Swiss Coach: We'll Silence Our Critics Against Argentina

Murat Yakin has said Switzerland will not get drawn into the build-up to their World Cup 2026 quarter-final against Argentina, insisting the match should be decided on the pitch.

The Switzerland manager said Manzambi will miss the tie because his physical condition will not allow him to play, despite the medical staff's efforts to get him fit.

Yakin refused to lay out a specific plan for stopping Lionel Messi, saying Argentina's biggest threats can only be handled through collective work. He said Switzerland must stay compact, press at the right moments and let the game decide the outcome rather than the pre-match talk.

He also addressed the discussion that followed Argentina's match with Egypt, saying he has full trust in the refereeing system and VAR. In his view, football should be judged on the field, not in comments away from it.

Yakin described Argentina as one of the strongest teams in the world, but said Switzerland can compete with any opponent if they produce their best performance.