Last 16: Argentina (1F) vs Switzerland (2E)

Switzerland look one of the weakest teams left in spite of Shaqiri's latest heroics. One could argue that they wouldn't reach the last 16 from any other group except the one they were in and maybe H or not even that.

Let me be honest here. If we somehow lose this it will spell doomsday in Argentina. I can't see that happening but then no one has seen the future.

messixaviesta wrote:Absolutely. Actually they were better in this aspect in the last two world cups. Maybe their key players are also over the hill now.

If Steve Van Bergen wouldn't have been taken out by Giroud, he and Fabian Schär would have formed a solid CB partnership. And if they'd have used Yann Sommer instead of Diego Benaglio who has a blind understanding with Schär from seasons at Basel, the backline would have been more than solid. IMO their current Swiss cheese defense is much due to Van Bergen getting injured, Diego Benaglio being dubious at times and Hitzfeld considering Djourou+Senderos a viable CB option (okay, in the last match he fortunately did field Schär).

rwo power wrote:

messixaviesta wrote:Absolutely. Actually they were better in this aspect in the last two world cups. Maybe their key players are also over the hill now.

If Steve Van Bergen wouldn't have been taken out by Giroud, he and Fabian Schär would have formed a solid CB partnership. And if they'd have used Yann Sommer instead of Diego Benaglio who has a blind understanding with Schär from seasons at Basel, the backline would have been more than solid. IMO their current Swiss cheese defense is much due to Van Bergen getting injured, Diego Benaglio being dubious at times and Hitzfeld considering Djourou+Senderos a viable CB option (okay, in the last match he fortunately did field Schär).

Agree with the first point. Don't know much about the second point but if you have followed these players closely then you should be right.

Hitzfeld was skyping Queiroz last night, asking for tips how to play Argentina.

Natalie Portman wrote:Hitzfeld was skyping Queiroz last night, asking for tips how to play Argentina.

Queiroz knows only one way. He is one of most negative managers I have ever seen in football. Doing this for Iran is understandable but that he made Portugal play the way he did at WC 2010 showed that's all he knows.

BTW the last 16 knock outs first began in WC 1986 and we have hardly ever been knocked out by an unfancied team. Not just in last 16 but the team knocking us out of the world cup is almost invariably a super power.

WC 1986 - Champions

WC 1990 - Lost to Germany in the final

WC 1994 - Lost to Romania in the pre quarter finals (This is the one exception but the team was in ill mental health due to Maradona's drugs expulsion)

WC 1998 - Lost to Netherlands in the quarter final

WC 2002 - Went out in the group stage. Drew with Sweden and lost to England. Note that it was not a knock out and the only team which beat us was England who after everything else is still considered a big team and were even better then.

WC 2006 - Went out on penalties to Germany in the quarter final

WC 2010 - Lost to Germany is the quarter final


So what does that summary suggest? We do not lose to so called minnows and do not intend to have new experiences of this kind this time. Three times our bane has been Germany. So not facing them before the final is great. The other team who has knocked us out is Netherlands who we should meet in the semi final. That match could go either way but more on that when it happens. Romania I already mentioned was a special case. Anything less than semi finals from here for us is just so completely unacceptable that it's hard to even fathom.

messixaviesta wrote:BTW the last 16 knock outs first began in WC 1986 and we have hardly ever been knocked out by an unfancied team. Not just in last 16 but the team knocking us out of the world cup is almost invariably a super power.

WC 1986 - Champions

WC 1990 - Lost to Germany in the final

WC 1994 - Lost to Romania in the pre quarter finals (This is the one exception but the team was in ill mental health due to Maradona's drugs expulsion)

WC 1998 - Lost to Netherlands in the quarter final

WC 2002 - Went out in the group stage. Drew with Sweden and lost to England. Note that it was not a knock out and the only team which beat us was England who after everything else is still considered a big team and were even better then.

WC 2006 - Went out on penalties to Germany in the quarter final

WC 2010 - Lost to Germany is the quarter final


So what does that summary suggest? We do not lose to so called minnows and do not intend to have new experiences of this kind this time. Three times our bane has been Germany. So not facing them before the final is great. The other team who has knocked us out is Netherlands who we should meet in the semi final. That match could go either way but more on that when it happens. Romania I already mentioned was a special case. Anything less than semi finals from here for us is just so completely unacceptable that it's hard to even fathom.

wow...thats an interesting stat. i also hope this round wont be a big problem for us...

Natalie Portman wrote:Hitzfeld was skyping Queiroz last night, asking for tips how to play Argentina.

Quiroz is the reason of what Iran got in this world cup. otherwise they could do better. his math was to get a draw in first 2 games and win last one. they probably the only team who did not want to win the very first game.

neuro11 wrote:

Natalie Portman wrote:Hitzfeld was skyping Queiroz last night, asking for tips how to play Argentina.

Quiroz is the reason of what Iran got in this world cup. otherwise they could do better. his math was to get a draw in first 2 games and win last one. they probably the only team who did not want to win the very first game.

If we played any other way we would've got our asses handed to us like other Asian teams in WC.

You have to understand that there's a huge difference in football quality between Asian teams and other continents.

Pedram wrote:

neuro11 wrote:

Natalie Portman wrote:Hitzfeld was skyping Queiroz last night, asking for tips how to play Argentina.

Quiroz is the reason of what Iran got in this world cup. otherwise they could do better. his math was to get a draw in first 2 games and win last one. they probably the only team who did not want to win the very first game.

If we played any other way we would've got our asses handed to us like other Asian teams in WC.

You have to understand that there's a huge difference in football quality between Asian teams and other continents.

and what glory did you take in the end???  
played wallball in first two game yet loosing one and got trashed in the third...unlike Australia and Japan putting a brave display every game ... Their game was entertaining to the least. you came this far to offer some extremely boring display....

Yeah getting pounded 5-1 against Colombia and 4-2 against Algeria is considered brave display, there's a difference between courage and stupidity.

Also i don't share your view on how football should be played, for me a loss is a loss no matter how you try to sugar coat it.

Argentina? Switzerland? (That is, back to topic, please, or I will post a couple of yummy Yann Sommer pics ^^)

Pedram wrote:Yeah getting pounded 5-1 against Colombia and 4-2 against Algeria is considered brave display, there's a difference between courage and stupidity.

Also i don't share your view on how football should be played, for me a loss is a loss no matter how you try to sugar coat it.

yeah...i can understand your view of football from your 4 WC appearance since 78 whereas Korea and Japan qualifying regularly since 86 and 98 respectively....

rwo power wrote:Argentina? Switzerland? (That is, back to topic, please, or I will post a couple of yummy Yann Sommer pics ^^)

sorry, thats my last off topic post

things might get ugly tomorrow as Brazillian and Argentinian hooligans are setting up a confrontation   

Ganso wrote:things might get ugly tomorrow as Brazillian and Argentinian hooligans are setting up a confrontation   

This world would be so much better off if some people didn't exist in it.

Ganso wrote:things might get ugly tomorrow as Brazillian and Argentinian hooligans are setting up a confrontation   

Why are there such brainless idiots virtually everywhere? *sighs* I think in about every world cup there were (fortunately mostly only a handful) of those sorry excuses for human beings that only go to such events to beat the crap out of others... I would so hope that they would die out one day!

Really looking towards Messi and how he will unlock that Swiss parked bus tonight, GO MESSI!

I always feel nervous and pessimistic when my team have to play against Hitzfeld's team. This pessimism is reaching to a new top level today when I hear Maxi will play for injured Aguero in stead of Lavezzi. My only hope is they have Djourou and Senderos in defense.

OFFICIAL: Sabella Choose Lavezzi To Start

News is out that tomorrow's line up will have Ezequiel LAVEZZI starting instead of Maxi RODRIGUEZ. Therefore Alejandro SABELLA will stick to the popular 4-3-3 formation for the match against Switzerland.

http://www.mundoalbiceleste.com/Article.aspx?id=3946&title=official-sabella-choose-lavezzi-to-start

there will only be 7.500 Argentina fans in the stadium today.Argentina will probably go through, but we will do our part

Come on, Switzerland!

They German in Switzerland right? I fully expect this affect the performance of Argentina

Xhaka pls

Inler pls

Hitzfeld pls

Spoiler:

Ganso wrote:there will only be 7.500 Argentina fans in the stadium today.Argentina will probably go through, but we will do our part

why??? there were plenty supporters in group games, then why today it will be mostly brazillians....Same happened for Chile as well. can you explain exactly why is this happening.....i cant beleive supporter not coming...any conspirecy from fifa  

I'm guessing group games (cheaper) attract more home fans whereas knock out games attract more developed countries fans and Brazilians, who get discounted tickets.