Xhaka: I Dream of Eliminating Argentina... Switzerland Can Make History

Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka has stated that his team believes in its ability to achieve a historic feat when facing Argentina in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, emphasizing that the team will fight to reach the semi-finals for the first time in its history.

Xhaka said during the pre-match press conference: "To our fans, keep dreaming. I am someone who always dreams, and dreams can come true. If we want to achieve our dreams, we have to work, sweat, and give 100% of our energy. Sometimes we need to do something different and push our limits if we want to defeat Argentina. I am convinced that my team is ready."

Regarding how to deal with Argentine star Lionel Messi, he said: "I don't know if we can stop him for 90 minutes; that will be difficult. But we have to be very smart, stay compact, close the spaces, and not give him too much. We will, of course, try to keep the ball because when Messi doesn't have it, he won't be able to influence the game in the same way."

The Swiss captain added: "Being here with Switzerland and playing against the reigning World Cup champions makes me feel very proud. But I'm not here just to talk; I want us to take the next step. We are very close to the end, and I am eager for that. I have a strong desire to succeed, and now we need to show on the pitch how much we truly want it. We have prepared well, and we must show our character, and I am confident that we can trouble Argentina."

For his part, Swiss coach Murat Yakin confirmed that his team will face Argentina with a collective spirit, stating: "We will play the match as one unit. We will try to exchange passes and apply high pressure on Argentina, the world champions. We can talk a lot, but in the end, all of that must be translated into what we deliver on the pitch, and we have the solutions we will rely on."