EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Switzerland player Vega says they can beat Argentina but worried about refereeing

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vega-ramon/hzhiZP4m/"]Vega[/a] takes [i][b]Flashscore[/b][/i] inside the dynamics of a team that has evolved from a dark horse into a growing certainty on the international stage, and will face the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Albiceleste[/a] with this awareness. But with a looming concern...[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/switzerland/rHJ2vy1B/"]Switzerland[/a] are in the quarter-finals. Did you expect them to have this kind of journey and achieve such a result?[/b][/p][p]"Actually, yes. Before the tournament, I expected them to get this far, maybe even further, honestly. I saw a Swiss team with great experience from World Cups and European Championships.[/p][p]"In the last 10 years or more, we’ve qualified for almost every major tournament. Every time they've played against the 'big' teams like [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/QkGeVG1n/"]France[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] - the world champions - they’ve always made a good impression, even if Switzerland aren't seen as a favourite or considered very attractive to watch.[/p][image alt="Granit Xhaka issues instructions to Michel Aebischer" id="bed4de66-ca18-4c84-82fb-c0b74f3fe887" credit-line="FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP" guid="05d14584-1a8a-41d2-831d-d86c7de1a591" original-width="8256" original-height="5504" /][p]"The organisation and experience are evident. This team has more tournament experience than most others in this competition. We have players like the captain ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/xhaka-granit/QBHCDKff/"]Granit Xhaka[/a]) and ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rodriguez-ricardo/8EqrjqCF/"]Ricardo) Rodriguez[/a], who have even won an Under-17 World Cup. That experience is vital.[/p][p]"Today, Switzerland has what [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/italy/hlKvieGH/"]Italy[/a] used to have in the 90s: a system where players grow through the youth ranks, win championships, and then bring that experience to the first team. People talk about the big stars like [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Lionel Messi[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ronaldo-cristiano/WGOY4FSt/"]Cristiano Ronaldo[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kane-harry/v5HSlEAa/"]Harry Kane[/a], but Switzerland is the dark horse."[/p][p][b]It’s not really a surprise then, given how hard they are to play against?[/b][/p][p]"Exactly. They are tactically very well-organised. Unlike my time in the 90s, when 80% of us played in Switzerland, over 90% of the current squad plays abroad in top leagues like the Premier League, Bundesliga, or Serie A ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester City[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter/Iw7eKK25/"]Inter Milan[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a]).[/p][p]"They don't have the bench depth of France or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a], but what they have on the pitch is experience."[/p][image alt="Argentina vs Switzerland past results" id="1b49762a-98c9-4922-a0a8-0990b8a02003" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="15253b76-1d44-4631-b162-1f2943bf5b09" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p][b]What kind of match do you expect against Argentina?[/b][/p][p]"I’ve seen Argentina twice, and they can be beaten. Look at the match against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/egypt/bejDn7NN/"]Egypt[/a], ignoring the refereeing issues.[/p][p]"This World Cup, compared to the ones I knew, is different... and not in a good way for the future of football. It’s worrying for young people when they see they can do whatever they want on the pitch and the referee doesn't matter anymore. The respect for the referee’s authority is being ruined. Without the referee being the most important person on the pitch, the game is lost."[/p][p][b]Do you think Switzerland could be penalised because they have less 'weight' or influence than Argentina?[/b][/p][p]"That is the problem. You go into a match against a giant like Argentina and Messi, but you go in thinking it's not fair play. You worry that the first foul will be a yellow or red, or there will be a penalty against you.[/p][p]"I’m sure the coach Murat Yakin is telling the boys: 'We aren't the favourites here, be careful with every foul because everything will be against us.' You have to prepare more mentally than tactically when you feel the system might be against you."[/p][p][b]But on the pitch, can Switzerland compete with Argentina?[/b][/p][p]"Yes, because I saw Argentina struggle against Egypt. They were 2-0 down and were [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/argentina-f9OppQjp/egypt-bejDn7NN/?mid=bodsDyte"]given a second life to win 3-2[/a]. Of course, you can't leave Messi alone for two minutes because he creates magic, but Switzerland has a real opportunity to beat them. They've done it before against Spain and France."[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/argentina-f9OppQjp/switzerland-rHJ2vy1B/?mid=Wv4IS6zg"]Follow Argentina vs Switzerland with Flashscore![/a][/b][/p][infobox id="cd16667b-1dad-4af2-8364-0bb52afadc5d" /]