Former Arsenal midfielder and England international Paul Merson has provided his analysis for the upcoming FIFA World Cup quarter-final showdown between Argentina and Switzerland. Merson believes the South American side will prove too strong for their opponents, predicting a comfortable 3-0 victory for Argentina.
Reflecting on Argentina’s path to the quarter-finals, Merson suggested the team previously lacked the necessary respect for their opposition. He noted that they appeared to approach matches against Cape Verde and Egypt with a sense of complacency, assuming they would secure easy wins. This mindset nearly cost them, as they found themselves trailing late in their previous fixture and requiring three goals in the final 15 minutes to survive. While Merson admitted they rode their luck, he acknowledged their resilience in fighting back to progress.
Merson views these recent struggles as a vital wake-up call. He argued that had they breezed through those earlier rounds, they might have been caught off guard in the later stages of the tournament. Now, he expects a more disciplined and focused performance from the squad. He praised Argentina’s patience, noting their ability to maintain possession and remain calm even when trailing, which he believes makes them a formidable force.
A significant portion of Merson’s assessment focused on Lionel Messi, whose recent penalty struggles have left the pundit baffled. Describing the situation as “mind-boggling,” Merson pointed out that one of the greatest players in history is currently struggling from 12 yards out, appearing visibly nervous despite the advantage usually lying with the taker. However, Merson was quick to laud Messi’s character, highlighting that the 39-year-old never hides from responsibility and continues to exert a massive influence on the team’s play.
Regarding the legacy of the Argentine captain, Merson maintained that while Diego Maradona remains the greatest player he has ever seen, Messi is firmly in that same tier. He emphasized that as long as Messi is on the pitch, Argentina possesses the confidence to defeat any opponent.
Turning to the Swiss side, Merson expressed doubt regarding their ability to challenge Argentina. He described Switzerland as a “mechanical and efficient” team, noting that while this style proved effective against a lackluster Colombia in the previous round, it is unlikely to trouble Argentina. He further noted that Switzerland lacks the pace to exploit Argentina on the counter-attack.
Ultimately, Merson sees this quarter-final as the most predictable of the round. He concluded that Argentina’s capacity to create chances, even when not playing at their peak, will be the deciding factor. Based on their overall quality and the tactical mismatch, he confidently predicts a 3-0 win for Argentina.
100 per cent, yes.
You’re talking about one of the greatest ever players to have played this game out of millions across the world, and he can’t score penalties!
You’re talking about a kick from 12 yards away; the goalkeeper has got to stay on the line, and everything seems like it is in his favour.
It did not work out that way at all!
And I salute them for scoring the goals and getting over the line against Egypt.
However, you must also tip your hat towards them for the performance.
What I like about Argentina is that they are very patient.
They keep the ball and always believe they can find a way to turn things around.
I don’t see them having a problem against Switzerland because they are a top-quality football team.
Yet, he just doesn’t look like scoring from the spot!
What I like about Messi is the fact that even when he misses a penalty, he never goes into hiding.
