Neither of these teams should feel entirely comfortable heading into a quarterfinal. Argentina were 2-0 down to Egypt with 11 minutes to go — Lionel Messi had already missed a penalty — before Cristian Romero's header, Messi's own crossbar-assisted equalizer, and Enzo Fernández's stoppage-time winner completed a three-goal comeback in eleven minutes. Messi's eighth goal of the tournament put him back atop the Golden Boot race.
Switzerland, meanwhile, played 120 scoreless minutes against Colombia — missing breakout star Johan Manzambi to injury — before a walking-wounded Rubén Vargas, himself carrying a knock, came off the bench to bury the winning penalty as Davinson Sánchez hit the bar and Cucho Hernández was saved. It's Switzerland's first World Cup quarterfinal since they hosted the tournament in 1954, 72 years ago. Both teams are here on fumes and momentum in roughly equal measure.
Lionel Scaloni's side have needed late drama in each of their last two knockout matches, and the accumulated mileage on an aging spine — Messi included — is a real question by the quarterfinal stage. But when it matters most, Argentina simply have more individual quality in the final third than almost anyone left in the bracket, and Messi's ability to conjure a moment from nothing remains unmatched.
Murat Yakin's 4-4-2 mid-block has been the most consistent defensive structure at this tournament outside of Spain. Granit Xhaka screens and distributes from deep; Akanji and Elvedi dominate in the air; Gregor Kobel has been outstanding in the biggest moments, including the shootout that got them here. Whoever leads the line without Manzambi will need to make the most of very few clear chances.
Breel Embolo gives Switzerland an early lead, latching onto a knockdown from a set piece and finishing first-time — exactly the kind of goal their disciplined structure has been built to create. For 45 minutes, it looks like the walking-wounded story continues for one more match.
Then Messi happens — twice, a brace either side of halftime, the first a typically inevitable finish from the edge of the box, the second a cooler, calmer conversion after Switzerland's exhausted legs finally open up space in the middle of the pitch. Julián Álvarez adds a third late as Switzerland, chasing an equalizer with nothing left in the tank, are picked apart on the counter.
Argentina come from behind again — the same theme that has now defined their last two knockout matches — and advance 3-1 to a semifinal that, on current form, is entirely theirs to lose.
A set-piece knockdown finished first-time. Vintage Swiss efficiency, and a real early scare for Argentina.
A brace either side of halftime — the redemption story of this entire quarter-final round continuing in real time, one goal for the ages and one for the record books.
A clinical finish on the counter as Switzerland's exhausted defense finally cracks chasing an equalizer.
Presumed to be playing his final World Cup, and doing everything possible to make sure it doesn't end a round early. Six consecutive knockout matches with a goal, a missed penalty turned redemption arc against Egypt, and now a Golden Boot lead to defend against the two players closest behind him. There is no version of this tournament's story that doesn't run through him.