Defending champions Argentina will look to extend their World Cup title defence when they face Switzerland in the quarter-finals on Saturday in Kansas City after surviving two tense knockout matches.
Argentina needed extra time to beat Cape Verde 3-2 in the round of 32 before staging a dramatic comeback from two goals down to defeat Egypt 3-2 in the last 16.
Lionel Messi played a decisive role in Tuesday's victory despite missing a penalty. The forward equalised in the 83rd minute after Cristian Romero had pulled one back in the 79th from Messi's assist. Enzo Fernandez then scored the winner in the second minute of second-half stoppage time.
"It wasn't easy to come back from a 2-0 deficit in a World Cup knockout match – especially given how games are going these days, where no one gives you anything for free," Messi said. "But thank God, we did it once again."
The 39-year-old has now scored a record 21 World Cup goals in his career. His eight goals at this tournament are level with France forward Kylian Mbappe, although Mbappe has played one more match after helping France reach the semi-finals.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni praised his captain's relentless determination.
"Especially for those players on the bench, the players who watch Lionel Messi play and can't believe what they're watching - he should be a role model for them," Scaloni said. "He tries again and again, and I get goosebumps."
Switzerland will attempt to contain Messi as they reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since hosting the tournament in 1954.
Captain Granit Xhaka and defender Ricardo Rodriguez are the only survivors from the Swiss side that lost 1-0 after extra time to Argentina in the 2014 World Cup round of 16 in Brazil.
"I don't know that we can stop him over 90 minutes. It's going to be difficult," Xhaka said. "But we have to be smart, compact, close the gaps and not give him too many spaces. We just try to play our game."
Argentina are unbeaten in their last 11 World Cup matches and have scored at least twice in each of those games, equalling the longest such run in tournament history.
Switzerland have impressed defensively, scoring nine goals and conceding only three in five matches. They reached the quarter-finals after drawing 0-0 with Colombia before winning 4-3 in a penalty shootout.
"It's obviously a very tough challenge," defender Manuel Akanji said. "But I think we're ready. I think we can play against any opponent and make it hard for them. We know it's going to be difficult but we're going to give our best."
Xhaka believes Switzerland deserves greater recognition for their own strengths.
"We know Argentina has many fine qualities. Few talk about the Swiss qualities," he said. "(Saturday) we will talk on the pitch, and we will show what we can do, and everything else doesn't matter."
Switzerland will again be without midfielder Johan Manzambi, who has three goals and two assists in four tournament appearances, after he failed to recover from a knee injury.
"We tried everything we could to get him back in peak form," coach Murat Yakin said. "Momentum was on his side, and there was so much joy when he plays, and he has his teammates by his side. Everything worked out so well for him until now."
The winners will face either Norway or England in the semi-finals in Atlanta on Wednesday for a place in the World Cup final on 19 July in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
