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WORLD CUP 2014

FOOTBALL

Messi’s Swiss shadow: ‘It’s OK to be underdogs’

Centre-back Fabian Schär says Switzerland welcome their underdogs tag and are relishing the chance to create a World Cup upset in their last 16 clash against Argentina on Tuesday.

Messi's Swiss shadow: 'It's OK to be underdogs'
Fabian Schär: has the unenviable task of marking Messi. Photo: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP

Bayern Munich midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri claimed a hat-trick in Wednesday's 3-0 win over Honduras as Switzerland finished second in Group E to book their berth in Sao Paulo against Lionel Messi's Argentina.
   
The Swiss had to pick themselves up to beat Honduras after their 5-2 hammering to France in their second group game.
   
Schär says the relief at making the knock-out stages was palpable in the Swiss squad, who now have nothing to lose against Argentina.
   
"We have reached our main goal and we can now play without pressure," said the 22-year-old FC Basel defender, whose unenviable job will be to contain Messi on Tuesday.
   
"We are clearly the underdogs against Argentina and we want to use the opportunity."
   
The teams are evenly matched on paper with Argentina ranked fifth in the world, just one ahead of the Swiss, and Schär insists they will not be travelling to Sao Paulo to make up the numbers.
   
"We know we have the quality to challenge them," he said.
   
"It's great for us that we can compare ourselves to one of the best teams in the world and Lionel Messi is one of the world's best players.
   
"It was a must for us to reach the knock-out phase and it wasn't a given before our matches.
   
"We have reached our main goal, so now whatever comes is a bonus."

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RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

https://twitter.com/GravesenFumado/status/1764242481984491822

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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