Paredes' cramps saved Alvarez from being substituted, and the Argentine striker then scored the crucial goal, helping his team advance to the World Cup semi-finals.
To win a championship, one always needs a stroke of luck. And fate often intervenes at the most unexpected moments. In the Argentina vs. Switzerland match, which went into extra time, Switzerland, playing with ten men, adopted a defensive strategy, and Argentina struggled to score a second goal. Scaloni had already decided to bring on José Lopez. With little time left in the game, he planned to substitute a taller striker, hoping to exploit the common late-game crosses to win from the air. The substitution was ready, but…
Paredes felt muscle discomfort and requested to be substituted. Scaloni immediately halted the planned substitution and adjusted the strategy. Instead of replacing Alvarez, José López came on as a substitute, replacing the Boca Juniors midfielder. Alvarez then scored that unforgettable goal – a goal that not only broke the deadlock but also sent Scaloni's team into the semi-finals.
José López is perhaps one of the least experienced players in the Argentine team. He did not confirm directly, but his words implied: "I didn't hear clearly, but I think it was Julián who was supposed to replace me and bring me on."
The injured player—whose injury allowed the Atletico Madrid striker to remain on the field—Paredes didn't mince words: "I thought they were going to substitute Julian. I told him about it. So I'm glad I got cramps, haha." Indeed: fate was on Alvarez's side.
