While lionel messi

Zee5 FIFA World Cup: Defending champions Argentina face a disciplined Switzerland side in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals, with a place in the last four on the line. While Lionel Messi remains Argentina's biggest threat, former England striker Robbie Fowler believes their greatest strength lies in the movement, intelligence and technical quality across the entire team.

"It's extremely difficult because you're not dealing with just one player. Messi and Alvarez are constantly on the move, so defenders have to stay alert throughout the game. The key isn't focusing on stopping one individual, but having a collective defensive structure. If you concentrate too much on Messi or Alvarez, players like Enzo Fernandez or others can step up and hurt you," said Fowler, who is part of Zee5 FIFA World Cup 2026 expert panel.

Fowler believes Argentina's ability to manipulate defensive blocks through quick passing and movement makes them one of the toughest sides to defend against.