World Cup: Just a word - breathtaking - PHOTOS

Argentina dodged a major bullet to advance to the World Cup quarterfinals with a 1-0 extra time victory over Switzerland on Tuesday afternoon at the Arena São Paulo in São Paulo.

Ángel di María was able to slot home a perfect pass from Lionel Messi to send the Albiceleste through against a tough, valiant Swiss side that made life difficult for Messi and Co. all throughout the match.

Argentina head coach Alejandro Sabella's 4-3-3 formation consisted of Sergio Romero in goal, Pablo Zabaleta, Federico Fernández, Ezequiel Garay and Marcos Rojo in defense, Javier Mascherano, Fernando Gago and Di María in midfield and the attacking trio of Messi, Gonzalo Higuaín and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

The Swiss started in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Diego Benaglio in goal, a back four of Ricardo Rodríguez, Johan Djourou, Fabian Schär and Stephan Lichtsteiner, holding midfielders Gökhan Inler and Valon Behrami, attacking midfielders Admir Mehmedi, Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri and lone striker Josip Drmic.

It was a herky-jerky first 25 minutes between the two sides as neither team was able to find a rhythm with its play. Finally things started to flow and it was Switzerland with the first chance as a fine run from Shaqiri set up a chance for Xhaka but his shot was kick-saved by Romero in the 28th minute. A minute later Argentina came close but Lavezzi's shot rolled into the hands of Benaglio.

Sometimes a striker can have too much time in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper and that was the case for Drmic in the 39th minute when he ran onto a long ball in the Argentina half and Romero stuck in no-man's land in his own box. But Drmic's hurried his shot and his harmless chip floated into Romero's hands. But overall the Swiss had to feel good about their first half as they effectively limited Messi who didn't even have a shot on goal.

Argentina started to exhibit a better brand of football in the second half and in the 62nd minute a ball across from Rojo was nearly headed in from Higuaín but Benaglio was able to tip away the header from the Napoli man. Yet the Swiss continued to frustrate Argentina as the Europeans demonstrated impeccable positioning in defense and thwarted any and all Albiceleste chances.

Heading into the final 15 minutes, the match was very much a toss-up with Argentina controlling possession but Switzerland posing a threat on counters. But the entrance of Rodrigo Palacio injected life in the Argentine attack and in the 78th minute Benaglio came up with a massive save on a Messi shot after La Pulga had collected the ball, skipped past two defenders and sent in a left-footer that Benaglio was able to block.

But no goals were on the offering so for the fourth time in this second round of the World Cup, extra time would be played. With the crowd on their side, especially the boisterous Brazilians who were more anti-Argentina rather than pro-Switzerland, Ottmar Hitzfeld's men found their second wind and looked the strong side in the first half of extra time.

Argentina looked to reassert themselves and a long-range effort from Di María in the 109th nearly beat Benaglio. Finally Alejandro Sabella's men would break through in the 118th minute and the genesis was Messi who started the break, sped past two defenders before dishing to Di María on the right and the Real Madrid man fired a shot past Benaglio to get the long-awaited goal.

But there was more drama to be had as the Swiss desperately searched for an equalizer and a ball in from Shaqiri found substitute Blerim Dzemaili at the back post whose header dramatically struck the post, rebounded back to Dzemaili's leg and then rolled wide. The Swiss then had a last-second free kick from right outside the box but Shaqiri's effort was blocked by the Argentine wall to end an extraordinary final few minutes of extra time and send Argentina to the quarterfinals.

Belgium 2-1 USA

Belgium stamped their ticket to the World Cup quarterfinals with a thrilling 2-1 extra victory over the United States on Tuesday night at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador.

Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku scored in the extra session while a Julian Green strike gave the U.S. hopes of an incredible comeback that fell just short. Next up for Belgium is a quarterfinal date with Lionel Messi and Argentina.

Belgium boss Marc Wilmots sent out a starting XI consisting of Thibaut Courtois in goal, Toby Alderweireld, Daniel Van Buyten, Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen in defense. Marouane Fellaini and Axel Witsel slotted in as defensive midfielders while Eden Hazard, De Bruyne and Dries Mertens lined up as attacking midfielders behind lone striker Divock Origi.

For the U.S., head coach Jurgen Klinsmann changed formations from a 4-5-1 used against Portugal and Germany to a 4-1-4-1 with DaMarcus Beasley, Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez and Fabian Johnson in defense and Geoff Cameron as the holding midfielder. The front five consisted of Alejandro Bedoya and Graham Zusi on the wings while Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones were in the center of the pitch behind striker Clint Dempsey.

Belgium got off to a very fast and Origi threatened the U.S. inside the first minute but Howard was up for the save. The U.S. was able to bounce back and had a chance through Dempsey on 20 minutes which Courtois saved. Zusi then lost possession in the middle of the field in the 23rd minute and Belgium’s five-on-three break ended with De Bruyne shanking a shot wide left.

Belgium continued with the pressure as they attacked the right side of the U.S. defense and were helped by the Americans’ inability to maintain any type of possession. Klinsmann was then forced into an early substitution at the half hour mark when Johnson pulled up with a hamstring injury and was replaced by DeAndre Yedlin.

Despite all the advantages, Belgium were unable to break through against the U.S. defense which did a fine job of absorbing the pressure for the remainder of the half. Belgium continued their dominance into the second half with the U.S. unable to gain any type of offensive foothold. Origi continued to be a thorn in the side of the U.S. and his setup of a Mertens shot in the 60th nearly resulted in the opener but Mertens’ effort drifted just wide.

Wilmots brought on Kevin Mirallas in the second half and the Everton man’s run into the U.S. area in the 72nd minute led to an Origi chance that Howard had to block with his feet. Howard came to the rescue again four minutes later to deny his teammate on a breakaway and Howard barely managed to kick away a shot. A minute later, it was Hazard who was denied by Howard who had to punch away a searing shot from the Chelsea man. The Belgians continued to pound the U.S. area but then with one minute left in stoppage time a U.S. chance saw substitute Chris Wondolowski all alone in front of goal with a chance only to see the San Jose Earthquakes man flub his shot.

To start extra time Wilmots brought on Lukaku and he immediately paid dividends by getting past the U.S. defense and cross to De Bruyne who fired a shot past Howard to give Belgium a 1-0 lead.

The goal forced the Americans to press forward for an equalizer, thus leaving big gaps in defense and Belgium were more than happy to take advantage as they struck for a second. It started with a counter after the U.S. lost possession and again it was Lukaku making the Yanks pays, this time De Bruyne repaying the favor with the pass that the hulking striker finished off to make it 2-0.

Yet the U.S. would simply not go away and substitute Green made an instant impact when he came on the field for Bedoya after the first 15 minutes of extra time, and connected on a ball from Bradley to beat Courtois and cut the lead to 2-1. Incredibly, a minute later Jones had the equalizer on his boot, but his stab of the ball drifted wide right. A brilliantly executed free kick nearly leveled the match in the 114th minute but Courtois managed to deny Dempsey from close range.

It would turn out to be the last chance for the U.S. whose valiant comeback fell just short while Belgium did what they had to do to advance.

/Marca/