How good is Argentina? It hasn't been pretty, but another escape giving fans reason to believe

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — They stayed on the field well after the game was done, singing with their fans, who were in no hurry to leave.

They moved from the goal area to the side of the field, clapping in unison and then huddling in a circle and jumping up and down together.

Argentina's players soaked it all in for about 15 minutes before finally exiting, and why wouldn't they? There was joy, and if we're honest, probably a little bit of relief after surviving against Switzerland for a 3-1 win on Saturday night.

"Survive and advance" is a phrase most typically associated with March Madness, but at this World Cup, it's how Argentina has found its way to the semifinals against England, winning its third straight game as the clear favorite in nail-biting fashion.

2026 WORLD CUP HQ: Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Buy World Cup tickets

Argentina's string of late victories

To recap the drama during the knockout stage for Argentina:

Argentina 3, Cape Verde 2: It survived a Round of 32 game against Cape Verde, the smallest nation to reach the knockout stage. Cape Verde didn't back down from the defending champs, who secured the victory only after an own goal in the 111th minute.

Argentina 3, Egypt 2: Argentina next needed a miraculous finish to come from behind to beat Egypt. La Albiceleste trailed 2-0 until late in the game, when they scored three times in 13 minutes — the final goal coming in stoppage time. They also got by after an Egypt goal was removed following a controversial VAR decision, along with escaping when Egypt players thought Mohamed Salah should have been awarded a penalty late in the game.

The match was emotional enough that we saw tears from Lionel Messi after the win, who also celebrated his game-tying goal with far more passion than we're accustomed to seeing.

Argentina 3, Switzerland 1: This time, there wasn't a historic comeback, but Argentina needed extra time again to put away its opponent. Messi had an assist on the game's opening goal but then was largely quiet for much of the contest. It was his first game of the tournament in which he failed to score, and his first in his last 10 World Cup matches.

Instead, it was a stunning strike from Julian Alvarez, which might be the goal of the tournament, in the 112th minute that gave Argentina a 2-1 lead. Alvarez had space on the left side, lined up his shot and curled the ball into the far right corner, giving Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel no chance.

Lautaro Martinez would add a goal nine minutes later to deliver the knockout blow.

This was a game in which Argentina struggled to generate scoring chances in the second half, even after Breel Embolo was sent off with a red card in the 72nd minute. Most of the entire stadium, which was overwhelmingly in Argentina support, was waiting for a second goal that wouldn't materialize until extra time.

Having to suffer but fight was a theme that came up multiple times after the match, with players saying that while there is plenty of room to improve, they're continuing to find ways to win.

"We're seeing that all the World Cup matches are like this, you know," Alvarez said in Spanish after the game. "It happens to us, and it happens to our opponents, too — lots of stoppage time. That's just how it's going, but we know we have to fight to the very end and give it our all."

Is Argentina good enough to repeat?

So, what are we to make of this Argentina team? Does it have enough to find a way to win two more times, becoming the first repeat champion since 1962? Or will the magic run out against England on Wednesday?

This is a team that has had a relatively easy path, if there is such a thing, to the semifinals, beating Algeria, Austria and Jordan in the group stage before the wins against Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland. And in those last three games, Argentina didn't look like the decidedly superior side. 

But don't tell that to the Argentina fans, many of whom gathered for a "banderazo" in a Kansas City park the night before the game, spending the evening waving flags, singing and dancing.

Many talked about the team's never-say-die spirit, following those victories against Cape Verde and Egypt. 

As they did so, a promotional double-decker bus for Ted Lasso drove by, promoting the upcoming season for the popular soccer show. On the top level, many of the people waved "Believe" signs.

At this stage of the World Cup, following what we've seen from the past three matches, you don't have to convince Argentina or its fans to do that.