Battle of the Messis looms
SWITZERLAND’s “Alpine Messi” Xherdan Shaqiri, hot from a hat trick against Honduras in his last game, meets the real Messi tomorrow as the Europeans seek a World Cup upset.
SWITZERLAND’s “Alpine Messi” Xherdan Shaqiri, hot from a hat-trick against Honduras in his last game, meets the real Messi tomorrow as the Europeans seek a major World Cup upset when they face Argentina in the last 16.
Shaqiri is the same height as Lionel Messi and has a similarly low centre of gravity and, while he has some way to go to match the feats of the prolific Argentina forward, he gives Switzerland a genuine threat up front.
Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano said his team would be keeping a close eye on him.
“The (Swiss) are an orderly team who like to play good football and have top players,” he told Argentina’s TyC Sports TV station. “Shaqiri and (forward Haris) Seferovic are in good form and we’re going to have to be very careful.”
Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld believes that by remaining organised his team could make their first quarterfinal appearance since they hosted the finals 60 years ago. The Swiss have never beaten Argentina, drawing two games and losing four.
“We are the clear outsiders but we have nothing to lose and much to gain,” he told the Swiss football association website.
“We can make history on Tuesday (tomorrow). In one game, anything is possible,” added the German coach, who will step down after the World Cup.
Switzerland are hoping the large Brazilian contingent in Sao Paulo will be backing them against the hosts’ arch-rivals Argentina.
“I think we will definitely have the support of the Brazilian fans,” goalkeeper Diego Benaglio said. “You can feel the rivalry between Brazil and Argentina here.”
Benaglio said his side had the added motivation of winning for absent teammates Steve von Bergen, who was injured in the loss to France, and unused striker Mario Gavranovic, who injured his knee in training on Saturday.
While Argentina’s defence will be hoping to shackle Shaqiri, Switzerland’s back line has an arguably tougher task in shutting out an inspired Messi.
Argentina, aiming for their third World Cup title, will be without injured forward Sergio Aguero, with Ezequiel Lavezzi set to take his place in a continued three-man attack also comprising Messi and Gonzalo Higuain.