Argentina took the lead in spectacular fashion five minutes after the break when West Ham's Carlos Tevez produced a diving header on a cross from young Barcelona star Lionel Messi, who was trying to fit into a new role as the team's playmaker.

Switzerland gained a deserved equaliser a quarter of an hour later when striker Marco Streller latched onto a ball that ran clear in the Argentine penalty area to slot home.

Wing-backs Ludovic Magnin and Philipp Degen shone in a goalless first half as the Swiss pressed along the wings and left the Argentinians little space to develop their more languorous passing play.

Gabriel Abbondanzieri cleared from the head of a Swiss striker just minutes from the start and the Swiss again came close near the end of the half as Johann Vonlanthen's diving header was thwarted by Gabriel Heinze.

However, Argentina were spurred on by the strength and pace of West Ham's Tevez on the left and always looked dangerous once they found space.

The Swiss were saved by the woodwork in the 28th minute when Messi, who was supporting Tevez and a jaded Hernan Crespo, placed a long curling free-kick onto Gabriel Milito's head.

"We weren't able to develop our usual game," said Argentine coach Alfio Basile, while underlining that the match was better to watch than England-Brazil.

"I gave Messi a new role as a sort of number nine-and-a-half, he met my expectations. He'll be even better at the forthcoming Copa America," he added.

Argentina's pace picked up in the second half after Messi and Tevez switched sides and prised open the Swiss defence.

But the match lost its shape with a string of substitutions after the goals.

Basile made it clear before the friendly that he was using it as a serious test of his starting line-up for the Copa America starting on June 26 in Venezuela.

Asked about Juan Roman Riquelme, a near compulsory presence at the heart of midfield until he pulled out of international football after last year's World Cup, Basile replied with a curt "no comment."

The 28 year-old has been in inspirational form recently on loan to Boca Juniors.

The unsettled Swiss, who played their best match since the World Cup last summer, were deprived of their top scorer, Borussia Dortmund's Alexander Frei, as well as Lazio defender Valon Behrami, because of injury.

"After the depression we suffered following the World Cup, I think we've found our way again," Swiss coach Jakob "Koebi" Kuhn said.