On the night of July 12, at the "Errouhed" stadium in Kansas City, the reigning world champions - the Argentine team - will face the main surprise of the tournament - the Swiss team. For the Argentinians, this is an opportunity to continue defending the title won in Qatar. For the Swiss, it's a chance to reach the semifinals of the World Cup for the first time since 1954.
The focus will be on Lionel Messi, who has already scored 8 goals in the tournament and is leading the goal-scoring race alone. The Swiss, on the other hand, are counting on their famous organized defense and counterattacks.
Final Prediction
Breaking through the Swiss defense will be difficult for the Argentinians - Switzerland concedes the fewest goals among the quarterfinalists. However, Messi is in fantastic form and is capable of solving the episode alone. At the same time, Argentina's attack with Lautaro Martinez and Di Maria creates constant pressure on any defense.
The most probable scenario - Argentina's victory in a tense battle, but with a high probability of goals from both sides, as Argentina's defense does not look impenetrable.
Win Argentina
Path to the quarterfinals
Argentina
The Argentinians passed the group stage confidently, winning three matches (3:0 over Algeria, 2:0 over Austria, and 3:1 over Jordan). However, problems began in the knockout stage. In the round of 16, they narrowly defeated Cape Verde in extra time (3:2). In the round of eight, the Argentinians were behind Egypt 0:2, but managed to come back and win 3:2.
Argentina's statistics at the tournament:
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Wins | 4 out of 5 matches, 1 win in extra time |
| Goals scored (average) | 2.6 per match |
| Goals conceded (average) | 1.4 per match |
| Top scorer | Lionel Messi (8 goals) |
Switzerland
Switzerland, on the contrary, looked more confident as the tournament progressed. In the group stage, they took first place: a draw with Qatar (1:1), wins over Bosnia (4:1) and Canada (2:1). In the round of 16, they defeated Algeria (2:0). In the round of eight, Switzerland played to a draw 0:0 with Colombia and won in a penalty shootout (4:3), making it to the quarterfinals for the first time in 72 years.
Switzerland's statistics at the tournament:
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Wins | 3 out of 5 matches, 2 draws |
| Goals scored (average) | 1.8 per match |
| Goals conceded (average) | 0.8 per match |
| Top scorer | Breel Embolo (2 goals) |
Who is the favorite?
Argentina is considered an obvious favorite. Bookmakers rate Argentina's victory at 1.72, a draw at 3.50, and Switzerland's victory at 5.60. According to supercomputer data, Argentina's chances of winning the tournament are 15.9%, while Switzerland's are 3.46%.
Most experts are unanimous in their prediction: they predict Argentina's victory. However, Switzerland's head coach Murat Yakin stated: "Argentina is not invincible. We will try to beat the champion."
Key factors of the match
Switzerland's defense against Argentina's attack
Switzerland shows one of the best defenses at the tournament - only 4 goals conceded in 5 matches. Argentina, on the other hand, concedes goals in every game, including two from Cape Verde and two from Egypt. Former coach of CSKA Alexander Grishin noted: "Argentina makes too many mistakes in the last matches. Switzerland's ace in the game is defense - the Messi team has to break through a very strong defense."
Injury concerns
Switzerland has serious problems with the squad. The participation of Joachim Mankambo (injury), Ruben Vargas, Djibril Sou and Lukas Hakkes is in doubt. Mankambo missed the match against Colombia due to an injury. Argentina has minor concerns about one of the midfielders, but rotation allows them to cover the position without losing quality.
Head-to-head history
The teams have met 7 times. Argentina won 4 matches, 2 ended in a draw, Switzerland never won. On the World Cup they met twice: in 1966 (2:0 in favor of Argentina) and in the round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup, where Argentina won 1:0 in extra time thanks to a goal from Angel Di Maria.
Expected lineups
Argentina (4-3-3): E. Martinez - Molina (Montiel), K. Romero, L. Martinez, Taliafico - De Paul, Paredes, Mac Allister - Messi, Lautaro Martinez (Julian Alvarez), Enzo Fernandez.
Switzerland (4-2-3-1): Kobel - Widmer, Ackermann, Xhaka, Rodriguez - Zaccaria, Freuler - N'doye, Jaka, Rieder (Vargas) - Embolo.
Disclaimer
All predictions presented in this material are purely informational and analytical in nature. They reflect the subjective opinion of our editorial team, based on available statistical data (including materials from Opta) and the current form of the teams. Football remains an unpredictable sport, and any match may bring a surprise. We do not guarantee that the predictions will match the actual results and urge you to approach any betting decisions responsibly, keeping in mind the possible risks. The final choice always remains with you.