Angel Di Maria scored with just three minutes of extra time to go, to give Argentina a 1-0 win over Switzerland in the Last 16.
Lionel Messi captained the side from the front, supported by Gonzalo Higuain and Ezequiel Lavezzi, as the Albicelestes came up against the Europeans in Sao Paulo for a place in the quarter-finals.
Barcelona and Real Madrid were represented in the midfield, with Javier Mascherano and Di Maria starting, whilst Drmic took his place in attack for Ottmar Hitzfeld’s men.
As expected, it was the South American’s who got off to the brighter start – urged on by what was essentially a home crowd inside the stadium. Some bright early runs from Di Maria caused Stephan Lichtsteiner some bother, but goalkeeper Diego Benaglio wasn’t tested.
Despite that pressure inside the first 10 minutes, it was actually the Group E runners-up who had the first attempt on goal in the match. A short corner from Gokhan Inler outside the area, but his effort went well over Sergio Romero’s bar.
Alejandro Sabella’s side were having the lion’s share of possession, but the Swiss defence, that had looked so shaky in the group stage, was holding firm.
It wasn’t until 25 minutes that the red wall was broken, but Gonzalo Higuain’s header was flicked over the bar from the penalty spot.
All of a sudden, the game seemed to flash into life after a subdued start, but it was the European’s who should have broken the deadlock on the half hour. A pull back from Shaqiri on the byline found Xhaka, but the Borussia Monchengladbach man could only fire at the goalkeeper, when he should have done better.
Tackles were flying in from both sides, and after a neat interception from Fabian Schar inside the Swiss area, Hitzfeld’s team fashioned themselves the very best chance of the half. A one-two between Shaqiri and Drmic saw the Bayer Leverkusen striker through on goal, but with Romero staying on his line, the youngster endeavoured to just chip the ball into the goalkeeper’s hands.
After the break, both sides came out looking to open the scoring. Higuain had a shot blocked from close range after a Lavezzi cross, whilst Drmic blazed an effort over the bar from a tight angle.
It was the Argentine’s though, who kept pushing for that opening goal, as Switzerland retreated further and further back. Marcos Rojo forced Benaglio to palm away a shot, whilst Higuain watched as his header was acrobatically tipped over by the goalkeeper.
It was Messi however, who inevitably came closest to scoring on 77 minutes. The Barcelona legend zig-zagged his way past several defenders before firing low at goal. Benaglio though, was quick to react and got down to save well.
Time ran out for Sabella’s boys though, as the match went into extra time.
The added 30 minutes provided nothing much in the way of clear-cut chances. Rodrigo Palacio had a header punched away from danger, but the Swiss looked more than happy to see out the game in normal time and play for penalties.
That wasn’t to be however, as with just three minutes to go, Messi raced in on goal, laid the ball right to Di Maria, who struck it first time past the goalkeeper and into the far corner.
Argentina 1-0 Switzerland
Scorers: Di Maria 117 (A)
Argentina: Romero, Garay, Zabaleta, Gago (Biglia 105), Di Maria, Higuain, Messi (c), Mascherano, Rojo (Basanta 105), Fernandez, Lavezzi (Palacio 74)
Switzerland: Benaglio, Lichtsteiner, Inler (c), Xhaka (Fernandes 66), Behrami, Rodriguez, Mehmedi (Dzemaili 112), Drmic (Seferovic 82), Djourou, Schar, Shaqiri
