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Xherdan Shaqiri, who will be pivotal to Swizterland's hopes of writing history, has three-time Ballon D'Or winner Lionel Messi as his opposite number.Photo: SCMP Pictures

'Alpine Messi' gunning to upset Argentine applecart

Europeans are seeking to take advantage of chinks in South American giants' armour, with their hat-trick hero Xherdan Shaqiri on blistering form

Switzerland's "Alpine Messi", Xherdan Shaqiri - hot from a hat-trick against Honduras in his last game - meets the real Messi today as the Europeans seek a major upset against Argentina in the last 16.

Shaqiri is the same height as Lionel Messi and has a similarly low centre of gravity. And, while he has some way to go to match the feats of the prolific Argentina forward, the 22-year-old gives the Swiss a genuine threat up front.

Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano said his team would be keeping a close eye on him.

We are the clear outsiders, but we have nothing to lose and much to gain. We can make history on Tuesday
Ottmar Hitzfeld

"The [Swiss] are an orderly team who like to play good football and have top players," he told Argentina's TyC Sports television station. "Shaqiri and [forward Haris] Seferovic are in good form and we're going to have to be very careful."

Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld believes that by remaining organised his team could make their first quarter-final appearance since they hosted the finals 60 years ago. The Swiss have never beaten Argentina, drawing two and losing four.

Switzerland players Gelson Fernandes (left), Johan Djourou, Admir Mehmedi, Xherdan Shaqiri, Philippe Senderos and Reto Ziegler stretch during a training sessionin Porto Seguro. Photo: EPA

"We are the clear outsiders, but we have nothing to lose and much to gain," he said.

"We can make history on Tuesday. In one game, anything is possible," added the German coach, who will step down after the World Cup.

Switzerland are hoping the large Brazilian contingent expected in the crowd at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo will be backing them against the hosts' arch-rivals Argentina.

"We will definitely have the support of the Brazilian fans in the stadium," goalkeeper Diego Benaglio said at the Swiss training camp in Porto Seguro. "You can feel the rivalry between Brazil and Argentina here."

Benaglio said his side had the added motivation of winning for absent teammates Steve von Bergen, who was injured in the loss to France, and unused striker Mario Gavranovic, who tore his cruciate knee ligament in training on Saturday.

While Argentina's defence hope to shackle Shaqiri, Switzerland's back line has an arguably tougher task in shutting out an inspired Messi. The 27-year-old, whose stuttering international career before this World Cup was the only blip in an otherwise stellar career, has set about putting that right with four goals in Brazil.

Switzerland will find it tough to keep Argentina forward Lionel Messi (left) from scoring in their knockout match. Photo: AFP

He also scored his first international hat-trick the last time Argentina and Switzerland met, in a friendly in 2012.

"We are preparing just as we do for any other game. However, it's clear that it will be difficult to completely take Messi out of the game," Benaglio said. "You can see so many videos of Messi where he does something surprising at a decisive moment."

Argentina have relied heavily on their number 10's talents - he has scored four of the team's six goals in three narrow wins.

Far from waltzing through the groups stages, none of their victories was comfortable, and only an injury-time winner from Messi ensured three points against lowly Iran.

"Everyone said we were going to win by big scores in the group stage and it's clear that it was not the case," said midfielder Maxi Rodriguez.

"Our mentality is always the same: in a World Cup you have to concentrate 100 per cent; if not then anyone can beat you."

Argentina will be without injured Sergio Aguero, with Ezequiel Lavezzi set to take his place in a three-man attack.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: 'Alpine Messi' gunning to upset Argentine applecart
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