Xhaka respects Messi but insists Swiss are not afraid of Argentina

Swiss captain Granit Xhaka acknowledged the honor of facing Lionel Messi once more in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals, but he firmly stated that respect for the Argentine superstar would not diminish Switzerland's ambition to make history by eliminating the defending champions.

"It is an honor to play against Messi," Xhaka said, as quoted by FIFA's official website. Messi is a significant threat, leading the 2026 World Cup top scorers with eight goals and a total of 21 in his World Cup career. However, Xhaka stressed that Switzerland is not just there to enjoy the match against one of the greatest players of all time. He wants his team to put up a maximum fight, leaving the field with their heads held high.

"We want to give everything and play a game that we can later remember with pride, whatever the result. We want to be able to say that we did everything we could to beat Argentina," said the Sunderland midfielder, who has earned 151 caps for Switzerland. Switzerland's journey to the quarterfinals is already a historic achievement, marking their first appearance in the last eight since 1954, after they eliminated Colombia in a penalty shootout in the Round of 16.

Swiss coach Murat Yakin views Argentina as the favorite but not invincible, pointing out that Lionel Scaloni's squad also faced difficulties in the knockout stages. Argentina required extra time to defeat Cape Verde and had to come from two goals down to overcome Egypt in the Round of 16. Yakin identified defensive discipline and team cohesion as crucial for Switzerland to stop Messi and his teammates.

"There is only one way to beat Argentina and Messi: play as a team," Yakin stated. The match is scheduled for Sunday (July 12, 2026) at Kansas City Stadium in the United States, with kickoff at 8:00 AM WIB. This encounter presents a golden opportunity for "La Nati" to reach the World Cup semifinals for the first time in their history.