Sunday, 12 July | Kansas City Stadium
20:00 (Kansas City) | 22:00 (Buenos Aires) | 03:00 (Bern)
bid for a second successive title – and a fourth in all – continues in Kansas City on Saturday with a against a durable Switzerland team who are set on making history of their own at this tournament.
Without doubt Argentina have made in North America, starting with the plain sailing of three straight Group J wins – Algeria , Austria and Jordan – inspired by six Lionel Messi goals and an (21 goals and counting) for the mesmeric talisman.
Messi has mustered two more in the knockout phase – including the crucial Round of 16 equaliser against Egypt – to challenge for the , but it also took the collective will and sheer determination of Lionel Scaloni’s defending champions to get over the line against both Egypt and Cabo Verde. Indeed, Argentina required an to finally subdue the debutants in the Round of 32. Another gruelling followed against the North Africans as the Albiceleste conjured three late goals to somehow deny Egpyt.
So five straight wins for the holders, and yet their momentum hasn’t been entirely irresistible – and you might say the same of a side who have quietly of putting together a best-ever World Cup campaign. Not only have Murat Yakin’s men booked the Nati’s first quarter-final since 1954 (and their fourth in total); they travel to the Midwest having claimed back-to-back knockout victories for the first time ever in a global showpiece.
The Alpine side were clinical in dispatching in the Round of 32 before making light of the absence of breakout star Johan Manzambi to outlast after a last-16 stalemate. Attacking midfielder Manzambi had excelled during the group stage, bringing real thrust to a team of experienced campaigners who moved on quickly from their with Qatar. A two-goal substitute in the over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Manzambi’s third finals goal then secured a against the co-hosts – and top spot in Group B – to keep Switzerland in Vancouver.
Now the respective bandwagons roll into Kansas, and whoever makes themselves more at home here will move on to an Atlanta semi-final on Wednesday 15 July against the winner of the quarter-final.
Emi Martinez; Molina, Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Tagliafico; De Paul, Paredes, Mac Allister, Fernandez; Messi, Alvarez
Kobel; Zakaria, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Ndoye, Sow, Vargas; Embolo
These teams have met twice before in the World Cup, bookending a seven-match shared history comprising five Albiceleste victories and two draws (including Messi's first-ever Argentina hat-trick). No surprise then that Argentina won both games on the global stage, beginning with a 2-0 group-stage success in Sheffield, England, at the 1966 tournament with Luis Artime and Ermindo Onega the scorers. The South Americans then squeezed past Switzerland in the Round of 16 at Brazil 2014, Angel Di Maria leaving it late with a 118th-minute clincher.
"[The Egypt win] was an unforgettable moment, one of the best. Whatever happens from here on, this team gives me the feeling that it never stops believing, even when everything is going against it." Lionel Scaloni, Argentina coach
"We have a phenomenal group, a group that never gives up no matter the difficulties and adversity. We're always together. Thanks to my team-mates, to the coaching staff, and to everyone cheering us... one more step forward." Enzo Fernandez, Argentina midfielder
"I think this generation we have now is a special one. Hopefully we’ll see another one like it one day, but we’ve been waiting a long time for a group like this. We, the more experienced players, are being pushed by the younger ones, and at the same time we have to lead by example every single day and every single game. Of course, we try to pass on our experience, but above all the mentality that, even as a small nation, anything is possible at this level, in elite football. From the coaching staff to the last player, we can all be proud of what we’ve achieved." Granit Xhaka, Switzerland captain
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This is staging its sixth and final match with Sunday’s quarter-final. For Argentina it’s a case of being right back where they started, since Messi scored his here. Subsequently the venue – which is home to NFL franchise Kansas City Chiefs – has witnessed four more games, the pick being the six-goal thriller between on matchday three of Group J. For Argentina and Switzerland it’s one last chance to sample one of the USA's most distinctive and atmospheric arenas.
Sources: FIFA Official
