Argentina winger Angel Di Maria refused to take credit for his side's victory over Switzerland in the round of 16 of the 2014 World Cup, insisting the late goal resulted due to the team's overall effort .
Neither side was able to break the deadlock in 90 minutes so the game went to extra-time. Just as the match seemed to be heading towards the dreaded penalty shootouts, Di Maria grabbed the winner for Argentina in the 118th minute.
However, the Real Madrid winger insists that Argentina's progress to the quarter-finals resulted due to the overall team effort.
"It wasn't me, the heroes are 23 players and the technical staff. We always tried to play, we just made one mistake in the first half that allowed a one-on-one with (keeper Sergio) 'Chiquito' Romero," Di Maria told Closs.
"The win is more than well deserved, we made a great effort. We gave our lives, our souls on the pitch, we didn't get desperate."
Meanwhile striker Lionel Messi, who was named as the man of the match, admitted that he was afraid that Argentina were going to be eliminated from the 2014 World Cup until Di Maria scored the late winner.
"I was nervous towards the end because we couldn't score and any mistake could have knocked us out. The minutes were passing by and we didn't want the match to go to penalties," said Messi.
"As for the goal, my first thought was to go for it myself, but then I saw Di Maria appear and I decided to play him in. Fortunately, he was able to put it away. That's football and today luck was on our side. We have to make the most of it and keep on going."
Finally Argentina head coach Alejandro Sabella feels that his side deserved to win, even though he admits he would have liked to see the La Albiceleste triumph in normal time.
"We deserved the win, but the ideal thing would have been to have got the job done in normal time. It goes without saying that winning is the most important thing and the only thing that really matters," said Sabella.
The 59-year-old Argentinean insists that he is satisfied with his team's overall performance despite their last minute win against Switzerland.
"As a coach you have to do things to make winning easier – you have to look for the right approach, strategy and players. Apart from the odd lapse in concentration here and there, I think the team played well. We were up against a very awkward side, and we probed down the right and probed down the left. I'd like to congratulate my players on their great performance, though there are some areas where we need to improve."
