A Magical Night in La Plata

The Argentine city of La Plata was once again painted in sky-blue and white in the early hours of Sunday, July 12, 2026. Just as it happens with every great achievement of the Scaloneta (the affectionate nickname for the Argentine national team, derived from coach Lionel Scaloni), the traditional corner of 7 and 50 became the epicenter of a massive party to celebrate Argentina's qualification for the 2026 World Cup semifinals.

As soon as the agonizing 3-1 victory against Switzerland in extra time ended, hundreds of fans began arriving in the city center. Young people, entire families, and parents with their children braved the winter cold with flags, jerseys, and the inevitable fireworks, giving life to a night of joy that lasted until the early morning.

Physical Concerns and Messi's Eye

According to TyC Sports, physical exhaustion was one of the central issues after the match. Cristian Romero and Leandro Paredes had to be substituted during extra time due to fatigue, with Paredes being replaced by José Manuel López at the 110th minute. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi took a hit to his right eye from Granit Xhaka, but the discomfort subsided and there are no serious injuries involved, which comes as a relief to the coaching staff.

Looking Ahead: The Classic Against England

The celebration in the streets of La Plata was not only about the milestone achieved but also served to ignite the spark for the next big challenge. Amidst honking horns and chants, fans began anticipating the historic matchup against England, scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 16:00 in Atlanta.

The English team arrives after defeating Norway 2-1 with a brace from their star, Jude Bellingham, and with less physical wear. On the other hand, Messi, with 8 goals in the tournament and 21 total goals in his World Cup history, will look to lead Argentina to another World Cup final.

Original sources: El Día and TyC Sports.

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