Argentina were 120 seconds away from penalties when Angel Di Maria scored the winner and Switzerland also hit the woodwork.
Argentina were 120 seconds away from penalties when Angel Di Maria scored the winner and Switzerland also hit the woodwork.
The Albiceleste swept through to the Last 16 without being entirely convincing, while the Swiss also struggled to emerge second in their group behind Belgium. Sergio Aguero was ruled out by injury, so Ezequiel Lavezzi was given a rare start with Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain too. Fabian Schaer maintained his spot in defence with Valon Behrami and Gokhan Inler of Napoli.
It was a very static first half with palpable tension and many fouls, so Switzerland had the first real chance on 27 minutes. Xherdan Shaqiri pulled back for Granit Xhaka and Sampdoria second-choice goalkeeper Sergio Romero stuck out a foot to parry, then blocked Stephan Lichtsteiner’s follow-up.
Josip Drmic wasted a golden opportunity. He was on the counter one-on-one against Romero, who was hesitant, but the weak lob was straight into his hands. Romero was incredibly shaky after the restart, fumbling a Shaqiri free kick and struggling to keep it in the box as he chased after it.
Argentina finally threatened, as Marcos Rojo’s cross-shot from the by-line stung Diego Benaglio’s gloves and the goalkeeper fingertipped a Higuain header out from under the bar. Higuain failed to keep another header on target and as the move continued Messi’s chest and volley skimmed the bar.
Inter striker Rodrigo Palacio was introduced and almost scored immediately, his header glancing wide. Benaglio beat away a Messi angled drive from 12 yards and smothered at Palacio’s feet on the rebound. Rojo was booked at the last minute for stopping a Swiss counter and will incur a ban, while Schaer nodded over from a free kick.
Still goalless, it went to extra time in Sao Paulo. Palacio’s header from a free kick was plucked out of the air and Di Maria’s shot was charged down by Valon Behrami. Di Maria, who was poor throughout the game, forced Benaglio to palm his shot out from under the bar.
Just as penalties seemed inevitable, Argentina broke through. Messi ran forward and rolled across for Di Maria for a well-taken angled drive across Benaglio with the inside of his left foot. It was practically the first good move Di Maria had done all day.
It still wasn’t over, as in stoppages Napoli midfielder Blerim Dzemaili nodded a corner on to the upright and the rebound ricocheted off his knee to go out. It was incredibly unlucky for Switzerland.
Di Maria went on the counter with Benaglio up for a corner at the other end, but his lob from midfield was off target.
At the 124th minute Switzerland were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, but Shaqiri hit it into the wall.
Argentina 1-0 Switzerland aet
Scorers: Di Maria 118 (A)
Argentina: Romero; Zabaleta, Fernandez, Garay, Rojo (Basanta 105); Gago (Biglia 106), Mascherano, Di Maria; Messi; Lavezzi (Palacio 74), Higuain
Switzerland: Benaglio; Lichtsteiner, Schaer, Djourou, Rodriguez; Inler, Behrami; Xhaka (Gelson Fernandes 66), Shaqiri, Mehmedi (Dzemaili 113); Drmic (Seferovic 82)
Ref: Eriksson (SWE)