Como midfielder Nico Paz has revealed that Argentina‘s dramatic 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland took a significant mental toll—even from the substitutes’ bench. The 21-year-old, who did not feature in the World Cup knockout fixture, posted on social media showing that his wearable technology registered “high” stress levels throughout the contest.
The reigning world champions were forced into additional time despite Switzerland playing with ten men following Breel Embolo’s dismissal. Julian Alvarez eventually broke the deadlock with a curling effort before Lautaro Martinez sealed the result late in extra time, securing Argentina’s progression to a semi-final meeting with England on Wednesday.
Wearable data exposes match tension
Paz’s revelation offers a rare glimpse into the physiological impact of high-stakes tournament football on squad players. The Argentina squad utilise wearable devices to monitor vital signs and track performance metrics throughout matches. While Paz has seen action in the tournament—featuring as a substitute in the 3-0 group-stage victory over Algeria and starting the subsequent 3-1 win against Jordan—he watched the Switzerland encounter entirely from the sidelines.
Despite the numerical advantage after Embolo’s red card, Argentina struggled to break down resilient opposition during normal time. The reigning champions have stuttered throughout the competition, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, and required extra time to confirm their place in the last four.
Semi-final fixtures confirmed
Argentina will face England in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday, while France meet Spain on Tuesday. Paz will hope to be involved as the defending champions seek to maintain their quest for back-to-back global titles.
The Como player has accumulated more minutes than many anticipated, having started against Jordan after appearing off the bench against Algeria. Whether he features against England remains to be seen, though his elevated stress levels during the Switzerland match suggest he is fully invested in the national team’s progress regardless of his on-pitch role.