Argentina’s chaotic title defence is proving an extremely entertaining watch for the neutral, but they aren’t without their detractors after a red card escape for Messi and several dubious calls going their way in the previous rounds.
Lionel Scaloni’s men arrive in Kansas City having barely survived two monumental scares. After needing an 111th-minute own goal to scrape past tournament debutants Cape Verde 3-2 in the round of 32, the world champions stared into the abyss against Egypt.
Trailing 2-0 with just 11 minutes remaining, a combination of late brilliance and highly contentious VAR decisions, including a disallowed Egyptian goal and a waved-away penalty shout, allowed La Albiceleste to flip the tie on its head.
The outside noise surrounding favourable officiating has only intensified with the appointment of controversial Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro for this weekend's clash.
Murat Yakin’s Switzerland have operated entirely under the radar, suffocating opponents with a pragmatic, defence-first approach. Fresh off a tense penalty shootout victory over Colombia, the Red Crosses are aiming to reach their first semi-final in history, having last tasted quarter-final action 72 years ago on home soil.
Team News and Lineups
Argentina
Lionel Scaloni is expected to shuffle his pack after his side looked horribly exposed in transition against Egypt. The battle for the left-back spot remains highly contested, with Facundo Medina pushing hard to displace Nicolas Tagliafico.
Up front, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martínez are engaged in a straight shootout to partner Lionel Messi, who continues to lead the Golden Boot race with eight goals despite missing a first-half penalty against the North Africans.
- Argentina Predicted Lineup (4-4-2): E. Martínez; Molina, Romero, Li. Martínez, Medina; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernández, Almada; Messi, La. Martínez
Switzerland
The Swiss medical staff are sweating over the fitness of breakout attacking midfielder Johan Manzambi. The highly-rated youngster had netted three times before missing the Colombia clash with a knee injury, and AC Milan's Ardon Jashari is on standby to retain his place if needed.
Silvan Widmer and Ruben Vargas are both pushing for recalls out wide, while veterans Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler will need to summon their reserves after a gruelling 120-minute shift in the previous round. Breel Embolo will continue to lead the line as the lone focal point.
- Switzerland Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Widmer, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Ndoye, Jashari, Vargas; Embolo
Argentina vs Switzerland preview
Across seven historical encounters, Switzerland have never beaten Argentina (D2, L5), managing just three goals in total while conceding 15. That run includes a 5-0 friendly drubbing in 1980, a 2-0 defeat at the 1966 World Cup, and a heart-breaking 1-0 loss in Brazil twelve years ago.
However, Yakin’s current crop are an entirely different proposition. They are the ultimate tournament pragmatists and possess a remarkable statistic to back it up: they have not trailed for a single minute of this entire World Cup campaign, including the qualifiers.
While Argentina have spent the knockout stages abandoning their defensive structure to desperately chase games, Switzerland are perfectly comfortable suffering without the ball, nullifying space, and relying on goalkeeper Gregor Kobel when the lines are finally breached.
Forget the traditional tactical chalkboard. This quarter-final is a clash of sheer emotional temperatures. Argentina thrive in the fire, feeding off chaos, controversy, and late, breathless drama.
Switzerland, meanwhile, are ice-cold, methodical, and designed to drag opponents into a slow, frustrating war of attrition.
Rather than predicting how the formations will map out on the pitch, the defining question is whether the Swiss can maintain their immense psychological discipline when the inevitable South American storm, and the intense spotlight on the officiating, turns up the heat.
Argentina vs Switzerland picks and predictions
- Draw at HT and FT tipped at 13/4 (4.25) by VB Tips
- Both teams to score at 11/10 (2.10) tipped by Javier Rey
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