.“I didn’t think about it, but it’s something I’m very proud of,” he added.Scaloni concluded by saying that difficult moments are part of any successful World Cup campaign.“When you get to the semi-finals, you have to suffer,” Scaloni said. “You have to go through it.”