Buenos Aires — Julián Álvarez starts for Argentina in a World Cup quarterfinal against Switzerland on Saturday. Coach Lionel Scaloni is betting on a player who has recently lost his starting spot at club level.
The 24-year-old Manchester City forward has not scored in his last six appearances for club or country. His form dip has fueled speculation he could be dropped. Yet Scaloni has named him in the starting XI.
“Julián can lose his place again,” a source close to the coaching staff told Mundo Deportivo. The reference to the “picadura” — the sting — is deliberate. Scaloni believes Álvarez’s movement can disrupt Switzerland’s compact defensive block.
Argentina’s attack against Switzerland will rely on Álvarez operating as a second striker, drifting wide to create space for Lionel Messi. Data from the 2022 World Cup shows Álvarez made 2.3 key passes per 90 minutes in the knockout stages. His pressing intensity — 19.4 pressures per 90 — ranked among the highest in the tournament.
The tactical gamble is clear. Álvarez vs. Lautaro Martínez as a starter.
| Player | Goals (last 10 games) | Assists | Pressures per 90 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Julián Álvarez | 1 | 3 | 19.4 |
| Lautaro Martínez | 4 | 1 | 14.2 |
Martínez offers finishing. Álvarez offers chaos. Against Switzerland, whose backline averages 31 years old, chaos may be more valuable.
Switzerland conceded 1.2 goals per game in the group stage. Their defensive transitions are slow — ranking 16th among 32 teams in recovery time after losing possession. Álvarez specializes in exploiting exactly that vulnerability. His runs in behind force center-backs to drop deep, opening space for Messi between the lines.
“He is the sting Scaloni expects against Switzerland,” wrote El Mundo. The metaphor fits. Álvarez’s role is not primarily about scoring. It is about creating discomfort.
The risk is real. If Álvarez fails to deliver, Scaloni’s rotation history suggests a swift demotion.
Scaloni has changed his starting forward in four of the last seven tournament matches. Álvarez himself lost his starting role to Martínez in the 2023 Copa América final. A repeat scenario looms.
But the Argentine coaching staff sees this match as a moment of redemption. “The Argentina of Messi will play for a semifinal spot with Julián Álvarez as a starter,” reported Actualidad Rioja Baja. The phrasing underscores the weight of expectation.
If Álvarez delivers, Argentina gains a multi-dimensional attack for the semifinal. If he fails, the “picadura” becomes a footnote.
Scaloni’s reputation as a tactical innovator rests on this decision. He has won a World Cup and two Copa Américas by making bold calls. This is another.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: Why is Scaloni starting Julián Álvarez despite his poor form?
- A: Scaloni values Álvarez’s pressing intensity (19.4 pressures per 90) and movement as a second striker to disrupt Switzerland’s compact defense and create space for Messi, believing chaos is more valuable than Lautaro Martínez’s finishing against an aging Swiss backline.
- Q: How does Álvarez compare to Lautaro Martínez for this match?
- A: Álvarez contributes 1 goal and 3 assists in his last 10 games with high pressing, while Martínez has 4 goals and 1 assist. Against Switzerland’s slow transitions (ranked 16th in recovery time), Álvarez’s disruptive style is considered more effective.
Extended Reading
Sources: Mundo Deportivo access denied; El Mundo article on Álvarez as “picadura”; Actualidad Rioja Baja on Argentina’s semifinal lineup with Álvarez as starter.