Argentina came into the World Cup as one of the favorites to win it all and deservedly so, and they should still be a favorite even though they haven’t played that well yet. On Tuesday, they will take on a Switzerland team that will come into the match with nothing to lose and an upset in their sights, and Argentina has to find some help for Lionel Messi to get through.
World Cup Odds: Argentina -200, Switzerland +585, Draw +325
Odds To Advance: Argentina -425, Switzerland +345
Why Argentina Can Win
While Messi has been the world’s best player at club level, he has never really stepped up for Argentina until now and the captain has basically singlehandedly carried his country through the group stage with four of their six goals. It has gotten to the point where Messi is being double-teamed and the opposition is daring someone else to beat them, but Messi has been fighting through it and he has been one of the top two or three players at the World Cup so far. As long as he is on the pitch, Argentina has a chance to win.
That being said, he needs support in the worst way and Sergio Aguero has been ruled out of this game with a hamstring injury. Angel Di Maria has shown flashes of brilliance, but he has to be more consistent and Gonzalo Higuain has to do the same because even though Messi has shown he can do it on his own, it would be much easier if he didn’t have to.
Why Switzerland Can Win
The Swiss have had their back against the wall before, especially after they were slaughtered by France 5-2 in their second Group E match. They picked themselves up to beat Honduras 3-0 as Xherdan Shaqiri scored a hat trick and even though those were his first goals of the tournament, he has been threatening throughout and the Argentinean defense has shown they can be breached. This team really has nothing to lose and they can leave it all out on the pitch on Tuesday, and if Shaqiri can break through to give them a lead, the Swiss could be able to hold off the South Americans.
However, Switzerland were destroyed every time they went forward against France and they have to be careful against Argentina, who have underachieved, but if they find their stride, they could hit the Swiss for six or seven goals.
Outlook
This will be the fourth meeting for these two countries with Argentina winning two and drawing one, and in Switzerland in 2012, the Argentineans won 3-1 in a friendly. Messi notched a hat trick while Shaqiri replied with one, and those two men will likely be in the spotlight again on Tuesday. The Swiss has to have the discipline to stay back and protect their defense or Argentina could run wild, and it is scary to think Argentina has probably played at 40-50% of their potential. They’ll take another step with a win on Tuesday.
Pick: Argentina
