SAO PAULO - Lionel Messis goals have fired Argentina into the World Cup last 16 but they will look for a better all-round performance when they meet Switzerland tonight. The diminutive four-time player of the year has finally sparked for his country, hitting four of their six goals as Argentina qualified top of Group F. But Argentina will face their toughest opponents yet in Switzerland, who put seven goals past group opponents Ecuador, France and Honduras, including three from Xherdan Shaqiri. Now we cant make any mistakes as any error will see us getting knocked out, Messi warned after Argentina negotiated the group stage. There is nothing more beautiful than to be world champion, to achieve that with my country. In Argentinas favour is that more than 100000 of their fans were expected to flood Sao Paulo ahead of todays game, including many inside Corinthians Arena. Both Messi and coach Alejandro Sabella acknowledge that Argentina are a work in progress but they will now hope to raise the heat on their slow-burning campaign. Weve got nine points, but we can always get better, Sabella said. Former Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld will relish the clash against one of the pre-tournament favourites in what he says will be his last hurrah before retirement. Despite their 5-2 hammering by France, Switzerland have twice bettered Latin American opposition already after their 2-1 and 3-0 wins over Ecuador and Honduras respectively. Their attack will be spearheaded by one of the revelations of the tournament, 22-year-old Shaqiri, who hit all three goals against Honduras to secure Switzerlands qualification. The winger, the first Swiss player to score multiple goals in a World Cup match since 1954, has hit the headlines after making just 10 league starts for Bayern Munich this season.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Jul 2014 12:02:05 +0000
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