​Switzerland are thrilled to take on Lionel Messi’s Argentina and believe they can pull off an upset to reach the World Cup semi-finals for the first time. Head coach Murat Yakin said on the eve of Saturday’s high-stakes clash that the upcoming match promises to be gigantic and that the team is fully prepared after watching Argentina show weaknesses in their recent form. “You could see in the last two games that Argentina were vulnerable as well. So we are prepared and it will be a gigantic game for us,” Yakin remarked.
There is a sense of national pride in backing Switzerland to upset the world champions, with the optimism fueled by Argentina’s path to the knockout stages. Argentina needed extra time to overcome debutants Cape Verde 3-2 in the round of 32 and had to come from 2-0 down with 12 minutes remaining to beat Egypt 3-2 in the last 16. “We can challenge the world champions,” Yakin declared, highlighting that his squad has already shown they can rise to the occasion. Switzerland advanced to these knockouts by beating Algeria 2-0 in the quarter-finals and then defeating Colombia on penalties in the previous round, demonstrating resilience and character when it mattered most.
Defender Manuel Akanji stressed that Switzerland “are not finished yet” and insisted the team can take the game to any opponent and make it a difficult night for them. The Swiss are aiming to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in 72 years, since the 1954 tournament on home soil, and captain Granit Xhaka says the hunger within the squad is greater than ever. “The hunger is as big as never before. You must give your all if you can write an even bigger story,” he stated.
Switzerland’s last World Cup meeting with Argentina came in the 2014 round of 16, a tightly contested match that Argentina won 1-0 after extra time thanks to a goal from Ángel Di María, created by Messi. On Saturday, it will be up to the Swiss defense, led by Akanji, to deny Messi who has already notched eight goals in the tournament and, in Xhaka’s view, remains “one of the best players on the planet.”
A lighthearted moment came from forward Zeki Amdouni, who joked on social media that he would be playing against Messi and could even quit football afterward. However, there was disappointing injury news for Switzerland: forward Johan Manzambi, a three-time scorer, is unlikely to recover in time from a knee injury that already sidelined him against Colombia, leaving the Swiss with fewer attacking options.
Yakin’s tactical plan against Colombia appears to be a blueprint for how to face Argentina, and the manager said he expects at least a comparable level of passion and belief from his players in this latest test. He also believes Argentina will respect Switzerland, noting that the Swiss have earned that respect through their performances in this World Cup.
The challenge ahead is immense, but the mood in the Swiss camp is buoyant. After years of waiting for a first-ever semi-final appearance, the players and staff feel the moment is within reach. If they can replicate the intensity and organization that has characterized their campaign so far, they could become the surprise package of the tournament and write a new chapter in Swiss football history.