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KANSAS CITY, MO. — After 72 long years, Switzerland has finally made it back to the quarterfinals at the World Cup. Break out the cowbells, yell from the mountaintops and all that.
Or … not.
Switzerland’s reward for its historic run is to be cannon fodder for Lionel Messi and Argentina.
Of course anything can happen Saturday, July 11, and we’ve seen enough chaos at this World Cup already (looking at you, Norway) to know it is possible. Switzerland is talking a good game, too, insisting it isn’t intimated at facing the defending champions.
But there is a difference between possible and probable and, sorry Switzerland, it just isn’t happening.
Argentina has Messi, the greatest player ever. The Albiceleste clearly have the soccer gods on their side, too, having come back from the dead against Egypt and Cape Verde. Switzerland, meanwhile, will have to make do without Johan Manzambi, who had three goals and two assists in the group stage.
Have I mentioned that Messi guy?
“I don’t know if we can stop (Messi) for 90 minutes,” captain Granit Xhaka acknowledged Friday, July 10. “It’s going to be difficult.
Said midfielder Denis Zakaria, “We know that he's one of the best players in the world and we have to do a great game against Argentina. But at the end, Argentina is not only Messi. All the players are good, and we know that we don't have to be only focused on Messi.”
Yeah, that’s not helping Switzerland’s case.
This isn’t the first time Switzerland has faced Argentina in the knockout rounds. They played in the 2014 round of 16, going to overtime before Angel Di Maria scored in the 118th minute.
But 12 years is an eternity in World Cup time, and any grudge Switzerland might have had has long since faded.
“This is a completely different match than it was in 2014,” said Xhaka, who along with Ricardo Rodriguez are holdovers from that team.
This Switzerland squad is perfectly respectable. It has made the quarterfinals at the last two European championships, and advanced to the knockout rounds in five of its last six appearances at the World Cup.
It won its group here, thought that group consisted of Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar.
But this World Cup was set up for a rematch of the Argentina-France final from four years ago, and little has happened since then to change that.
France has been the class of the tournament, with Kylian Mbappé scoring at will and Les Bleus yet to be tested. Argentina has been a roller coaster. But the fun kind that everyone gets back in line for as soon as they get off, not one of those rickety ones that are a death trap waiting to happen.
No matter how deep in trouble they are, Argentina finds a way to win. Having Messi helps, but this team is so experienced, so comfortable with each other that it’s going to take an exceptional team to beat them.
France, maybe Spain, are exceptional teams. Switzerland, not so much.
“We know that Argentina has many qualities. Few people talk about Switzerland’s qualities. However, you’ll see we have many qualities,” Xhaka said. “Tomorrow we will talk on the pitch and show what we can do. Everything else will not matter.”
Switzerland is not Norway. Erling Haaland and Norway might have been a surprise to make the quarterfinals before the tournament began, but there is no question they are one of the best teams left.
Switzerland? Again, not so much. Colombia was the better team in their round-of-16 game, but Switzerland had the good fortune that the Cafeteros couldn’t score and they went to the crapshoot that is penalties.
Argentina, for as heart attack-inducing as it has been, isn’t likely to let things get that far.
“We have to be ready. We know that we play against the best team in the world,” Zakaria said. “You have to do a great game to win that game. If you are not ready, we are not going to win that game.
“So yeah, we have to be prepared to sleep well and to be ready for the fight tomorrow.”
Switzerland made history at this World Cup. That likely will have to be enough.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Switzerland's reward for first World Cup quarterfinal in 72 years? Messi
Continue reading...
Or … not.
Switzerland’s reward for its historic run is to be cannon fodder for Lionel Messi and Argentina.
Of course anything can happen Saturday, July 11, and we’ve seen enough chaos at this World Cup already (looking at you, Norway) to know it is possible. Switzerland is talking a good game, too, insisting it isn’t intimated at facing the defending champions.
But there is a difference between possible and probable and, sorry Switzerland, it just isn’t happening.
Argentina has Messi, the greatest player ever. The Albiceleste clearly have the soccer gods on their side, too, having come back from the dead against Egypt and Cape Verde. Switzerland, meanwhile, will have to make do without Johan Manzambi, who had three goals and two assists in the group stage.
Have I mentioned that Messi guy?
“I don’t know if we can stop (Messi) for 90 minutes,” captain Granit Xhaka acknowledged Friday, July 10. “It’s going to be difficult.
Said midfielder Denis Zakaria, “We know that he's one of the best players in the world and we have to do a great game against Argentina. But at the end, Argentina is not only Messi. All the players are good, and we know that we don't have to be only focused on Messi.”
Yeah, that’s not helping Switzerland’s case.
2014 Argentina vs. Switzerland game won't be a factor
This isn’t the first time Switzerland has faced Argentina in the knockout rounds. They played in the 2014 round of 16, going to overtime before Angel Di Maria scored in the 118th minute.
But 12 years is an eternity in World Cup time, and any grudge Switzerland might have had has long since faded.
“This is a completely different match than it was in 2014,” said Xhaka, who along with Ricardo Rodriguez are holdovers from that team.
This Switzerland squad is perfectly respectable. It has made the quarterfinals at the last two European championships, and advanced to the knockout rounds in five of its last six appearances at the World Cup.
It won its group here, thought that group consisted of Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar.
But this World Cup was set up for a rematch of the Argentina-France final from four years ago, and little has happened since then to change that.
Best teams rise to the top at World Cup
France has been the class of the tournament, with Kylian Mbappé scoring at will and Les Bleus yet to be tested. Argentina has been a roller coaster. But the fun kind that everyone gets back in line for as soon as they get off, not one of those rickety ones that are a death trap waiting to happen.
No matter how deep in trouble they are, Argentina finds a way to win. Having Messi helps, but this team is so experienced, so comfortable with each other that it’s going to take an exceptional team to beat them.
France, maybe Spain, are exceptional teams. Switzerland, not so much.
“We know that Argentina has many qualities. Few people talk about Switzerland’s qualities. However, you’ll see we have many qualities,” Xhaka said. “Tomorrow we will talk on the pitch and show what we can do. Everything else will not matter.”
Switzerland is no Norway
Switzerland is not Norway. Erling Haaland and Norway might have been a surprise to make the quarterfinals before the tournament began, but there is no question they are one of the best teams left.
Switzerland? Again, not so much. Colombia was the better team in their round-of-16 game, but Switzerland had the good fortune that the Cafeteros couldn’t score and they went to the crapshoot that is penalties.
Argentina, for as heart attack-inducing as it has been, isn’t likely to let things get that far.
“We have to be ready. We know that we play against the best team in the world,” Zakaria said. “You have to do a great game to win that game. If you are not ready, we are not going to win that game.
“So yeah, we have to be prepared to sleep well and to be ready for the fight tomorrow.”
Switzerland made history at this World Cup. That likely will have to be enough.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Switzerland's reward for first World Cup quarterfinal in 72 years? Messi
Continue reading...
