Kansas City (GNP): Argentina booked their place in the World Cup semi-finals with a 3-1 extra-time win over Switzerland, completing the lineup of final-four teams alongside France, Spain, and England.
Lionel Scaloni’s side started strongly in Kansas City, taking an early lead in just the 10th minute when Alexis Mac Allister headed home a Lionel Messi corner into the far corner of the net.
Switzerland, despite conceding early, gradually settled into the match and controlled long spells of possession before earning a well-deserved equalizer in the 67th minute, when Dan Ndoye finished off a pass from Ricardo Rodriguez, beating goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
The contest shifted five minutes later when Breel Embolo was sent off following a VAR review for simulation, leaving Switzerland to play the remainder of the match with ten men.
Argentina pushed hard for a winner in regulation time — with efforts from Mac Allister and Messi both narrowly missing — but a determined Swiss defense held on to take the match into extra time.
Switzerland continued to resist Argentina’s pressure through the first period of extra time, holding firm as the match edged closer to penalties. The deadlock was finally broken in the 112th minute when Julián Alvarez produced a spectacular curling strike into the top corner to put Argentina back in front. Lautaro Martinez added a third goal late on to secure the result.
Argentina’s Continued Title Defense
The win extended Argentina’s run in what has been a demanding knockout stage, keeping alive their bid to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend a World Cup title.
Argentina will now face England in the semi-finals after Thomas Tuchel’s side beat Norway 2-1 in extra time earlier the same day — reviving one of international football’s most storied rivalries, with a place in the final on the line.
The two nations have a long history of dramatic World Cup encounters, including their controversial 1986 meeting featuring Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal, followed by a penalty shootout won by Argentina in 1998 and England’s win in the rematch four years later.
With this latest victory, Argentina now sit one win away from reaching a second consecutive World Cup final as their title defense continues to build momentum.
A Tough Test for the Champions
Switzerland, chasing their first-ever World Cup semi-final appearance, gave the defending champions a genuine fight, and were arguably unfortunate not to find a winner themselves before Embolo’s red card altered the course of the match. Once extra time began, Switzerland largely sat back in hopes of forcing a penalty shootout — a strategy undone by Alvarez’s late moment of brilliance.
Also read: Spain beat Belgium in 2nd quarterfinal
Meanwhile, England may take some comfort in seeing their semi-final opponents pushed to the limit, given that Argentina have now needed extra time in two of their last three matches — a run that would have extended to three had Enzo Fernández not scored a stoppage-time winner against Egypt in the round of 16. With England themselves having played an additional 30 minutes against Norway, both sides will enter Wednesday’s semi-final in Atlanta on relatively even footing physically.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
