Argentina 3 – 1 Switzerland

Julian Alvarez scored a stunning goal in extra-time as Argentina beat 10-man Switzerland 3-1 and set up a mouth-watering World Cup semi-final with England.

Lionel Messi and company will face the Three Lions in Atlanta on Wednesday at 8pm UK time, with a place in the final against either France or Spain at stake.

This competition is a competition between countries held for the first time in 24 years.

Despite Switzerland’s positive start in Kansas City, they had to take responsibility when they fell behind within 10 minutes. Alexis Mac Allister was twice left unmarked from corners and on the second he punished them with a header after being picked out by Messi.

Breel Embolo had Switzerland’s most promising chance of the first half, but a combination from Lisandro and Emi Martinez prevented him from getting a shot from just inside the box. He too had a great opportunity to level up immediately after the restart but a world-class block from Lisandro Martinez denied him.

Dan Ndoye and Granit

The Swiss joy was short-lived. Five minutes after the equaliser, Leandro Paredes was booked for a foul on Embolo. However, under new mistaken identity rules, VAR recommended a review and the referee instead showed Embolo a second yellow card for simulation.

Messi and Mac Allister both had chances to win the game for Argentina before the final whistle, but could not find a way to prevent extra time.

Although Switzerland managed to keep the reigning world champions at bay for the first 15 minutes, the wind was taken out of their sails when Julian Alvarez struck a beautiful strike into the top right corner from 25 yards. Lautaro Martinez added luster to the dying embers and by then the Swiss race had begun.

Key moments in Kansas City

• 10: target! Messi delivered Argentina’s second corner in quick succession and found Alexis Mac Allister who headed home an unmarked shot.
• 32: big opportunity! Switzerland’s Brill Embolo was sent clear, but Lisandro Martinez and Emi Martinez combined to prevent him from getting the shot.
• 43: It’s wasteful! Remo Prowler saved a free-kick from a promising position on the left, but despite having four players waiting in the box, he went on his way to glory and went some distance off target.
• 50: block! The Incredibles of Lisandro Martinez, who recovered to deny Embolo a certain goal.
• 67: target! Dan Ndoye plays a neat one-two with Ricardo Rodriguez and fires from a tight angle underneath Emi Martinez.
• 72: red card! Embolo received a second yellow card for simulation under the new mistaken identity rules.
• 89: possibility! Mac Allister meets Nico Gonzalez’s cross but heads it in from six yards.
• 112: target! Julian Alvarez scored a stunning goal to restore Argentina’s lead.
• 120+1: target! Lautaro Martinez added some sparkle in the second half after Thiago Almada’s first-time shot was blocked.

Argentina went to overtime twice. Will this affect the game against England?

Sky Sports’ Dan Long:

Facing the reigning world champions, Switzerland had a lot to contend with on their way to reaching their first-ever World Cup semi-final. But they certainly made things difficult for Lionel Scaloni’s side.

Switzerland deserved an equalizer and might have forced a winner had Breel Embolo not been sent off. He was inconsolable when he received his marching orders, and with good reason. His dismissal changed the game.

With extra time confirmed, they were content to sit back and force a penalty draw. Unfortunately, that was when Argentina resurrected.

But England will have been delighted to see their next opponents push through. This is the second time the game went into overtime in three games. If Enzo Fernandez had not scored the winning goal in the 93rd minute in the round of 16 against Egypt, it could have been 3 out of 3.

Whether that will have an impact on Argentina in the semi-final is of course debatable, but with England having played an extra 30 minutes against Norway, it will at least be fair for Wednesday night’s game in Atlanta.

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