Álvarez's return could be Argentina's antidote to their Messi dependency - ESPN

And so the last non-European side left standing in the FIFA World Cup faces a rare meeting with European opposition in Saturday's quarterfinal — with another two opponents from the Old World ahead if it is to retain its crown.

Four years ago, Argentina overcame France on a penalty shootout to become world champions in Qatar, and then went three and a half years without coming up against another European side. Their final warmup match before this tournament was a comfortable win over Iceland, and Austria were dispatched with similar ease in the group phase, but now things are more serious.

Switzerland might not be the most glamorous opponents for Saturday's showdown in Kansas City, but they are organized, patient and carry a threat on the break — an awkward rival against whom it is not easy to look stylish. Lionel Messi will be under no illusions. He will surely recall the round-of-16 clash with the Swiss at Brazil 2014, when Argentina were taken all the way to the wire before snatching a 1-0 win in the closing stages of extra time.

He and his colleagues will be well aware that if they are to avoid another close call, they'll need to raise their game.

A sense of celebration has hung over Argentina ever since Qatar, all through CONMEBOL's long World Cup qualification campaign, even through their Copa América win two years ago, certainly through the friendlies of the past few months and into the group games of this tournament. It has all often felt like an extended lap of honor, not only in commemoration of landing their third World Cup, but even more in appreciation of the closing stages of Messi's remarkable career.

Even into the second half of last Friday's knockout game against Cape Verde, it all felt like a team on