No easy World Cup wins: Lionel Scaloni says ‘part of our DNA will suffer’ if Argentina survive Switzerland scare

Argentina’s Lionel Messi, with a mark over his eye, looks back during the World Cup soccer quarterfinal between Argentina and Switzerland in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo) Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said his side’s 3-1 win over Switzerland in Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final showed how comfortable they are in handling difficult situations.Scaloni said staying calm in tough times has become one of the team’s greatest strengths.“We knew we were going to suffer and that’s part of our blood, it’s part of our DNA and it brings peace,” the coach said.Argentina’s path to the semi-finals was not easy. They conceded the lead twice against Cape Verde before winning 3-2 in the round of 32. Against Egypt, they led 2-0 until the 79th minute before completing another comeback.Scaloni believes winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has helped his players cope better with the pressure.“We weren’t that experienced in Qatar, myself included, and those situations were very difficult,” he said.“However, we are more experienced now because we know what it’s like to be controlled by an opponent, to concede an equaliser, so we kept our composure today. The team knew how to stay calm and of course we never give up.”Switzerland equalized in the 67th minute and looked capable of taking the game 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 duels, to put together more than five or six passes.“They were very strong and fought against each other in different parts of the pitch. We suffered 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 that is something very good,” he said. “We always find a solution in the end.”Scaloni said the team’s unity played a major role in its run at the World Cup.“It’s thanks to the players because they had to believe in the process,” he said. “We are a collective side. We are together. We are very united. And that is proof that football is complicated.”He also praised Alexis Mac Allister, who scored Argentina’s opener with a header from Lionel Messi’s corner.“Alexis McAllister is one of the best. So I commend him because he worked very hard,” Scaloni said.The win sent Argentina into the semi-finals for the sixth time in the last six major tournaments.“I hadn’t thought about it, but it’s something we can be very proud of,” he said.Scaloni concluded by saying that difficult moments are part of any successful World Cup campaign.“When you get to the semifinals, you have to suffer,” Scaloni said. “You have to go through it.