Could another miracle be on the cards?
Having bested Colombia on penalties in Vancouver’s World Cup finale, Switzerland could accomplish their best-ever World Cup finish with a win in their quarterfinal in Kansas City on Saturday.
That is, if, the Nati can do what Mo Salah’s Egypt could not achieve against Lionel Messi and Argentina, after the Albiceleste stormed back to complete a magical comeback in the final 11 minutes of their Round of 16 match against the Pharoahs.
The Swiss made the quarterfinals of the World Cup in three of their first four tournament appearances, in 1934, 1938, and as hosts in 1954, but have failed to emerge from the Round of 16 since then. A fixture at the World Cup since 2006, three consecutive top-16 finishes could give way to a huge climb for the mountainous nation if they win on Saturday and make the semifinals.
Standing in their way, are reigning champions Argentina, who didn’t look impervious through the first 75 minutes against Egypt, giving up a 2-0 lead to Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Ziko. But, as the saying ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’ goes, Messi started and Enzo Fernández finished off the comeback, amid controversies of preferential treatment and unfair refereeing.
Swiss winger and leading scorer Johan Manzambi has been ruled out for a second straight match after suffering a training injury in the lead up to his side’s Round of 16 match against Colombia.
Whichever team prevails in Kansas City on Saturday will face a defensive test in the semifinals against the winner of Saturday’s other quarterfinal — either Erling Haaland’s Norway, or, Harry Kane’s England.