Match Awards from Argentina’s 3-1 win over Switzerland

Argentina did what is was supposed to do — and in truth — so did Switzerland.

Lionel Messi and friends took care of business in a 3-1 win in extra time. Switzerland tried very hard, but — unfortunately — was not good enough in the end. You could really argue that Switzerland was the better team for stretches of the match, but Argentina just always felt like it was sitting on something and waiting to explode.

Murat Yakin, who looks like an older, more stately Niko Kovač, had his Switzerland team well-prepared. The Swiss also fought very hard, but they were just not up to the level needed to take down Argentina.

While England has its own problems, it is likely deeper and better than Argentina right now. What the Three Lions do not have is #MessiMagic and for all of the good that Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham can do, Messi can still turn a game over in an instant.

Somehow, some way, Messi has defied his age and the odds. While this was not a vintage performance for Messi vs. Switzerland, it did kind of feel like he was saving something for later. At his age, it never hurts to be a little calculated and to try and preserve a little for a more formidable foe.

Let’s get into the Match Awards from this quarterfinal match.

Losing team jersey swap: Granit Xhaka, Switzerland

The former Bayer Leverkusen star was game, tough, and efficient, but it was just not enough to carry his squad. Really there were not enough Granit Xhaka-types on the field for Switzerland. If there were, things might have turned out differently.

For his part, Xhaka completed 93% of his passes (67 / 72), while registering four blocked shots and seven ball recoveries, while only losing possession 14 times on 96 touches. Overall, he was just very steady and held the Swiss unit together when it could have crumpled badly after Breel Embolo’s red card. Credit to Xhaka, it feels like we were told he was cooked three years ago, but he keeps plugging along and putting in professional performances.

Der Kaiser: Emiliano Martínez, Argentina

It was not exactly a banner night for the Argentina backline through regulation, but Emiliano Martínez stepped his own game up to pick up for his defensive mates when needed. On the night, the goalkeeper managed to make four saves.

Martínez had to deal with a few nervy moments in the second half, but he stood tall and played like someone who had done it before despite the goal from Dan Ndoye.

Luckily for Martínez, the backline would get it together and play better, which happened just in time for Argentina to really put the clamps on Switzerland.

Fußballgott: Alexis Mac Allister, Argentina

Let’s be honest — Mac Allister had no right winning his header for a first half goal and a 1-0 lead. However, champions often have rosters filled with players who take their games to another level in key moments. Mac Allister is one of those guys.

In this match, Mac Allister was active on all fronts. He was a distributor when needed (94% passing), fought hard on duels (6 / 10), and was just a solid, consistent presence. Moreover, Mac Allister only lost possession seven times on 79 touches.

Der Bomber: Lionel Messi, Argentina

The G.O.A.T. delivered the assist on a corner that found the head of Mac Allister. Otherwise, it was a performance that displayed Messi’s world class brain. The Swiss were no match for Argentina and Messi knew it — even after the game was knotted at 1-1 in the second half.

This is not to say Messi took it easy, but let’s just say he might have been conserving some energy for a much bigger task that lies ahead — England. When he needed to ramp it up, he was able to and his presence meant a to Argentina’s overall effort.

So, how did Messi make his impact in this one aside of the assist and just being a general threat? Well, he had six key passes to help keep pressure on Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

Meister of the Match: Julián Alvarez, Argentina

Truthfully, Alvarez was not great for long parts of this match. One thing that the striker did, however, was put this game out of its misery in extra time.

After the red card to Embolo, Switzerland hunkered in deep and allowed nary a shooting lane to exist. For a long spell, Argentina was flummoxed on how to break though…until Alvarez found a way.

Make no mistake, though, the game winner from Alvarez was nothing short of sensational. It was perfect placement during a time where Argentina desperately needed something to find a way through the 10-man Swiss blockade.

Great players make great plays in the biggest moments. As long as Argentina keeps having some players rise up to the occasion, great things will continue to happen.

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