Argentina and Switzerland will battle it out for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals when they meet at the Arena de Sao Paulo on Tuesday.
Argentina qualified for the last 16 by finishing top of Group F, having won all three of their matches by a single goal.
Lionel Messi was in inspired form to net four of their six goals and he is currently just one behind Colombia’s James Rodriguez in the scoring charts, but Argentina were otherwise far from convincing and coach Alejandro Sabella knows there will be no margin for error against Switzerland.
He said: "We know we have to be very focused and maintain balance.
"Obviously at this stage there is no margin for error, in the group stage there is chance of a recovery.
OPTA FACTS
- This will be the seventh international meeting between Argentina and Switzerland. Argentina are unbeaten in their previous six (W4 D2).
- The only previous World Cup meeting between these two sides came back in 1966, when Argentina defeated Switzerland 2-0.
- Argentina have had an average possession figure of 65% so far at this tournament – the highest in this finals and their highest average at a World Cup finals since 1966.
"We have to be very focused. Errors become more and more expensive."
Sabella will be forced into at least one change for the game against Switzerland, with Sergio Aguero ruled out due to a thigh problem.
Ezequiel Lavezzi is set to replace the Manchester City forward in attack, although Sabella could also opt to switch to a 4-4-2 formation.
Switzerland frontman Admir Mehmedi is confident that his side can cause an upset, adding: "I know the quality and potential of this team.
"If we defeat Argentina, we write a piece of World Cup history and many people in Switzerland proud of the team.
"I even think such success would see the world take notice, but we are not naive.
"It will take an absolutely top performance of each one of us. And I assure you, everyone will do everything we can to provide these and tearing for Switzerland."
Switzerland were thrashed 5-2 by France in the group phase but clinched their spot in the round of 16 behind Les Bleus thanks to a late 2-1 win over Ecuador and 3-0 victory against Honduras.
Xherdan Shaqiri hit a hat-trick against Honduras and will provide the main threat once again, most likely in support of lone striker Josip Drmic.
Granit Xhaka may get the nod again on the right wing, but Switzerland are without Mario Gavranovic after the striker tore his anterior cruciate ligament in training.
The winners of this tie will face either Belgium or USA in Brasilia on Saturday.
Charlie Nicholas’ prediction:
What's good about the Swiss is that they realise they are vulnerable at the back - so are Argentina, by the way - and they go out and get forward and try and beat teams. They like to be expressive and to be fair to them, they've done okay in that department. Xherdan Shaqiri is the main hope of that.
Switzerland will try and get two men close to Lionel Messi but that will open up pockets of space for others. I'm looking to Gonzalo Higuain to come to life. He was my each-way tip for the Golden Boot but so far, he hasn't looked particularly fit.
One thing I did fancy from the start was the South American teams being too strong. I tipped Argentina to beat Brazil in the final and I'm sticking to that. I think this will be comfortable for Argentina.
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