Switzerland is set to face Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals, aiming to replicate and improve upon their previous encounter with the South American side. The match, scheduled for the early hours of Sunday, marks Switzerland’s first appearance at this stage of the tournament since they hosted the event in 1954.
Captain Granit Xhaka and defender Ricardo Rodriguez are the only members of the current Swiss squad who played in their last-16 defeat against Argentina in 2014. That match ended in a 1-0 extra-time loss, with Angel Di Maria scoring the decisive goal in the 118th minute. Despite the narrow margin, Switzerland strongly contained Lionel Messi throughout the game and came close to scoring themselves. Reflecting on that experience, Xhaka said, “That hurt us in 2014. We almost beat them.”
Xhaka, 33, acknowledged the significance of competing against two of football’s greats, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, during their era. He outlined the Swiss team’s goals for the tournament thus far: “Our No 1 goal was to be at the World Cup. No 2 was to get through the group stage and No 3 was to advance to the next round. We achieved goal No 4… now comes goal No 5.”
Switzerland’s run has been notable for both historical and sporting reasons. Their last quarter-final appearance in 1954 resulted in a high-scoring 7-5 defeat to Austria, a result unlikely to be repeated this time. The Swiss team, led by coach Murat Yakin, has impressed with disciplined performances, including a tense penalty shootout win over Colombia in the round of 16. That match was secured by Ruben Vargas’ decisive spot-kick in a 4-3 shootout victory, ending Switzerland’s streak of limited success in major tournament penalty shootouts.
Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel has been a standout performer throughout the competition. Standing nearly two meters tall, Kobel’s presence has been a key factor, with players like midfielder Remo Freuler noting the advantage of having such an imposing figure guarding the net. Yakin praised Kobel’s contributions, stating: “I’m incredibly happy for everyone — the players, the staff, and the fans at home. Huge compliments to Kobel as well, he’s playing a fantastic tournament.”
Borussia Dortmund’s Kobel described Switzerland’s progress as a remarkable achievement for a relatively small footballing nation. “It’s impossible to overstate what a huge success this is,” he said, emphasizing the significance of reaching the quarter-finals in a sport that commands global attention.
While the Swiss side is considered underdogs against the tournament holders, their recent performances indicate they should not be underestimated. Whether their tactical approach can contain Argentina’s attacking talents remains to be seen, but Switzerland is determined to build on their best World Cup performance in decades.