(ARGENTINA).- “Coach Leonel Scaloni worked behind closed doors with a formation that in principle and taking into account what comes from the agonizing qualification against Egypt, could suffer only one variation and this would be on the right side,” he continued Germán García Grova. This way, Gonzalo Montiel It is emerging as the only change in the eleven of the argentine national team for the 2026 World Cup quarterfinal match against Switzerland, which will be played this Saturday.
Grova expanded: “In yesterday’s soccer exercises he worked with Montiel, then with Molina, but apparently River’s right back could be included in the starting eleven. The coach said that Molina and Montiel have similar characteristics in some matters, but that when it comes to getting into the area the River player is more related to some catch, some rebound, with some situation that he may generate.” The gaze of the coaching staff points precisely to that nose for capturing second plays that distinguishes moniel.
Scaloni alternated the two full-backs in tactical practice, first with moniel and later with Nahuel Molina, but the balance leans towards the man who emerged in River. Thus, the team that the coach tested to receive the Europeans was: Emiliano Martínez; Gonzalo MontielCristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez or Lautaro Martínez.
Argentina arrives at the event after a heroic comeback against Egypt in the round of 16, a victory that renewed the hope for the two-time championship. Scaloni’s team already knows that each step in the competition brings it closer to the goal of the fourth star, and moniel It could be that small touch that refines the structure without altering the rest of the pieces.
On the other hand, Switzerland got into the quarterfinals after eliminating Colombia on penalties. The team led by Murat Yakin, which featured Granit
The match will be played this Saturday from 10 p.m. (Argentine time) at the Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, with refereeing by the Portuguese João Pinheiro and Guillermo Pacheco in charge of the VAR. The live broadcast will be carried out by TyC Sports, Telefe, TV Pública and Disney+.
The history between both teams is overwhelming for the Albiceleste: Argentina never lost against Switzerland. They have five wins and two draws in seven matches. The most recent precedent was precisely in a World Cup, in the round of 16 of Brazil 2014, when a goal by Ángel Di María in extra time gave him a place in the quarterfinals of that competition.
If they win again, the Argentine National Team will clash in the semifinals with the winner of the duel between Norway and England, who will meet on the same Saturday at 5 p.m. That match for a place in the final is scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, at 4 p.m., in the city of Atlanta.
Scaloni maintains the base that he suffered and celebrated against Egypt, and bets on the instinct of Gonzalo Montiel inside the area to unbalance against a Switzerland that he has never been able to beat in history. The only change in the eleven does not modify the team’s identity, but it does fit exactly with the need to take advantage of every ball that falls into the rival area in a direct elimination match.