Argentina have reached another World Cup final, but is their method of winning truly sustainable?Their run has hardly been smooth. Lionel Messi’s team had to fight back from behind twice in the knockout rounds and were taken to extra time by Cape Verde in the round of 32. Had it not been for an 111th minute own goal, their World Cup defence might have ended there.Even against Switzerland in the quarter-finals, Argentina benefited from a contentious red card. Had Breel Embolo not been shown a second yellow card, following a case of “mistaken identity,” Switzerland might have made it through to the final four. They were the team on top at the time.Against England in the semi-finals, though, Argentina demonstrated why they can never be counted out. Despite not playing an especially positive game for the majority of Wednesday’s semi-final, Lionel Scaloni’s team still found a way to win.It is because of this that Spain must be wary of the defending champions in Sunday’s final. But is this pattern of winning a predictable pattern that can now be replicated in the biggest game in the sport?Scaloni’s use of a midfield diamond at the World Cup hasn’t always been the most effective.Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister and Leandro Paredes are all excellent players capable of combining through the middle, but their deployment together has robbed Argentina of some dynamism.This is presumably why Scaloni dropped De Paul for Giuliano Simeone to face England. The Atlético Madrid winger was picked to disrupt England’s game through consistent fouling, but also to stretch the pitch and provide some verticality.Simeone certainly succeeded in his first objective, committing five fouls in the first half alone.Giuliano Simeone produced a battling display for Argentina against England in the semi-final. (Thomas Coex / AFP via Getty Images)Argentina also succeeded in posing a threat from set pieces, scoring their equaliser against England from a well-worked corner kick routine. No team has scored more set piece goals at the 2026 World Cup than La Albiceleste. Not only this, three of their four corner kick goals have been decisive, changing the outcome of the matches they came in.