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Switzerland waited 72 years for this quarterfinal. Argentina barely survived to make it.

Argentina are the defending champions and, on paper, comfortable favorites. In practice they keep nearly dying. It took extra time to put away Cape Verde, a debutant nation of half a million people, 3-2. Then Egypt led them 2-0 with the clock past 75 minutes, and what followed was one of the great World Cup escapes: Cristian Romero heading in Messi's cross in the 79th, Messi lashing in the equalizer four minutes later, Enzo Fernández winning it in stoppage time. Messi — who broke the all-time World Cup scoring record back in the group stage — scored one and created another. Argentina are now the last South American team left in the tournament, and they've gotten here looking more mortal than any champion in memory.

Switzerland hadn't reached a World Cup quarterfinal since 1954, when they were the host nation, and they've ended the 72-year wait in the most Swiss way imaginable: win the group, concede almost nothing, let the other team blink first. They shut out Algeria 2-0, then held Colombia — one of the most fun attacking sides in the tournament — scoreless for 120 minutes and won the shootout 4-3, Gregor Kobel making the key save and substitute Rubén Vargas burying the decisive kick. This is the same national team that knocked reigning world champions France out of Euro 2020 on penalties. Deadlock is their home turf, and a team that keeps needing late rescues should find that genuinely uncomfortable.

There's also a Messi-Switzerland thread that runs deeper than you'd guess. His first international hat-trick came against them, in Bern in 2012. When the teams met at the 2014 World Cup, Switzerland held out for 117 minutes until Messi's run set up Ángel Di María's winner — and moments later Blerim Džemaili headed against Argentina's post, that close to sending it to penalties. Granit Xhaka started that night in São Paulo as a 21-year-old; he's 33 now, the captain, still on the field in Kansas City with a semifinal against England or Norway waiting. Switzerland have never beaten Argentina at a World Cup. They've also never been closer than they were that night.

Golden Boot

Messi leads the Golden Boot race with eight goals — he already owns the all-time World Cup scoring record outright after passing Miroslav Klose's 16 during the group stage — with Mbappé and Haaland one back on seven.

Form

• Argentina won Group J but have flirted with elimination twice since: extra time to beat debutants Cape Verde 3-2, then three goals in the final minutes to overturn 2-0 down against Egypt.