Argentina vs. Switzerland: Lionel Messi can expect challenge

Next for Team USA, should its Shock and Amaze Tour be prolonged into the weekend, will be actual Messi or Alpine Messi.

The real Messi is Argentina’s Lionel, a mystical striker whose four goals in group play have dislocated viewers’ jaws from dropping and broken ankles of defenders from tripping over themselves.

The Alpine Messi is Switzerland’s Xherdan Shaqiri, who acquired the moniker for his similar build and scoring aptitude. The Swiss needed a win in their latest match to book a round-of-16 date Tuesday with Argentina, and Shaqiri insured it with a hat trick.

Both 5-foot-7 players have turned their diminutiveness into a lack-of-height advantage. Fancy footwork and compactness confound opponents. While Messi is muscular, Shaqiri’s thick thighs seem borrowed from a fullback in American football.

The Argentine tournament synopsis so far applies to a number of teams in the lose-and-leave phase -- undefeated and unimpressive. There has been only one non-Messi score, not counting an own goal, and the dude could use some help. It will not come from fellow forward Sergio Aguero; a leg injury will idle him for at least one match.

Argentina will get no sympathy from the Swiss, who must soldier on without defender Steve von Bergen, out because of a eye socket fracture sustained in the last outing, and reserve forward Mario Gavranovic. The poor chap tore an anterior cruciate ligament in a Saturday practice.

The Swiss, having never beaten Argentina, have a mountain to climb. It figures that a player whose nickname includes “Alpine” must carry them.