TUESDAY'S GAMES
ARGENTINA VS. SWITZERLAND
Where: Sao Paulo. Time: 9 a.m. PDT. TV:
The buzz: After years of criticism that he can't win the big ones, Argentina's Lionel Messi has been on a mission in this
U.S. VS. BELGIUM
Where: Salvador. Time: 1 p.m. PDT. TV: ESPN, Univision.
The buzz: Belgium is one of four teams that won all three of its games in group play. But the Belgians, playing against poor competition, didn't look good doing it. Thibaut Courtois is one the best goalkeepers in the world. But Belgium showed little spark offensively and it is crippled on the back line. The availability of top central defender Vincent Kompany, slowed by a groin problem, won't be made until game time and two other defenders, Thomas Vermaelen and Anthony Vanden Borre, are definitely out. The U.S. won only one of three games in group play, but it led Portugal until the final minute, then held powerful Germany to a goal in a loss. The return of
—Kevin Baxter