Na big match for Kansas City as Switzerland go face Argentina for World Cup quarterfinal. Swiss coach Murat Yakin don talk say dem fit stop Lionel Messi, the man wey don score eight goals for this tournament. Yakin say, ‘We go try find best solution. Tomorrow on pitch, we go perform as unit. We go try make good passes and press high.’
Messi, wey be 39 years old, don show say age no be barrier. For round of 16 against Egypt, e miss penalty first half but come back to assist Cristian Romero goal and score equalizer before Enzo Fernández header finish 3-2 comeback. After match, Messi cry. Swiss captain Granit Xhaka talk say, ‘I no know if we fit stop am for 90 minutes. E go be very difficult. We go be smart, compact, close gaps and no give am too many spaces.’
Switzerland no don reach World Cup quarterfinal since 1954 when dem host and lose 7-5 to Austria. That match still be highest-scoring for World Cup history. Saturday be first time Switzerland and Argentina go meet for World Cup since 2014 round of 16 wey Argentina win 1-0 for extra time through Ángel Di María goal wey Messi assist. Xhaka wey play for that match say, ‘E no be pleasant moment. We perform well, we fit score. Now 12 years later, we come back and we go try win.’
Switzerland enter match unbeaten, win four of five matches and draw opener against Qatar. Dem just defeat Colombia for penalty shootout. Argentina face two tough knockout matches, push to brink against Cape Verde before rally to beat Egypt. Both games be among best for tournament. Xhaka tell im squad say dem need ‘bring A game’ and say, ‘E no over until referee whistle. Just go all in, try come back, bring hunger to win.’
For Argentina side, coach Lionel Scaloni go field strong lineup. Emiliano Martínez go dey for goal, Nahuel Molina for right back, Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez for center back, Facundo Medina for left back. Midfield get Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes and Enzo Fernández. Attack get Messi and Lautaro Martínez. Messi wey score 21 goals overall for World Cup don struggle but still find way to deliver. Xhaka wey play for Sunderland say, ‘I no dey here to talk. I want take next steps. We dey close to end. I dey yearn for am, I dey hungry. We need show how much we want am for pitch.’
Switzerland never reach semifinal for World Cup. Xhaka talk say, ‘I be person wey always dream and dream fit come true. You need work, sweat, give 100 percent. Sometimes you need do something new. You need push your limits if you want beat Argentina. I dey convinced my team ready.’
