There is a certain electricity that crackles through the air when a nation's hopes rest on the shoulders of one man. And tonight in this World Cup qua...
There is a certain electricity that crackles through the air when a nation's hopes rest on the shoulders of one man. And tonight in this World Cup quarter final, Argentina's Lionel Messi steps onto the pitch for his 205th international cap carrying the weight of a country desperate to see him lift that golden trophy one more time. Lionel Scaloni has named an unchanged side, a show of faith in the XI that clawed their way back from the brink against Egypt in the last 16. That fightback was pure Argentine grit, a reminder that this team does not know when it is beaten.Switzerland, however, are the ultimate party poopers. They will not be seduced by the romance of Messi's narrative. They will drop into a disciplined low block, choke the space in central areas, and look to hit on the break with clinical transitional play. The Swiss have a habit of making giants feel small. They did it to France, they did it to Spain, and they will have watched Argentina's defensive vulnerabilities against Egypt with keen interest.This is where the tactical nuance gets really interesting. Argentina's full backs love to bomb forward, leaving gaps that a side like Switzerland can exploit with the pace of their wingers. Scaloni's men will need to be patient, to avoid the frustration that leads to rushed passes and misplaced crosses. Messi will drift, he will drop deep, he will try to pull the Swiss defence out of shape. But if Switzerland's midfield axis can hold their nerve, we could be in for a cagey, nervy affair. Squeaky bum time, as they say.Let's be honest, though. When Messi has the ball in that inside left channel, the whole stadium holds its breath. He has that ability to turn a tight, tactical chess match into a moment of individual brilliance that no system can contain. The winner of this tie gets England in the semi finals. That is a mouthwatering prospect. But first, Argentina must solve the Swiss puzzle. And Switzerland must find a way to stop the magician with one last trick up his sleeve.
