​KANSAS CITY, MO — Argentina edged Switzerland 1-0 in the 2014 World Cup round of 16, with Granit Xhaka playing 66 minutes before being substituted. The two nations are set to face off again on Saturday, July 11, and Xhaka emphasized that the rematch will be judged on its own merits, not by memories from more than a decade ago. “It wasn’t the most pleasant moment and we conceded a goal in the 118th minute,” Xhaka noted. “Twelve years later, we’re back, and we will try to win against Argentina. We’ve adopted a new mentality, and Swiss football has improved significantly. We’ve become stronger not just in this tournament, but over the past few years.”
Switzerland enters as the clear underdog against the defending champions. A significant setback for the squad is the absence of midfielder Johan Manzambi. Swiss head coach Murat Yakin confirmed that Manzambi will miss the Argentina match. Manzambi sustained a knee injury during training last week and also sat out the round of 16 clash with Colombia. He has been a key contributor, scoring three goals and providing two assists across four World Cup appearances, and is the only Swiss player to reach three goals in the tournament. “Unfortunately, Johan is in a lot of pain,” Yakin said. “This was a shock to all of us. Momentum hasn’t been on his side. He has his teammates by his side, and we will do our utmost as a team.”
This would mark Switzerland’s best performance since their 1954 quarterfinal run. To push for more history, the Swiss will need to deliver a superior showing. The primary objective remains neutralizing Lionel Messi, widely regarded as the world’s best player, but the rest of Argentina’s squad presents a formidable challenge as well. “It’s a difficult game for us,” right back Denis Zakaria said. “It’s not easy to play against the best team in the world. We have to play the perfect game and prepare as thoroughly as possible for tomorrow.”
Switzerland has been stingy defensively, not conceding a goal in 224 minutes dating back to a 2-1 win over Canada. They posted a 2-0 clean sheet against Algeria in the round of 32 before advancing past Colombia in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw. The challenge against Argentina is formidable, but history shows that teams have been able to push Argentina during the tournament.
In other World Cup notes, opportunities and stories abound, including profiles like Mohammad Abualnadi, a Kansas City native making World Cup history with Jordan. As the tournament unfolds, the stage is set for another high-stakes clash in which Switzerland will need the collective effort, tactical discipline, and a bit of enduring belief to challenge one of the sport’s most celebrated nations.