Sports Desk :
The first half of the Round of 16 match of the FIFA World Cup 2014 match between Argentina and Switzerland ended in a goalless draw at the Arena de Sao Paulo in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Tuesday night.
Players of the both teams got few chances but Switzerland got the most easiest chance in the pre-lemon session.
Drmic of Switzerland got Argentina goalie Romero alone but he struck the ball straight to Romero in the 33rd minute of the play.
Earlier, Inler of Switzerland hit a power-packed shot but it was blocked by Romero in the 27th minute of the game.
Switzerland have also been far from impenetrable at this World Cup but they are dangerous opponents too, as Argentina’s manager, Alejandro Sabella, acknowledged at his final pre-match press conference at the Arena Corinthians. This is a moment for Argentina to shift up a gear.
“The team is in good spirits and very positive but this is a different phase,” Sabella said. “During first phase you can make a mistake and still recover. Here it is much more difficult. We cannot go back, and mistakes are not acceptable at this stage of a World Cup.”
The Switzerland coach, Ottmar Hitzfeld, believes that by remaining organised his team could make their first quarter-final appearance since they hosted the finals 60 years ago. The Swiss have never beaten Argentina, drawing two games and losing four.
“We are the clear outsiders but we have nothing to lose and much to gain,” he said. “In one game, anything is possible,” added the German coach, who will step down after the World Cup.
Switzerland are hoping the large Brazilian contingent expected in the crowd at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo will be backing them against the hosts’ arch-rivals Argentina.
“I think we will definitely have the support of the Brazilian fans in the stadium,” goalkeeper Diego Benaglio said at the Swiss training camp in Porto Seguro. “You can feel the rivalry between Brazil and Argentina here.”
While Argentina’s defence look to shackle Shaqiri, Switzerland’s back line has an arguably tougher task in shutting out an inspired Messi.
