Argentina-Switzerland 2014 World Cup Live: Argentina Advances After Extra-Time Win

Final, 1-0 Argentina: It’s all over. Argentina defeats Switzerland and advances to the quarterfinals.

Argentina is moving on after the toughest of wins against a determined opponent. Switzerland started aggressively, but faded in the second half, as Argentina surged forward. The Swiss ultimately paid a heavy price for their second-half caution, as they were exhausted beyond measure during extra time. Argentina dominated the final 30 minutes, and di Maria’s game-winning goal was a just reward for its superior performance.

Switzerland exits at the Round of 16. The Swiss will be disappointed, but the team is a young one which should be able to return to this stage in future competitions.

Argentina avoided being the victim of the biggest upset of the Round of 16. It will take on either the United States or Belgium in a quarterfinal on Saturday.

That’s all for now and thanks for joining us. Let’s discuss this one on Twitter @NESNsoccer and Facebook. Be sure to keep an eye out for some news, fan reactions, analysis and opinion that is on the way on NESN.com.

120th minute +2, 1-0 Argentina: Dzemaili hits the post with a header, and the Swiss are in agony.

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118th minute, 1-0 Argentina: Angel di Maria scores. Argentina has surely won it.

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Palacio won the ball at the halfway line and passed centrally to Messi, who dribbled 30 yards toward the Switzerland penalty area before laying it off to di Maria on his right. Di Maria beat Benaglio with a first-time shot to the far post.

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113th minute, 0-0: Switzerland makes its third and final substitution. Admir Mehmedi departs. Blerim Dzemailie replaces him.

109th minute, 0-0: Di Maria fires a left-footed shot on goal, but Benaglio tips it over the crossbar.

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106th minute, 0-0: The second half of extra time is underway.

Argentina made a substitution, replacing midfielder Fernando Gago with midfielder Lucas Biglia.

End of first half of extra time, 0-0: The first period of extra time is over.

100th minute, 0-0: Patience characterizes the first 10 minutes of extra time.

Argentina is sustaining possession for long stretches but mostly near the halfway line. Argentina appears to be waiting for a Switzerland player to make a positional error, which it can exploit.

Switzerland is waiting for Argentine to commit numbers forward so it can counter-attack into the newly opened space.

Both teams’ approaches minimize physical exertion — and entertainment — at this crucial stage of the game.

94th minute, 0-0: Argentina puts the early pressure on Switzerland, as Benaglio saves Palacios’ header — two minutes after he turned away a header from defender Federico Fernandez.

91st minute, 0-0: The first half of extra time is underway.

If Argentina improves at the rate it did in the second half, it should score before these 30 minutes are through.

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End of regular time, 0-0: That’s the end of regular time. Neither team has scored, and we’re headed for extra time.

There will be two, 15-minute periods of extra time. If neither team is ahead after 30 minutes, a penalty-kick shootout will determine the winner.

90th minute, 0-0: There will be three minutes of added time in the second half.

90th minute, 0-0: Rojo is cautioned for a professional foul.

The Argentina fullback took down Rodriguez to prevent a counter-attack and is cautioned for it. Rojo will be suspended for the quarterfinal if Argentina advances.

89th minute, 0-0: Tempers are flaring and tackles are flying, as the game approaches the 90-minute mark. Will we see more late-game magic from Messi?

82nd minute, 0-0: Switzerland makes its second changing, replacing Drmic with Haris Seferovic.

81st minute, 0-0: We’re entering the final ten minutes of regular time. Messi and Argentina have had success in Brazil by firing from distance. Why not now?

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78th minute, 0-0: Benaglio saves Messi’s shot, but spills a rebound once again. Palacio barges into Benaglio, and the Swiss goalkeeper is down receiving treatment.

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74th minute, 0-0: Argentina makes a substitution. Lavezzi exits, and fellow forward Rodrigo Palacio takes his place.

73rd minute, 0-0: Fernandes is cautioned for hacking down di Maria.

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70th minute, 0-0: As Argentina pushes higher and higher up the field, it must be mindful of Switzerland’s counter-attacking strength and its own defensive shortcomings.

The space behind Argentina’s back line is growing, and Shaqiri and Drmic are dangerous.

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67th minute, 0-0: Messi misses the target — not by much — with a half-volley from outside the Swiss penalty area.

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66th minute, 0-0: Switzerland is making its first substitution. Gelson Fernandes replaces Xhaka.

62nd minute, 0-0: Benaglio saves Higuain’s header over the crossbar.

Argentina dominated possession over the first hour, and its advantage is only growing.

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59th minute, 0-0: Argentina is finding space on the flanks, particularly the left, and creating chances.

Rojo shot on goal. Benaglio bobbled the save, but his defense cleared the danger.

Argentina is growing increasingly dangerous.

53rd minute, 0-0: Swiss fullback Ricardo Rodriguez shoots well wide of Romero’s goal.

Switzerland is effectively employing the “defend and counter” strategy against Argentina.

Argentina has yet to establish a rhythm to its play or find the combinations to unlock the tight Swiss defense.  That’s troubling, as nearly an hour has come and gone, and Argentina has yet to hit its stride.

51st minute, 0-0: Drmic’s shot sails over the crossbar. Switzerland is on the attack early in the second half.

50th minute, 0-0: Romero saves Shaqiri’s curling free kick.

46th minute, 0-0: The second half is underway.

Halftime, 0-0: That’s the end of the first half. Like most of the Round of 16 games at the 2014 World Cup, it’s goalless at halftime.

Argentina enjoyed a majority of possession in the first period but struggled to break Switzerland down. The Swiss are remaining compact, moving as a unit and defending their own half well. Argentina is having difficulty breaking down their European opponents.

Switzerland had the better scoring chances. Romero’s save on Xhaka was the highlight-reel moment of the half. Drmic’s effort minutes later might have been the most ill-advised chip in recent World Cup history.

41st minute, 0-0: Messi sets up Angel di Maria in Argentina’s latest scoring chance, but Switzerland goalkeeper Diego Benaglio makes the save.

39th minute, 0-0: Swiss striker Josip Drmic runs onto the ball behind Argentina’s defense and is one-on-one with Romero, but he tamely chips a shot into the Argentina goalkeeper’s hands.

Swtizerland won’t have many better opportunities, and the soccer gods often punish teams that don’t convert chances like those.

37th minute, 0-0: Xhaka is cautioned for a foul on Ezequiel Lavezzi.

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28th minute, 0-0: Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero makes a fine kick save on Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka’s soht.

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Shaqiri created the chance by dribbling past an Argentina defender near the goal line and cutting a pass back to Xhaka. Switzerland fullback Stephan Lichtsteiner tried to fire in the rebound, but Romero also saved that one.

25th minute, 0-0: The game remains tight, tense and largely uneventful. Neither team is showing any deference to the other.

Details will determine the outcome of this game. Both teams are highly skilled and ambitious.

Higuain heads Messis’s free kick over the crossbar in Argentina’s latest half-chance.

20th minute, 0-0: Argentines have flocked to the stadium (and surrounding area in Sao Paulo) in droves and are providing most of the atmosphere inside.

The king of Brazilian soccer is there to take it all in.

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13th minute, 0-0: Messi hasn’t impacted the game so far. Switzerland’s high-pressing style is making it difficult for Argentina to build attacks through the midfield, and Messi isn’t the type of player who thrives when his defenders play directly to him when he surrounded by opposing defenders.

Ninth minute, 0-0: Argentina has controlled most of the play so far, but Switzerland turns its first sustained spell of possession into a half-chance.

Midfielder Gokhan Inler shot over the crossbar.

Fifth minute, 0-0: It’s been a slow an uneventful opening to this one.

First minute, 0-0: The Round of 16 game between Argentina and Switzerland is underway.

Pregame: Here are the lineups:

11:30 a.m. ET: The Round of 16 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup continues on Tuesday when Argentina and Switzerland face off at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo with a place in the quarterfinals at stake.

Argentina is one of the favorites to win the World Cup. It reached the knockout rounds of the competition by finishing first in Group F. Argentina defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran and Nigeria in its three group-stage games, which set up a Round-of-16 meeting against Switzerland.

Switzerland was the top seed in Group E but finished as runner-up (to France) after its three group-stage games. The Swiss beat Ecuador, lost to France but recovered to win against Honduras in its most recent game.

Switzerland will be hard-pressed to stop Lionel Messi. The Argentine superstar has scored four goals in the 2014 World Cup, thrilling fans with his legendary quality.

Meanwhile, Xherdan Shaqiri also is red hot. The Swiss winger will look to find holes in Argentina’s defense and punish the South Americans.

The game kicks off at noon. Stay right here for all the action from the Arena de Sao Paulo.