The scare against Egypt was nothing compared with their last-32 encounter with Cape Verde in Miami, where only stoppage-time heroics averted what would have been arguably the greatest upset in the history of professional sport.
These recent performances have raised fresh questions about this Argentina side.
Challenging the Triumphant Narratives
Scaloni is revered in Argentina, having ended a 28-year trophy drought, leading them to their third World Cup star and a pair of Copa América titles.
It has led to a dynamic, at times, where the press who cover the team have asked fewer questions than normal of him, having known little else other than triumph.
In this World Cup, that seems to have changed. On many occasions, it has led to Scaloni butting heads with the press over somewhat basic questions.
He has also been insistent, in both of Argentina's close-run knockout encounters, that his side were always in control of the match, something that feels almost farcical to even a casual observer.
Cape Verde were, at worst, on an even footing and Egypt outplayed them for stretches.
This is nothing new, of course: in 2022, Argentina lost a lead no fewer than four times, including in the final against France.
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That dynamic makes for fantastic storytelling but does not inspire much confidence, especially before their meeting with a well-organised, disciplined Switzerland side.
Should Argentina relinquish a lead, they may have a much harder time clawing it back.
