Argentina v Switzerland

Match up in 30 mins - July 1st, Canada Day, national holiday here.

LINE-UPS:-

please log in to view this image

Argentina: Romero, Federico Fernandez, Zabaleta, Garay, Rojo, Gago, Mascherano, Di Maria, Higuain, Messi, Lavezzi. Subs: Orion, Campagnaro, Biglia, Perez, Maxi Rodriguez, Augusto Fernandez, Demichelis, Palacio, Alvarez, Aguero, Andujar, Basanta.

please log in to view this image

Switzerland: Benaglio, Lichtsteiner, Schar, Djourou, Rodriguez, Inler, Behrami, Xhaka, Shaqiri, Mehmedi, Drmic. Subs: Sommer, Ziegler, Senderos, von Bergen, Lang, Barnetta, Seferovic, Stocker, Dzemaili, Fernandes, Gavranovic, Burki.

Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

Sao Paulo should be dry and a little cooler for this game, conditions that may well help Switzerland.

please log in to view this image

please log in to view this image

How Argentina got here

There's a feeling that Argentina have yet to get going at this World Cup - even though they have won all three games.
Strongly fancied from the start, they conceded in two of their three Group F games - including two against Nigeria.
But at least their main man is firing and the two-time world champions will fancy their chances of advancing if Lionel Messi can add to his four goals in three games.

How Switzerland got here

The Swiss conceded six times in their three group games. Even England and Iran, who have long since departed Brazil, did not let in that many.
Fortunately they are better at scoring than defending. Seven goals in three games is a decent return for a team seeking to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in 60 years.
Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld admits: "We are the clear outsiders but we have nothing to lose and much to gain."

Messi v Shaqiri

please log in to view this image

please log in to view this image

please log in to view this image

Say cheese! These Switzerland fans are hungry for a win over Argentina.
Will Xherdan Shaqiri deliver as he did with a hat-trick on his last outing against Honduras?

please log in to view this image

 

Can't see anything but an argie win.

Now that's my best in trying to put the flyer curse on them.

 

Certainly on paper that would be the anticipated outcome, but if the Swiss score first, it could be an interesting contest.

 

That shadow across the pitch is annoying!

 

Too bad the Swiss didn't make that opportunity count! Their keeper will need to stay sharp.

 

The Swiss should have scored there - unlike Neuer, the keeper didn't come out.

 

Poor first half for the Argies.

 

I hope the ref doesn't let the Swiss foul Argentina out of the world cup

 

The twat of a commentator calling for a red, it was an accidental collision.

The ref did well.

 

Yet another wasted effort for the Swiss - these misses could well come back to haunt them!

 

My greatest fear is that my misses will come back to haunt me too.

 

You twat di maria, showing off in a 0-0 game.

Also, is messi just about the only flair forward who doesn't dive?

 

To his credit - that Swiss player just went down far too easily given the little afters shove from Messi.

 

The ref has done well, he knew it was nothing and yes also ignored players on the ground several times, they all got up though and the Swiss player took the piss, one second he was dying, the next he was up and screaming at the ref.

 

Nice tackle from the ref there!!

 

The Swiss final ball delivery is awful - they keep wasting opportunities and really need to concentrate on just a simple cross into the box and see what develops.

 

The Swiss also keep getting caught on the ball in dangerous areas when they have ample opportunity to clear it out.

 

That's harsh, I was hoping for pens.

 

Can you believe it? I can

 

Serves the Swiss right, playing for penalties with no imagination going forward.