Lionel Scaloni, the head coach of the Argentine national football team, spent most of the 2026 World Cup defending his decisions regarding his forwards, but following a 3-1 victory over Switzerland in the quarter-finals on Sunday, he managed to win the bet and celebrate goals from both Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez. The defending champions advanced to the semi-finals after a 1-1 draw in regulation time, with Alvarez and Martinez scoring two goals in extra time to decide the match and highlight the attacking depth that has caused Scaloni both trouble and options. Alvarez, who recovered from an ankle injury before the World Cup, participated in the tournament as the starting striker, but Scaloni preferred to start with Martinez, reflecting the team's successful journey in the 2022 World Cup, when the Inter Milan striker was the starter before Alvarez replaced him starting from the third match onward. Scaloni confirmed after the Switzerland match that he never worried about the lack of goals from his forwards at the start of the World Cup, expressing particular happiness to see Martinez reap the rewards of his efforts after losing his place in the starting lineup, saying: 'Days ago, people were telling me that 70 to 80 percent of the team's goals were scored by Messi, but I wasn't worried because of the chances that were coming to Lautaro and Julian, and today they scored two goals so I am less worried.' Scaloni indicated that the competition for positions strengthened the team rather than dividing it, adding: 'It's not easy to be in Lautaro's position, he played the first four matches then left the lineup and Julian came in and was decisive in the two matches he played. They keep pushing forward, train well, and make things difficult for us. When they enter the pitch, they prove they are ready. For me, this is one of the best things.' Alvarez appeared in the starting lineup for the second consecutive match, while Martinez, who had started in the first four matches of the tournament, came on in the 85th minute to replace midfielder Rodrigo De Paul.