Next Day's Games

Final

Germany 1-0 (ET) Argentina (Gotze 113')

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Game 55 Recap: Argentina 1-0 Switzerland

ARGENTINA 1-0 (ET) SWITZERLAND

For the second time in this tournament, Argentina pulled out a late (lucky?) victory in the closing stages and overcame a monstrous defensive effort by Switzerland to reach the quarterfinals.

Switzerland will be devastated with the final outcome but can take solace in their performance, easily their best of the World Cup.

It was clear from the start of this game this would be a tough outing for both sides offensively. Argentina could find no way through the crowded Swiss penalty area. The Swiss tried to counter-attack but their defensive commitment left them little in the way of attacking options in this contest.

Oddly, Switzerland did have the better of the scoring opportunities in the first half. A short corner kick in the 27th minute led to a Granit Xhaka shot from the top of the penalty area. The low shot was straight at Sergio Romero though who did well to kick the ball away. Josip Drmic was played on a breakaway in the 39th but his attempt to chip over Romero resulted in a straight pass to the Argentine goalkeeper and a blooper reel faceplant for Drmic.

Argentina could get non closer then Ezequiel Garay flashing a header across goal off of a corner kick in the half.

At around the 60 minute mark, Argentina turned up the heat on the Swiss defence. Diego Benaglio awkwardly saved a shot from Marcos Rojo before the ball was cleared. That was followed minutes later by a leaping tip over the bar off of a Gonzalo Higuain header. Benaglio almost repeated the save just after as Lionel Messi sent a dipping volley just over the Swiss crossbar.

Argentina's pressure continued but was not enough to break down the Swiss lines who held strong and forced the game to extra time. More of the same in the first half of extra time as Argentina dominated possession but had no way through to Benaglio's goal.

The chances got going again in the second half though leading to a crazy finish. Angel di Maria, the one Argentina player able to create consistent space and chances in the game hit a shot from distance that was only tipped wide by a full stretch from Benaglio. In the 118th minute, he would score from almost the same spot.

With Switzerland advancing, Stephan Lichtsteiner gave up the ball in midfield leading to an odd-man rush for Argentina. Lionel Messi played di Maria through and from nearly the same position as his last chance, di Maria slid the ball just past Benaglio and in to the far side of the net. It was the breakthrough Argentina had sought all game and which Switzerland had been determined all day to prevent.

Forced in to offence, Switzerland were inches away from equalizing in injury time. A Xherdan Shaqiri cross hit substitute Blerim Dzemaili at goal front. His headed effort went off the far post, and rebounded back in to Dzemaili but his second attempt was just wide. A very late free kick from close range was smacked in to the Argentina wall by Shaqiri in the last play of the game.



Goals

Argentina: Angel di Maria (118')
Switzerland: N/A

Discipline

Argentina: Marcos Rojo (Yellow 90' - Misses Next Match), Angel di Maria (Yellow 120'), Ezequiel Garay (Yellow 120+4')
Switzerland: Granit Xhaka (Yellow 36'), Gelson Fernandes (Yellow 73')

Man of the Match

Fans voted Lionel Messi Man of the Match. They're wrong. Had an awful game by his standards and was merely gifted an assist by Lichtsteiner late. Can argue for Di Maria who was the best Argentine player out there today but I'm giving it to Fabian Schar. Was tasked with man-marking Lionel Messi around the penalty area and completely took him out of the game. Great performance by the young central defender.

Key Moment

Late in the extra time period, Stephan Lichtsteiner coughed the ball up at midfield. A careless turnover with penalties looming and it led to a darting Lionel Messi run up the midfield. Messi wisely slid the ball outside to Angel di Maria whose one-time shot was just beyond the fingertips of Diego Benaglio on goal. Switzerland nearly pulled out a miracle come back after but no moment in the match more important than this one.

What we learned from Argentina

They're running out of ways to pull out victories. Granted they were up against a stellar defensive performance but never got the flow going offensively and Switzerland looked threatening when they did get out on attack. Commentators were mentioning how people see Argentina as a favourite to win the tournament. I don't see it. Not going to win 3 more games if they keep playing how they have.

What we learned from Switzerland

That's why they're the sixth-ranked team in the world. Best display of defensive soccer in the tournament. Were able to remove Messi from the game for 117 minutes without surrendering too many chances on the outside. If they had any capable striker up front, I think they would have won this game.

Going Forward

Switzerland finally put together a complete performance but head home regardless in brutal fashion. Argentina will face the winner of Belgium-USA later today. They'll be favoured against either team but I would be hesitant to say they can definitively beat either right now.

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