Luck was on our side: Scaloni demands more despite Argentina win

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni refused to be carried away by his side's dramatic 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland that sealed a second consecutive FIFA World Cup semi-final appearance, insisting the reigning champions still have significant room for improvement.

Argentina were pushed to the limit by a resilient Swiss side, who forced extra time despite being reduced to 10 men. Goals from Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez in extra time eventually secured the Albiceleste's place in the last four.

Speaking after the match, Scaloni acknowledged the physical challenge posed by Switzerland and admitted his team benefited from fortune at crucial moments.

"We knew they were a very physical team, and they caused us a lot of problems because of that," Scaloni said.

The Argentine coach also delivered an honest assessment of his team's performance despite the victory.

"Luck was on our side today. We have to be realistic. There are still many aspects of our game that need improvement," he added.

While praising his players for reaching another World Cup semi-final, Scaloni quickly shifted his focus to the next challenge, with Argentina set to face England on Wednesday for a place in the final.

"This team has already achieved something worthy of history. Now we have to recover quickly because preparing for the next match is the most important thing," Scaloni said.

Argentina are now one win away from back-to-back World Cup finals, but their coach insists further improvement will be essential if they are to defend their title.