![[Trực tiếp] Argentina vs Thụy Sĩ](https://www.mogazmasr.com/uploads/2026/07/12/argentina-u-v-i-th-y-s-cd5fcd72_800w.webp)
Lionel Messi was back in Argentina’s starting XI for the World Cup 2026 quarterfinal against Thụy Sĩ, a matchup that put the final place in the semifinals on the line in Kansas City, Missouri. At 39, Messi was making his 205th appearance for the national team when Argentina kicked off against a Swiss side built to keep the game tight and wait for a chance.
The choice mattered because this was not just another knockout round. Argentina used a 4-1-3-2 formation with Messi in the team, while Thụy Sĩ lined up in a 4-2-3-1 shape and brought Djibril Sow in for Ardon Jashari after one change from the side that beat Colombia. The match was scheduled to start at 8h after sunset, with the temperature forecast at about 27 degrees Celsius, and the defending world champion entered the game as the stronger side even though Thụy Sĩ had the kind of disciplined structure that can turn a favorite’s night into a long one.
For Murat Yakin, the starting change pointed to caution and control rather than risk. Djibril Sow was preferred over Ardon Jashari, while Granit Xhaka and Denis Zakaria both began with one yellow card already on their record, which meant another booking in the quarterfinal would rule them out of the semifinal. The rule also meant the cards would be wiped after the quarterfinals, so the danger was immediate and simple: stay clean now and the semifinal is still available, pick up one more and it is gone.
Lionel Scaloni, by contrast, left Argentina unchanged from the lineup that beat Ai Cập 3-2 in the round of 16, a decision that showed trust in the same group rather than a need to chase surprises. Gonzalo Montiel was the only Argentina player carrying a yellow card, and he was on the bench, leaving Messi and the rest of the starters free to play without the same disciplinary pressure hanging over them. That is what made the quarterfinal feel so sharp: Argentina had the proven talent, Thụy Sĩ had the structure and the warning signs, and both sides knew one mistake could decide who took the last seat in the semifinals.
What came next was bigger than the lineup note that started the day. The winner would move on, and the loser would stop one game short of the final four.
