World Cup 2014 Brazil » Round of 16 » Live commentary: Argentina - Switzerland 1:0

Fulltime Summary:
What a tragic ending! After Argentina failed to play out their dominance by scoring for over 118 minutes, it sure looked like Switzerland would get into the penalties with their strong defensive work. The Nati stayed focussed and calm all the time and showed a lot of effort, which wasn't rewarded at the end. Argentina was in fact superior, if you just take a look at the stats: 62:38% possession and 29:14 shots (22:7 on target) do speak for themselves. But la Albiceleste didn't make anything out of it for a long time. The Swiss on the other hand fought well until the very end and had a few great chances, too. Because of all the effort they put into batlle, Ottmar Hitzfeld's team maybe even would've deserved to go into the penalty shootout. But of course, there was also Lichtsteiner's turnover before the late winner was scored by Di María, so the Argentinians' victory isn't unearned at all. Still, as a neutral spectator one would've also granted the Europeans a win, especially with Hitzfeld retiring after this world cup. Besides, Sabella's squad didn't play very convincing, providing less confidence in Argentina's ability to beat even stronger teams. All in all, it was a very thrilling match with the South Americans avoiding the Lottery.

Ezequiel Garay (Argentina) is shown a yellow card
Switzerland have their last chance with a free kick! Garay hits Shaqiri with a bad sliding tackle and is booked. But this gives the Europeans a good opportunity from about 18 metres distance. But it's blocked and the referee blows the whistle!

Ángel Di María (Argentina) is shown a yellow card
Di María is booked for a challenge against Rodríguez, but this probably won't bother the Real Madrid winger at all.

Switzerland manage to gain possession and take the ball into Argentina's half. But the can't use this opportunity to create a chance. Instead, Rodríguezes cross is easily catched by Romero.

Seriously, Argentina, that's the best you've got? Of course Switzerland's defense is not to be underestimated, but one would expect more from a favourite like la Albiceleste.

Again, Messia and his teammates control the ball inside their opposition's half, but the Swiss penalty area seems to be a forbidden zone for the Argentinians.

Now the Swiss can actually maintain possession in the Argentinian half and almost get into the box. Again, Hitzfeld's players show great passing skills and because of that, Rojo can't be substituted for over two minutes.

Although Argentina have much potential in their team, they fail to get on the pitch when it matters. This way they always have to rely on Messi's talent as in their previous matches at group stage.

Will we see this match go into penalties? So far it sure looks that way, but of course one little mistake or a spark of genius by players like Messi or Shaqiri could change everything.

This could've been a dangerous attempt! Fernandes sends in a wide cross from the right, but Seferović misses the opportunity to score with a header.

Ouch! Gago stepts on Mehmedi's foot and then looks at Eriksson like a little boy who knows what he has done wrong. Lucky for him, this isn't penalised with a yellow card.

If Argentina get into the box, they only manage to do so with Messi having the ball. This time he passes it onto Palacio, but the forward loses the ball immediately.

After Di María's attempt is blocked by Behrami, Argentina have a corner from the left. But again, is comes to nothing, la Albiceleste just can't create more dangerous chances and enforce the leading goal. In the group stage it was Messi who rescued them in such situations, but so far he's not able to do so again.

After the players are calmed down, it's busniess as usual again: Argentinia try to get into the box, but the Swiss defense is just too tight!

Sabella makes his first substitution, replacing Lavezzi with Palacio. Maybe the 32-year-old can break through the Swiss defense?

Who will emerge victorious today? So far it could go either way, since the Swiss are defending well against harmlessly attacking Argentinians.

Xhaka seems to be a little bit tired and is replaced by Freiburg midfielder Fernandes.

Well, now they have their chance! The South Americans have a free kick from the left and Messi's cross finds Higuaín. The Real Madrid striker's almost converts with a great header, but it's pushed over the bar by Benaglio. The subsequent corner comes to nothing.

The corner comes to nothing again, but la Albiceleste keep possession. Eventually Di María can pass Rodríguez at the right edge of the box, but his following rabona cross goes out of play.

Rojo is sent onto the left wing and centres the ball immediately. But Wolfsburg keeper Benaglio leaves his goal and makes a clearance with a flying punch.

La Albiceleste maintain possession without gaining more space. They pass the ball back and forth and finally shoot out of desperation. But Di María's attempts from the edge of the box are blocked.

That's a dangerous free kick! Shaqiri shoots directly in the right channel, but his attempt from about 290 metres distance is parried away by Romero before it reaches the top right corner of the goal.

Play resumes without any player changes.

Halftime Summary:
So far this has been an entertaining match, since both teams had a big physical presence right from the beginning and repeatedly tried to create danger in front of the opposition's goal. While the Albiceleste had 60:40% possession, the shot stats are pretty balanced: Argentina had 5:4 attempts from which 4:3 went on target. Still, the South Americans failed to use their dominance on the pitch to pressure the Swiss into their box. Instead, the Nati was able to have some efforts, with Drmić throwing away the most promising one. The future Leverkusen striker actually could've scored the lead just six minutes before the half-time break, but failed to stay concentrated. But Sabella's team also lacked some organization in midfield to provice the ball for the strikers, forcing Messi to act as a playmaker and almost be omnipresent. Still, this was a promising first half which creates a drive for more.

An interesting first half is nearing its end, with neither of the side being able to control the game, but constantly trying to create danger.

What is he doing?! Switzerland counterattack and the ball is passed onto the left corner of the box. Drmić has much space and could take his time, instead he decides to chip the ball with a onetimer. But his poor attempt is easily catched by Romero.

The following free kick from the left wing swings in beautifully, but is punched away by Romero.

So far this is an entertaining game for the supporters with both teams looking to attack on and on! Di María cuts inside from the right and almost has a chance, but his shot from about 14 metres distance is blocked by Rodríguez.

This time the Swiss can create danger! Making a short corner enables Shaqiri to dribble again and break through the right edge of the box. The Bayern Munich midfielder passes the ball into the back area, but Xhaka's onetimer is blocked by Romero!

The Swiss put some slick passing on display! At their left defending side, Mehmedi plays the one-two with Behrami, who passes it back to Rodríguez. The Wolfsburg left back eventually finds Drmić with a precise long ball forward.

Again we see a rough challenge, this time it's Di María attacking Behrami in midfield. The winger's foul is penalised with a free kick in central midfield.

Argentina don't hesitate to attack, but quickly try to get into the penalty area. But again Benaglio has no difficulties in catching Zabaleta's cross from the right edge ob the box.

The Europeans seek to gain some possession, but are immediately attacked by their opponents. Argentina have a big physical presence.

Showing their rivalry with Argentina, the Brazilian crowd show their support for the Switzerland, cheering after every successful move of the Nati's players.

That's a bad challenge by Shaqiri! The left-footed player hits Lavezzi's foot with a sliding tackle, but isn't cautioned by the referee.

Furthermore, Argentina's head coach added: "Players like Lavezzi always say very positive things, they keep everybody happy and they keep a good atmosphere in the group. He hasn't been in the starting line-up but he never made faces or comments. He's always supporting the team." As if Sabella wanted to prove his point, he put Lavezzi into the starting eleven for today's match, since Agüero - for whom he was substituted against Nigeria - suffered a hamstring injury against the Super Eagles. Still, the Manchester City striker will sit on the bench today.

Asked about Argentina's superstar, the Wolfsburg goalie didn't want to focus solely on Messi: "We'll prepare ourselves to face Messi, as well as their other players, but of course he has the quality to decide games. It will be relatively hard to shut him out, but he's not the only dangerous player in a very good team. Argentina don't revolve just around Messi even though he's their superstar. But we know all about the skills he has and it helps that we've seen a lot of him."

FC Basel defender Fabian Schär, who will replace von Bergen as right back, sounded quite confident when asked about his team's chances of beating Argentina: "We’ve shown a few times that we can compete with, and beat, big teams." He also talked about his team's star, Bayern Munich midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri, who had scored all three goals against Honduras: "We’re very happy to have him and I’d be delighted if he continued scoring."

The Swiss are the runner-up of group E, since they beat Ecuador 2-1, but lost 2-5 against France in the second game. The Nati finally made sure to proceed to the next round by winning 3-0 against Honduras.

Azad Derakhshani will be your commentator for this match.