Argentina is going through the World Cup on a tightrope, saved so far by its tightrope walker Lionel Messi and an unalterable mentality, two pillars which a Swiss team unaccustomed to such summits are tackling, Sunday at 3 a.m. in the quarter-finals in Kansas City.
On paper, an ocean separates the reigning world champions, supported by a vibrant tide of passionate supporters, and the small confederation of 9 million inhabitants in quiet lakes, which had not known such a celebration for 72 years at the World Cup.
Switzerland is counting on the balance and robustness of its collective, more than on its individualities, to create a surprise against an Argentina team which had shattered its dream, in the eighth of the 2014 World Cup, at the end of extra time with a fatal goal from Angel Di Maria.
“El Fideo” is no longer there, and there are not many witnesses left on the Nati side either, except the midfielder and current captain, Granit Xhaka, and the left side Ricardo Rodriguez.
No reference match for Kobel
These two will try to erect a protective wall to limit the field of exposure of Gregor Kobel, who became the N.1 goalkeeper after Euro 2024 and the international retirement of Yann Sommer (94 caps).
So far, “he has had few situations (to manage)”, observes the Swiss Thierry Barnerat, recognized trainer for the goalkeeper position. “In his five matches, he made three decisive saves. It’s a worry for him because he doesn’t have a reference match.”
He certainly shone by repelling a Colombian shot on goal, but in the game “you see that he doesn’t have confidence”, between “his hasty choices at the foot” and his “hesitations” on “deep balls”.
The Dortmund goalkeeper “will always be present on shots from distance, especially from mid-height, because he has a great wingspan, super explosiveness. But if it’s hit on the ground, it’s going to be very complicated. If it is less than six meters, it will be even more complicated,” predicts the one who advises Thibaut Courtois, the Real Madrid goalkeeper.
A guardian who “does not master the cross”
The Swiss defenders managed to “leave very little space” to the opponents but “they did not have a Messi in front, or a Cherki for example, these profiles with a lot of support, who on one meter will make the difference and strike”, he explains.
His “huge fear” is therefore that Argentina will approach too close to the goal of Kobel, a goalkeeper who “does not master the cross”, this technique consisting of blocking the angle of shot, arms and legs spread. “He never knows when to trigger. The worst thing is that sometimes, because he doesn’t know what to do, he advances two meters and then stays on his feet. There, if he does that against Messi, we are condemned every time.”
