Argentina's forward and captain
Lionel Messi (L) and Argentina's midfielder Angel Di Maria celebrate
after scoring the 1-0 during a Round of 16 football match between
Argentina and Switzerland
It
was a highly disappointing game, with chances at a premium and a lack
of quality on both sides. Penalties looked a certainty until, in the
118th minute, Lionel Messi found Di Maria to finish well.
Di
Maria had actually had a desperately poor game, much like Argentina
generally as once again their attackers failed to click. Indeed,
Switzerland had several chances to win the game, with Granit Xhaka spurning an excellent opportunity in the first half and Xherdan Shaqiri causing problems for Argentina all game.
Argentina were mostly on top, but with Sergio Aguero's replacement Ezequiel Lavezzi
failing to excite, they were once again entirely dependent on Messi in
attack. It was his run who helped set up Di Maria with three minutes
remaining, playing it out wide for the winger to cut inside and fire
home.
There was further late drama to come as Switzerland hit the post afterwards through Blerim Dzemaili's
header, and in the last minute Shaqiri had a free-kick outside the area
to send it to extra-time. Unfortunately for the Swiss, it was kept out
by the Argentine wall, and the pre-tournament favourites are into the
quarter-finals. But on present evidence, they look anything but.
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