Argentina vs Suiza    (lost)

Quarterfinals: Argentina vs. Switzerland

Argentina have had to work incredibly hard to reach this stage. They needed extra time to get past Cape Verde, and against Egypt they had to come from 0-2 down, eventually winning in regulation time.

That's a lot of physical and mental effort for a team that, on paper, faced two relatively manageable opponents.

Switzerland, on the other hand, have improved with every match. Everything they've achieved so far deserves credit.

That said, I'm backing Argentina for the following reasons:

1. This squad has tremendous mental strength, but going to extra time again is far from ideal. I expect the coaching staff to push for a result within the 90 minutes.
2. Argentina are the better team. Their defense hasn't been flawless, but from midfield forward they have the quality to make the difference.
3. Switzerland play a more open, European-style game. They allow their opponents to play and tend to leave more space. On top of that, Argentina hold a clear technical advantage.

I also believe Argentina—and the Argentine fans—won't want another nerve-racking match. I expect them to get the job done in regulation time, and I wouldn't be surprised if they win by more than one goal.

Pick: Argentina wins.