#世界杯冠军预测 Facing the defending champions led by Messi, the challengers Switzerland still aspire to create new history.

The quarterfinal matchups for the USA-Canada-Mexico World Cup have been set, and the defending champions Argentina's quarterfinal clash will undoubtedly attract global attention. Against Switzerland head-on, Argentina remains the favorite to advance, but after two bumpy games, the form of the Albiceleste is somewhat concerning.

Having reached the quarterfinals, Switzerland has already matched their best World Cup result and is just one step away from making new history. Against a defending champion that hasn't been stable, the gritty "Cross Army" certainly stands a chance.

Straight to the semifinals? Not so easy.

As the World Cup defending champions, Argentina, with Messi, is naturally one of the title favorites. However, in the knockout stages so far, the powerhouse's performances haven't matched outside expectations. In the round of 32, facing African dark horse Cape Verde, Argentina had a scare — taking the lead twice, being equalized twice, and only advancing after a own goal in extra time. In the round of 16 against another African team, Egypt, Argentina was pushed to the brink, trailing by two goals before scoring three in the final minutes to complete a dramatic comeback. Even Messi couldn't hold back tears of emotion afterward.

When the knockout draw was announced, many thought Argentina had drawn a "direct path to the semifinals," but two shaky matches proved that this Argentina team is far from as strong as fans imagine. Compared to four years ago, Argentina's squad turnover has been limited, the overall lineup is older, and Messi still has to shoulder responsibility as the offensive core. But at 39 years old, consecutive hard-fought matches have taken a huge toll on his stamina. Moreover, during this World Cup, Messi has already missed two penalties, becoming the first player to miss two penalties in a single World Cup (excluding shootouts), highlighting the pressure he's under. In the upcoming knockout games, it's foreseeable that Argentina will continue to pin hopes on Messi, but after two narrow escapes, whether he and the team have enough energy for more tough battles is uncertain.

First, drag Argentina into the mud.

For title favorite Argentina, the quarterfinal is certainly not the ultimate goal. As the underdog, Switzerland can afford to be more relaxed mentally. In the match against Egypt, Argentina exposed vulnerabilities in their defense when pressing forward, and Switzerland can learn from that. Solid defensive ability has always been Switzerland's foundation on the world stage.

At the USA-Canada-Mexico World Cup, they drew 1-1 with Qatar in the first group game, beat Bosnia 4-1 in the second, and defeated Canada 2-1 in the final group match, topping Group B unbeaten. Entering the knockout stage, they first beat Algeria 2-0, then played a 0-0 draw with Colombia over 120 minutes, winning on penalties. In other words, during the knockout rounds, Switzerland hasn't conceded a goal in regular time or extra time.

Facing Argentina, Switzerland's first task is to tighten their defense, drag the defending champions into a quagmire where they can't break through, and then strike at the right moment. Forward Embolo, a key fulcrum in Switzerland's attack, will be crucial. He stated outright that the team is ready to take on the giant: "Argentina is an extraordinary team with the greatest player of all time. We have great respect for Messi and know very well what he can do. We will do our best to cause him trouble." To date, Switzerland's best World Cup result is the quarterfinals, and they now aspire to go further: "We want to create more history."

Can the "Cross Army" create a miracle?

Currently, Argentina is ranked 2nd in the world, Switzerland 14th. The former holds the advantage, but the latter's ranking is higher than Egypt (24th) and Cape Verde (64th). Historically, Argentina has overwhelming dominance over Switzerland, with 5 wins and 2 draws in 7 matches, including two World Cup victories. However, it won't be easy for Argentina. Their last World Cup meeting was in 2014, when Argentina struggled to score until Di Maria's extra-time winner gave them a 1-0 victory.

Past records are just history. Switzerland is eager to write a new chapter, as captain Xhaka said: "This World Cup has already seen many upsets. Even though we are a small country, anything can happen on the grand stage of a World Cup. Standing in the quarterfinal, our desire to win is stronger than ever." Switzerland coach Yakin also encouraged the team: "Facing the defending champions is a rare opportunity. Although Argentina is strong, they are not invincible. The team will of course give their all and try to beat them."

It's worth noting that, unlike the other three quarterfinals held in the early hours of Beijing time, the Argentina-Switzerland match will kick off at 9:00 AM on July 12 (Sunday), a more viewer-friendly time for Chinese audiences.

Will the clash between the defending champion and the challenger produce a miracle? The answer awaits on the pitch.