Argentina 1 ( Di Maria 118* ) : Switzerland 0, Played at Arena de Sao Paulo

A hard pressed Argentina still not impressive managed to overcome a determined Switzerland through a good looking Di Maria in goal with the greatest player of the planet doing the spade work in the dying minutes of the second half. 

Switzerland played well within themselves and could have shocked the favorites if they could capitalize several chances those came their way specially in the first half. Argentina still looks Messi dependent team. Why they play with hand brakes on forgetting to release it all together. With a confused defence Argentina will have greater problem as they go deeper and deeper. 

Switzerland must feel devastated. They defended so well and were only minutes away for a penalty shootout. Argentine fans almost had the hearts in their hands. I could feel it as my wife and sons were sweating even in the cold Melbourne early morning. We will at least get good Iftar tomorrow for sure .

On paper it was a battle of the fifth and sixth FIFA ranked sides. But Argentina is one of the top favorites and Switzerland was not considered the team to go much deeper into the tournament. 

Argentina was unbeaten in their previous six head to head encounters with Switzerland in international matches. The only previous World Cup meeting between these two sides’ dates back in 1966, when Argentina defeated Switzerland 2-0. 

Argentina entered into this round of 16 clash vs Switzerland looking to remain undefeated. It was one of four teams who took all nine points in the group stage phase of the tournament. Tipped as one of the top favorites to lift the World Cup, Argentina got off to a slow start, despite winning all of their three matches. The first game against Bosnia, Argentina narrowly picked up a win 2-1 as a Sead Kolasinac scored an own goal just after three minutes. Argentina then got a second half goal out of Lionel Messi giving Argentina the 2-1 lead before Vedad Ibisevic pulled one back just before the final whistle. Argentina then took on Iran in their next match and they struggled to get anything going. 

The Iranians threatened a weak Argentina back line and nearly scored. Thankfully, Lionel Messi saved the day as he scored an amazing goal from right outside the box, giving Argentina all three points. In the last game against Nigeria, Argentina did show offensive brilliance but once again struggled defensively as they failed to contain the runs of Ahmed Musa. 

Musa went on a rampage and scored two goals for Nigeria, and really showing his worth to Nigeria before their clash against France. Luckily for Argentina, Lionel Messi had another superb performance as scored a brace including a perfect free kick that left Nigerian keeper Victor Enyeama helpless. 

Marcos Rojo closed out the scoring for Argentina, as he tapped in a cross from Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Switzerland were thrashed 5-2 by France in the group phase but clinched their spot in the round of 16 behind Les Bleus thanks to a late 2-1 win over Ecuador and 3-0 victory against Honduras. Xherdan Shaqiri hit a hat-trick against Honduras and was expected to provide the main threat once again, in support of lone striker Josip Drmic.

No sooner than the match kicked off Argentina went on offensive against a nervous looking Switzerland. It took a while for the Swiss to find their feet before they ran into counter attacks. 

Higuain and Di Maria started spreading wings creating few openings. But after coming over the initial inertia Swiss defence stood up in defiance. An extremely encouraging passage of play witnessed Gokhan Inler and Xherdan Shaqiri teased and tormented the Argentine defence before Admir Mehmedi got in behind but his low cross was poor. So close for Switzerland as Granit Xhaka forced Sergio Romero into a fine save with a crisply-struck shot before Stephan Lichtsteiner's effort was kept out. Argentina broke and Higuain fires his side's first serious chance tamely at the keeper.

First Half: The play remained mainly confined in the midfield with no teams managing any strike at the goal over most of the first half. Messi made a magic run but got dispossessed before entering the danger zone. The following minute Barcelona forward took advantage as Valon Behrami switched off but his shot is comfortably gathered by the keeper. The legendary Pele was seen watching from the stand. He looked as though he was still awake. It's been a slow start. Argentina got three free kicks during the period but of no avail. 

In 27 th the first genuine attempt at goal came from the Swiss. Shaqiri low drive was saved by Romero. The following minute the Swiss goal keeper had his first mentionable touch. Argentina 

came close to scoring from a corner created melee in 29 Th minute. This was followed by the second great opportunity for Switzerland in 37 th minute Josip Drmic was set free off a wonderful Shaquiri pass. He tried to the chip the goalkeeper but in the end he just dinks it in at chest height, he got nowhere near enough on it. A real wake up call for the favorites. So far the game proceeded as was expected. 

Argentina was controlling possession; they were passing the ball around but at no great pace. Switzerland was sitting back and was playing on the counter attack. Argentina did not really seem to have a style of play, they seemed to rely on the brilliance of their individuals and play off the cuff. It's just whether they could break down Switzerland's resolute defence. 

First half did not witness too many opportunities for scoring but whatever little opportunities were created those belonged to Swiss. Argentina build up slowly allowing Swiss to organize defence .The Swiss did well to restrict Messi and co allowing very narrow corridor to operate. 

Lionel Messi had plenty of touches in that first half but he had not been able to cause any real damage to the Switzerland defence. In counter attacks Swiss caught flat footed Argentine defence napping on few occasions. Switzerland wasted two great chances to get their noses in front against strongly fancied Argentina.

Second Half: Xhaka and Shaqiri continued to tease the heart of Argentine defence with probing runs. The man with Brazil link Rodriguez also engineered few Swiss moves down the center. 

A Shaquiri left footed free kick was saved by Romero in the 48 Th minute. The tempo started peaking a bit with both teams started showing some urgency. Argentina kept the possession but Swiss attacks looked more goal potential. The match witnessed a bit more attacking intent from Argentina in the opening minute of the second half than was seen in the first 45 minutes. 

Messi found Ezequiel Lavezzi with a delightful ball but Gonzalo Higuain was unable to make clean contact with his low cross. Still Argentina's fans sing in an attempt to pump their players full of adrenaline. But they' were not responding. The South Americans looked weary. 

Argentina started lubricating their gear from the 60 th minute. It appeared now or never. A series of attacks kept flooding the Swiss defence. Can this incessant rain create a sweep over? The pressure was so intense for at least 10 minutes that Swiss could hardly push the ball clear off their territory during this time. It comes as Argentina enjoyed their best spell. Higuain went close before Messi blazes narrowly over from distance. The Swiss were creaking. Argentina had finally come alive.

A crunching challenge by substitute Gelson Fernandes resulted in a rise in the decibel levels and a booking for the Swiss sub. Lionel Messi forced a clever save with a low shot from just inside the area. It came moments after substitute Rodrigo Palacio goes close to putting Argentina ahead.

That final bit of magic from Lionel Messi. When it came to him on the edge of the box, he passed one, passed two, such balance - we've heard people say just show him on his right, but you cannot do that, he is too good. Messi drove the shot in, Diego Benaglio spilled it the first time, but he saw it late, and made an excellent second save. It rained and rained with relentless Argentine attacks. Hardly any ball crossed into Argentine defence for over 25 minutes.

Messi has proved time and time-again that he has the stomach for the big occasion. It was only a matter of time until he proved that again in this game. He was excellent, did all the hard work without much support from his mates. Swiss somehow managed to hold on over the 90 minutes. Argentina was definitely the better team in the second half. 

Several opportunities came their way. Just they failed to deliver the final killer. The bus was parked but just could not find the way to go in. It appeared that Switzerland will be cursing the chances they have spurned. 

Argentina dominated the possession, had more shots aiming the target but still failed to beat the last defender of the Swiss. Off the 20 strikes of Argentina only 4 could hit the target. Swiss were more accurate in their attempts .They got 4 out of 9. Still it remained Nil- Nil at the end of 90 minutes. Swiss bank lockers could not be opened for Argentine cheques.

Extra Time: 

First Period: Ten minutes of the first period again saw the tempo die down with teams playing waiting game. The swiss appeared to have recovered from the second half Argentine blitz. Swiss came more into Argentines in the first half of the extra time. The match started drifting towards penalty shootout.

Second Period: Anxious times for Argentina's army of fans. Time for someone to step forward but Messi looks exhausted. Benaglio made a spectacular save of a Di Maria struck powerful drive getting a Higuain pass. Di Maria started cracking the Swiss defence open. Argentina started looking closer and closer .Swiss were clearly waiting patiently for penalty. 

Finally with less than three minutes left Di Maria scored off another Magical piece of beauty 1-0. Di Maria gets his reward for unbelievable perseverance. He may have had a poor game but no one comes near him for energy Swiss could only blame their lack of urgency in the extra time. 

The Argentinean goal was looming and finally it came. Argentina survived but after lot of hard work. Switzerland almost equalized in the injury time. Even the Swiss goal keeper joined his mates in search of equalizer. A big scare as Swiss header bounced off Argentine post. Swiss got a free kick in the dying minutes. The last 5 minutes was like lightening striking the terrace. 

What a finish to the game. It was difficult for Xherdan Shaqiri to get the ball up and over the wall with that late free-kick, and the Argentina players spill out onto the pitch. 

That one moment of magic from Lionel Messi, who finally got the ball as Switzerland were getting tired, won the game. That is what it comes down to in huge games like this. We feel so sorry for the Swiss. They were excellent. Fatigue just crept in at the end in but they were so unlucky to hit the post.

Argentina got through to the quarter finals but only just. Heart break for Switzerland. I could see tears growing in my near one’s eyes as all of them adore Messi. With two artificial valves just placed I wonder whether my wife could take her idol Messi exit the arena. .Great for the game that the man from the outer orbit will continue to run for them in Brazil. 

Argentina: Romero, Garay, Rojo (Demichelis), Gago, Fernandez, Zabeleta, Mascherano, Di Maria, Higuain, Messi, Lavezzi. (Rodrigo Palcio).

Switzerland: Benaglio, Lichtsteiner, Schar, Djourou, Rodriguez, Inler, Behrami, Xhaka (Gelson Fernandes), Shaqiri, Mehmedi, Drmic. 

Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)



Engr Khondkar A Saleque Sufi is a NRB Energy Professional and free lance sports Writer, has over four decades of sport writing experience starting from his BUET days in 1970s . He lives in Australia and spends his leisure in writing on Energy & Sports in different International magazines and Journals.


 

BDST: 0107 HRS, JUL 02, 2014