Argentina advanced to the World Cup 2026 semi-finals after a Julián Álvarez goal in extra time helped them defeat 10-man Switzerland 3-1. The match, played at Kansas City Stadium, saw Argentina secure a spot against England in the next round.
The defending champions initially took the lead through Alexis Mac Allister. He headed in a cross from Lionel Messi in the 10th minute, giving Argentina an early advantage. The goal came from a corner, with Mac Allister finding space between Breel Embolo and Djibril Sow to direct the ball into the far corner.
Despite the early setback, Switzerland showed resilience. Dan Ndoye, a key player for Switzerland, equalised in the 67th minute. He combined with Ricardo Rodriguez before slotting the ball past the Argentine goalkeeper, Emiliano Martínez, from a tight angle. This goal came after a period of sustained pressure from the Swiss side, who had forced several saves from Martínez.
The momentum shifted significantly just five minutes after Switzerland’s equalizer. Breel Embolo was shown a second yellow card for simulation, leading to his dismissal. Initially, referee João Pinheiro had booked Leandro Paredes for a foul on Embolo. However, a VAR review, operating under new mistaken identity rules, determined that Embolo had dived, resulting in his second caution and subsequent red card. Embolo departed the field visibly upset.
Key Moments and Missed Opportunities
Before the red card incident, Switzerland had started the match with purpose, pressing Argentina. Sow had an early opportunity but could not angle his strike effectively. Embolo also had promising chances, including one shortly after the restart that was denied by a block from Lisandro Martínez.
Argentina, despite their lead, did not have a dominant display throughout normal time. Messi attempted to create opportunities, but Switzerland’s organised defence largely held firm. A deflected Mac Allister drive led to the corner from which Argentina scored their first goal. Later, Messi’s pass found Nahuel Molina, who dragged his shot wide, and Álvarez had a strike deflected off target.
As the game progressed, the tempo increased. Switzerland’s Ndoye and Granit Xhaka both tested Martínez before Ndoye’s equalizer. Argentina also had chances to win the game in normal time, with Mac Allister heading over from a Nico Gonzalez cross and Lisandro Martínez having a scissor-kick saved by Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel just before extra time.
Messi himself came close with a chip over Kobel, but the effort was flagged offside, though replays suggested it might have stood. Kobel also made a crucial save to deny Messi again during extra time, highlighting the Swiss goalkeeper’s performance.
Extra Time Decider and Semi-Final Outlook
With the match heading into extra time, Switzerland aimed to hold out for penalties. However, Julián Álvarez broke the deadlock in the 112th minute with a powerful shot from 25 yards that found the top right corner of Kobel’s goal. This stunning strike restored Argentina’s lead and took the wind out of Switzerland’s sails.
As Switzerland pushed forward in search of another equalizer, they left gaps in their defence. Lautaro Martínez capitalized on this in stoppage time of extra time, scoring Argentina’s third goal. His goal came after an initial shot from Thiago Almada was kept out, with the rebound falling kindly to Martínez.
This victory sets up a highly anticipated semi-final clash between Argentina and England. The match is scheduled to take place on Wednesday in Atlanta. This will be the first competitive meeting between the two nations in 24 years. Argentina has been taken to extra time twice in the tournament, including a previous match against Cape Verde in the round of 32, while England also needed extra time to defeat Norway.
The other semi-final will see Spain face France on Tuesday. Argentina, who defeated France in the Qatar 2022 final, will be looking to defend their World Cup title, a feat previously achieved by only Italy and Brazil.
Source: theguardian.com
