Ahead of the World Cup Quarterfinal Against Argentina: Yakin Forgoes a "Watchdog" on Messi

Captain Granit Xhaka, Switzerland's record international, struck a similar tone. «Wir werden versuchen, viel Ballbesitz zu haben, unser Spiel durchzuziehen, damit Argentinien weniger am Ball ist», said the midfielder. Xhaka also stressed the historic dimension of the match: After 72 years, Switzerland is back in a World Cup quarterfinal, and that is a privilege. «Ich bin nicht bis hierhin gekommen, um hier stehen zu bleiben. Wir sind hier, um das Spiel gegen Argentinien zu gewinnen», he said with a view to the duel.

Manzambi Out – Aebischer Returns

Missing will be Johan Manzambi, who with three goals and two assists had been one of the defining figures of Switzerland's tournament. Eight of Switzerland's nine tournament goals came while he was on the pitch. A contusion to his left knee, suffered in the final training session before the round of 16, forces him to sit out. Yakin confirmed: «Manzambi wird nicht spielen können. Wir haben versucht, ihn fit zu bekommen, aber sein Zustand lässt einen Einsatz nicht zu.» Manzambi had watched the match against Colombia on Tuesday from the bench at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver with his knee bandaged. The attacking player, who according to reports is set to move to Newcastle United for around 60 million euros, thus remains the biggest gap in the Swiss squad.

There are also concerns in defense: defender Luca Jaquez completed an individual training program on Friday due to muscular problems and is also doubtful for the quarterfinal. Yakin, on the other hand, reported positively on the return of Michel Aebischer to team training following an injury. «Wir müssen Manzambis Ausfall jetzt als Team auffangen», Yakin added.

Argentina: Messi in Focus, Egypt as a Warning

On the other side stands Argentina, the three-time world champion, who in the round of 16 against Egypt came back from a 0-2 deficit eleven minutes from time to win 3-2. Coach Lionel Scaloni sees his team ready. «Für mich ist die Schweiz eine hervorragende Mannschaft», he said. Messi is fit, Scaloni stressed, with a fitness coach at his side. «Es ist wie immer, er ist immer bereit und das Team unterstützt ihn sehr.» At his sixth World Cup, Messi is in focus – and has scored at least one goal in each of his last eight World Cup matches.

The weather is likely to be an additional burden: despite kickoff at 8:00 p.m. local time, temperatures near 30 degrees are expected with high humidity. Xhaka pointed to his experience with Argentine Premier League players from his club in England. He has already played against Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), and Cristian Romero (Tottenham) and knows their quality. «Es ist ein Privileg, in derselben Ära wie er zu spielen», Xhaka said about Messi, but also warned: «Der Hunger ist so groß wie nie zuvor.»

Previous Encounters and Situation

The last meeting between the two teams at a World Cup ended in São Paulo in 2014 with a 0-1 after extra time in favor of Argentina, with the decisive goal coming in the 118th minute. Besides Xhaka, only left-back Ricardo Rodríguez from the current Swiss squad was involved back then. In the following years, Switzerland reached the quarterfinals at the European Championships in 2021 and 2024 but was eliminated there. «1954 verpasste man den Sprung in die Top vier bei der Heim-WM durch ein 5:7 gegen Österreich», Yakin recalled, referring to Switzerland's last World Cup quarterfinal 72 years ago.

Tactically, according to both coaches' assessment, it is likely to be an even contest. «Aus taktischer Sicht dürfte es ein sehr interessantes Spiel werden», said Yakin, calling it a «gigantischen» match. At the same time, he warned: «Gleichzeitig haben wir gesehen, dass Argentinien nicht unbesiegbar ist.» Xhaka put it similarly: «Ich träume gerne, und ab und zu gehen Träume in Erfüllung.»

The «Albiceleste» travels to the match as defending champion and with World Cup record goalscorer Messi as the clear favorite, while Switzerland as the underdog wants to repeat the greatest success in its own football history.

Carlos Tevez, too, had praised the team's attitude after the round of 16: «Die eigentliche Bewertung gilt dem Herz, das sie gezeigt hat, und ihrem unbedingten Willen, niemals aufzugeben», he said on ESPN Argentina. For Switzerland, it is about turning a new page – 72 years after the last World Cup quarterfinal and twelve years after the narrow defeat in Brazil.