Argentina
- Argentina have won 10 consecutive matches across all competitions, scoring 28 goals.
- Lionel Messi has scored four goals in Argentina's last five-match winning streak, and two goals in two games at this FIFA World Cup.
- Lionel Scaloni has been in charge since 2nd August 2018 and has built a team that can be a trophy-winning machine.
- Argentina can play a fluid 4-3-3 that morphs into narrow shapes with Messi between the lines and control the tempo to create gaps.
Switzerland
- Switzerland are unbeaten in their last five matches, winning four and a penalty shootout, and have won their last four matches in a row.
- Murat Yakin has been Switzerland head coach since 9th August 2021 and has made a compact, structured team ready for knockout football.
- They set up a medium or low block that makes it difficult to play through them and are dangerous breaking quickly down the wings.
- Breel Embolo is Switzerland's top scorer in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage with 1 goal in 1 game and Dan Ndoye has three goals in their current five-match unbeaten run.
- Switzerland have the shape and momentum to make this stretch of the match play out at Kansas City Stadium.
Key Players
- Lionel Messi - central creative and finishing threat across Argentina's attacking shapes.
- Breel Embolo - noted as Switzerland's knockout-stage top scorer.
- Dan Ndoye - lively attacker with three goals in the recent unbeaten run.
Betting Insights
- Argentina are the favorites at 1.62, with Switzerland at 5.5 and the draw at 3.75, markets that may underrate Switzerland given their form.
- Switzerland have conceded 13 goals in their last ten matches across all competitions, but only 1.3 per game, showing they can keep matches close.
- Scaloni's Argentina have scored 2.8 goals per game, giving them scoring threats across the pitch.
Prediction
Argentina have the edge and this should be their game to lose given their scoring depth and recent run.
