Messi's Argentina Shows Composure in Tough World Cup Quarterfinal Win

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said his team's 3-1 extra-time win over Switzerland in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal on Sunday showed how comfortable they have become in handling difficult situations. Scaloni said staying calm during tough moments has become one of the team's biggest strengths. "We knew that we were going to suffer, and this is part of our blood, this is part of our DNA, and this brings peace of mind," the coach said. Argentina's road to the semifinals has not been easy. They twice gave away 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 completing another comeback. Scaloni believes winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has helped his players deal better with pressure. "In Qatar, we were not that experienced, I myself included, and those kind of situations were very difficult," he said. "However, now we are more experienced because we know what it feels like to be dominated by the opponent, to concede an equaliser, so today we kept our composure. The team knew how to remain calm and, of course, we will never give up." Switzerland drew level in the 67th minute and looked capable of taking the match further, but goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez deep into extra time sealed Argentina's place in the last four. Scaloni praised Switzerland for making life difficult for his team. "It was a tough opponent," Scaloni said. "It was very difficult for us to win the duels, to put more than five or six passes together. "They were very strong, and they made that struggle in the one versus one in different areas of the pitch. We suffered quite a lot." The Argentina coach also highlighted the impact of his substitutes and the strength of the squad. "We also have players on the bench who can turn the game on its head, and this is something very good," he said. "Ultimately, we always find the solutions." Scaloni said the team's unity has played a major role in its World Cup run. "This is thanks to the players because they had to trust in the process," he said. "We are a collective side. We are together. We are very much united. And this is proof that football is complicated." He also praised Alexis Mac Allister, who scored Argentina's opening goal with a header from Lionel Messi's corner. "Alexis McAllister is one of the greatest. So all praise to him because he's been working very hard," Scaloni said. The victory sent Argentina into the semifinals for the sixth time in their last six major tournaments. "I hadn't thought about it, but this is something to be very proud of," he said. Scaloni ended by saying difficult moments are part of any successful World Cup campaign. "When you reach a semi-final, you need to suffer," Scaloni said. "You need to go through it."