Argentina’s path to the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals has been anything but quiet. Lionel Messi has been the driving force with 8 goals but nearly every win the defending champions have picked up has come with controversy trailing behind it.
Algeria, Austria, Cape Verde and Egypt have all walked away with complaints about officiating after facing Argentina. The latest was a 3-2 comeback win over Egypt in the Round of 16, after Argentina found themselves down 2-0.
Switzerland has seen all of it, and they’re not leaving anything to chance against a side that has looked flawless in finishing off games. Ahead of their quarterfinal on Saturday, Swiss head coach Murat Yakin has his team running some unusual training sessions.
Reports suggest that Switzerland is holding intra-squad scrimmages with uneven numbers, 11 vs. Jose Ramon Fernandez. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and the goalkeeping coach are also putting in up to two hours a day on penalty shootout practice alone.
Switzerland want to walk into Saturday ready for absolutely any situation Argentina can throw at them. In Switzerland, this match is being treated as the most important in the country’s football history. The chance to knock out Messi and end Argentina’s title defense is being used as extra fuel for the squad.
Yakin has been studying Argentina closely and he came away believing his team has a real shot. “Judging by their last two matches, we could see that they are vulnerable,” he told reporters. “We are capable of stopping the world champions.”
That’s the kind of confidence that comes from having something to back it up. Switzerland got past Colombia in the previous round on penalty kicks, winning 4-3 after neither team scored through regulation or extra time. They know how to win ugly and they know how to hold their nerve.
Saturday’s quarterfinal goes down at Kansas City Stadium in Missouri on July 11. Switzerland have potentially done the homework and they believe preparation can do what talent alone has struggled to do against this Argentina side.
