Argentina’s Team Play, England’s Midfield Hold the Key in World Cup Quarter-finals: Robbie Fowler

New Delhi, July 2026 : As the FIFA World Cup 2026 enters its decisive quarter-final stage, former England striker Robbie Fowler believes Argentina’s greatest weapon is not just Lionel Messi, but the collective brilliance of the entire squad. The Liverpool legend also backed England’s midfield superiority to play a decisive role in their blockbuster clash against Norway, while praising the growing competitiveness of emerging football nations at this year’s tournament.

Speaking as part of the Zee5 FIFA World Cup 2026 expert panel, Fowler analysed two of the tournament’s most anticipated quarter-final encounters — Argentina versus Switzerland and England against Norway — highlighting the tactical battles that could determine the semifinalists.

Argentina, the defending world champions, take on a disciplined Switzerland side with another step toward retaining their title at stake. While Messi continues to command global attention, Fowler insisted that focusing solely on the legendary forward would be a costly mistake.

According to Fowler, Argentina’s attacking threat comes from the fluid movement and technical quality spread throughout the squad. He pointed out that Messi and striker Julian Alvarez constantly shift positions, making it extremely difficult for defenders to maintain shape throughout the contest.

Rather than assigning special attention to one player, Fowler believes Switzerland must defend collectively.

“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,” he said.

Fowler also praised Argentina’s ability to dismantle organised defensive units through intelligent movement and quick combinations rather than relying purely on pace.

He noted that although Argentina may not always attack at blistering speed, their crisp one-touch passing, positional awareness and off-the-ball runs consistently create gaps in opposition defences. Breaking down compact defensive systems, he added, requires vision, timing and technical excellence — qualities Argentina possess in abundance.

The former England international also warned Switzerland against adopting an overly defensive mindset.

He believes that simply sitting deep for the entire match would eventually allow Argentina to find a breakthrough. Instead, Switzerland must remain compact while identifying the right moments to move forward, play through Argentina’s pressing system and ask questions of the South American defence.

According to Fowler, balance between attack and defence will be far more important than attempting to neutralise Messi alone.

The second marquee quarter-final pits England against Norway in a fascinating contest featuring two of Europe’s most prolific goalscorers — Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.

While both strikers are expected to dominate the headlines, Fowler believes their impact extends far beyond scoring goals.

He explained that Kane and Haaland create space for teammates through intelligent movement, forcing defenders to constantly adjust their positioning. Their ability to influence the game without touching the ball, he said, makes them among the world’s most dangerous forwards.

Despite Haaland’s remarkable form, Fowler feels England hold an important advantage in midfield.

He singled out Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Elliot Anderson as key figures behind England’s impressive World Cup campaign.

Rice, in particular, provides defensive stability that allows England’s creative players greater attacking freedom, while Bellingham has emerged as one of the standout performers of the tournament.

Fowler also highlighted the growing understanding between Kane and Bellingham.

He explained that Kane’s tendency to drop deep into midfield draws defenders out of position, creating space behind the backline. Bellingham’s perfectly timed forward runs into those areas have become one of England’s most effective attacking weapons and could prove decisive against Norway.

Defensively, however, England cannot afford to lose concentration against Haaland.

Fowler stressed that the ideal strategy is to cut off the supply line rather than simply marking the Manchester City striker.

He cautioned that players of Haaland’s quality require only a single opportunity to decide a match, making collective defensive organisation and disciplined positioning essential for England.

Looking beyond the quarter-finals, Fowler said one of the biggest positives of the FIFA World Cup 2026 has been the impressive performances of nations traditionally considered underdogs.

He praised teams such as Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo for competing fearlessly against football’s established powers, saying their displays have added excitement and unpredictability to the tournament.

According to Fowler, the success of these emerging teams demonstrates that fitness, organisation and tactical discipline can bridge the gap between football’s giants and developing nations. While the tournament favourites have largely progressed, they have been pushed much harder than many anticipated, making this World Cup one of the most competitive editions in recent memory.

With the race for the semifinals intensifying, Fowler believes tactical discipline, midfield control and collective teamwork — rather than individual brilliance alone — will determine which nations remain in the hunt for football’s biggest prize.