Port Elizabeth - Switzerland set a new World Cup record for number of minutes played without conceding a goal in their match against Chile here on Monday.

Ottmar Hitzfeld's side contained Chile's attack for 67 minutes of this Group C tie for a total playing time of 551 minutes without leaking a goal.

They overtook the old mark of 550 minutes held by Italy, established between June 17 1986 and July 3 1990.

In third are England with a tally of 501 minutes established between June 16 1982 and June 2 1986.

Switzerland, who toppled favourites and European champions Spain 1-0 in their opening game, started their record run in 1994.

in 2006 in Germany they finished top of their first round group in 2006 with a 0-0 draw against France and 2-0 wins over Togo and South Korea.

They lost their last 16 match on penalties after a goalless extra time stalemate to Ukraine.

The Swiss broke the record the hard way after being reduced to 10-men with Valon Behrami's 31st minute sending off but Hitzfeld's men held on grimly to take their place in the history books.

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