Swiss target historic World Cup semi-final against Argentina
Switzerland face the defending champions in Kansas City aiming for their first semi-final in 72 years, though they will be without Newcastle-bound midfielder Johan Manzambi.
Switzerland will face defending champions Argentina in a World Cup quarter-final in Kansas City. Captain Granit Xhaka has urged Swiss supporters to "keep dreaming". The team is aiming to reach the semi-finals for the first time in the country's history.
A victory would end a 72-year wait for a semi-final berth, with Switzerland's previous last-eight appearance coming as hosts in 1954. The 33-year-old Sunderland midfielder, whose club career includes spells at Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen, described the match as a career highlight.
The primary challenge for the Swiss will be containing Lionel Messi, the joint-leading scorer at the tournament with eight goals. Xhaka admitted the scale of the task ahead of the match at Arrowhead Stadium. "I don't know if we can stop him over 90 minutes," he said.
The Swiss captain emphasised that his squad must be disciplined in defence to limit the Argentine's influence. "We have to be very smart. We'll have to be compact, close the gaps, not give him too many spaces," Xhaka said.
Coach Murat Yakin signalled a proactive approach, stating the team would "press high" and play as a unit. Xhaka noted that keeping possession would be crucial to restricting Messi's involvement. "When we have the ball, he won't be able to act as much," he said.
Yakin also dismissed rumours of referee favouritism towards Argentina, following a complaint by Egypt after their last-16 defeat. Instead, the coach highlighted the physical nature of the reigning champions. "Every single duel, for example, is very strong. They really go in hard," Yakin said.
Switzerland's tactical options are restricted by the absence of Johan Manzambi. The Freiburg midfielder was outstanding during the group phase but missed the penalty shootout victory over Colombia. He is reportedly close to a transfer to Premier League club Newcastle, making his continued unavailability a significant setback.
"We tried everything that we could to get him back in peak form," Yakin said. "Unfortunately, he is not able to perform tomorrow." Switzerland will now rely on a collective effort to overcome the champions, with Xhaka insisting his side has the mentality to "really bother Argentina."
