Switzerland await Argentina in the quarterfinal Saturday

Switzerland on Saturday, semis on the line

Argentina face Switzerland in the World Cup quarterfinal Saturday, July 11 (3) (4). Scaloni's probable XI: Emiliano Martínez, Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Tagliafico, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernández, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Lionel Messi, and Julián Álvarez (3). A win puts the defending champions one game from the final.

14 goals and counting

Only France have scored more at this tournament. Argentina have 14 goals, France have 16, and no other nation comes close (5). The attack is firing exactly when it needs to.

Julián Álvarez wants out of Atlético

Julián Álvarez has told Atlético Madrid he wants to leave this summer (1). Arsenal and Barcelona are both circling. Lamine Yamal made Barcelona's pitch public: "Everyone knows he's a top player, the kind everyone wants to play alongside. I've already said it: we're open to welcoming him, and if he comes, we'll all be very happy" (1).

FBI investigating Argentina's football federation

The FBI have opened an investigation into the Argentine Football Association over certain transactions (2). Details remain scarce, but it is a significant off-field story unfolding alongside the World Cup campaign.

The simulation says France

Predictive models point toward a France–Argentina final if both sides keep winning (6). Belgium–Switzerland is the other projected semifinal matchup. Long way to go, but the data likes what it sees.

Fan-reaktioner

Argentina and Egypt supporters were spotted celebrating together after the round of 16, a rare show of cross-fan warmth at a tournament that has been short on it. The image resonated on r/worldcup, where fans called it the kind of moment the World Cup is supposed to produce. See the full thread here.