I don t know whether I deserved it or not Messi said. What s important is that we went through Like everybody I was very nervous because we couldn t score. We suffered suffered and suffered. We started to think it wasn t going to happen. We knew if we made a single mistake we would have been going home.
Big teams have gone that nobody expected to be gone and others that nobody thought would be here still are. There are no easy opponents in the World Cup. We didn t want it to go to penalties and wanted to finish it off. When I first got the ball I thought about taking the chance and shooting myself but then I saw ngel and made the pass.
Messi was speaking after collecting the man of the match trophy and it was a surprise that Valon Behrami and Gokhan Inler did not track him on to the rostrum. The Swiss guards were out in force against the Pope s compatriots. One fan strode into the Arena Corinthians dressed as the Pope smiling beatifically at fellow Argentines. The fans had arrived in the mood to pay homage to Messi. His name adorns the shirts of countless fans who sang his name with passion at the end. He is a bringer of hope a shaper of reverie a messiah in stripes.
Some of his 20 000 travelling disciples had left their cars a couple of miles away from the ground outside the security cordon paying a few reals to park in petrol stations. They rolled up the hill a tide of blue and white some pausing at the pavement stalls to buy chocolate cakes made by local children others hurrying on eager to be in situ for the warm up to seize every opportunity to watch a maestro at work.
Inside Arena Corinthians many Argentine fans broke into we are not worthy bowing salutes when Messi s name was read out. Awaiting the call to arms Argentina s captain stood in the tunnel smiling occasionally adjusting the armband on his left biceps and spraying water on to the nape of his neck. He knew all eyes were on him. He also needed help. At times it seemed Messi was playing the Swiss on his own.
From the kick off Messi took the ball from the ineffective Gonzalo Higua n and tried to launch a move. Almost immediately Ottmar Hitzfeld s tactics were apparent Swiss swarming around Messi. The veteran coach had promised a well prepared reception committee and he was true to his word. Within seconds Messi was being closed down by Admir Mehmedi. It set the theme of the half Messi taking the ball and the Swiss crowding him out sending him down cul de sacs.
Switzerland s game plan stayed within the bounds of legitimacy for the most part. They hustled and harried disrupting Argentina s moves slowing their tempo. They looked to hit on the break. Argentina were very aware of Switzerland s danger man Xherdan Shaqiri who quickly became a favourite of the watching Brazilians with some of his trickery against Argentina. They booed when Fernando Gago slid in on him.
They cheered when Shaqiri created a good opportunity on the left ending with Inler shooting over as a lone Swiss cow bell tolled plaintively.
Inler and Behrami continued to shadow Messi. Johan Djourou was terrific at the heart of the Swiss defence. Argentina s own defence a much scrutinised unit was grateful to their oft criticised keeper Sergio Romero who saved from Granit Xhaka and Stephan Lichtsteiner. As the half closed Romero read Josip Drmic s intentions and caught the striker s attempted chip. The Brazilians were furious gesticulating at Drmic for failing to score against their great rivals.
Argentina went close. Higua n had a powerful close range pushed over by Benaglio but then came Messi and Di Mar a. Switzerland threw everyone forward including Benaglio. Blerim Dzemaili almost forced penalties with a header on to the post and then a shot. Shaqiri sent a free kick into the wall and then the final whistle blew.
For Hitzfeld the denouement carried unwelcome echoes of events in 1999 in the Nou Camp that was to become Messi s home. The former Bayern Munich coach even mentioned that stunning last minute loss to Manchester United in the Champions League. He still recorded two Champions League trophies with Borussia Dortmund and eventually with Bayern and heads into retirement into the television studio with the memory of a magnificent coaching career and the admiration of the football community.
Messi meanwhile marches on.
Argentina v Switzerland The best images from Sao Paulo Hitzfeld retires after defeat to Argentina Comment Argentina are paying too much deference to Messi Ranking the World Cup teams from 1 to 32
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