Argentina secures semi-final spot
Argentina, the defending champions, have advanced to the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after overcoming a ten-man Switzerland side with a 3-1 victory in extra time. The decisive goal came from Julian Alvarez with a long-range effort. This win sets up a semi-final clash against England.
The match, held at Kansas City Stadium, saw Argentina take an early lead in the 10th minute. Alexis Mac Allister headed in a cross from Lionel Messi, giving the South American team the advantage. Despite the early goal, Argentina did not display the dominant performance they might have hoped for throughout the regular ninety minutes.
Switzerland managed to level the score in the 67th minute when Dan Ndoye found the back of the net from close range. The European side had shown resilience and arguably deserved their equaliser, pushing Argentina in a challenging encounter.
Controversial VAR decision and extra time drama
A significant moment in the match occurred in the 72nd minute when Switzerland‘s Breel Embolo received a second yellow card for simulation, leading to his dismissal. The decision involved a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), which intervened to request the referee to re-evaluate a booking given to Argentina’s Leandro Paredes. This review was part of a new VAR rule for the tournament concerning mistaken identity.
Embolo appeared to dive to earn a free kick, and following the review, Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro overturned his initial decision. This resulted in Embolo being sent off, a moment that left him visibly upset. The use of VAR in this instance sparked discussion among observers, particularly regarding its application to yellow card incidents.
With Switzerland reduced to ten men, Argentina intensified their efforts to secure a winner in normal time. They came close in the final moments of the period when Lisandro Martinez attempted a scissor-kick from a loose ball in the box, but his shot lacked the power to beat the goalkeeper. Messi also had an opportunity, chipping the ball over the keeper in a one-on-one situation, but the effort was saved. Replays suggested that a goal might have stood, despite the assistant referee raising the flag for offside.
The match then proceeded into extra time, where Julian Alvarez ultimately broke the deadlock. In the 112th minute, Alvarez unleashed a powerful shot from 25 yards out, which rifled into the top right corner of the goal, restoring Argentina‘s lead. This crucial goal shifted the momentum firmly in Argentina‘s favour.
Path to the semi-finals and upcoming fixtures
As Switzerland pushed forward in the closing stages of extra time, attempting to find an equaliser, they left gaps in their defence. Lautaro Martinez capitalised on this in deep stoppage time, slotting home Argentina‘s third goal after a counterattack. The move was initiated by Thiago Almada, whose initial shot deflected into Martinez‘s path, sealing the victory for Argentina.
This quarter-final victory means Argentina will now face England in the semi-final match scheduled for Wednesday in Atlanta. England also had a challenging path to the semi-finals, requiring extra time to defeat Norway.
The other semi-final fixture will see Spain play against France on Tuesday. France was the team Argentina defeated in the final of the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Argentina‘s journey in the current tournament has been demanding, including being pushed to extra time by Cape Verde in the round of 32. Only two nations, Italy and Brazil, have previously successfully defended a World Cup title.
Switzerland‘s journey to the quarter-finals marked their first time reaching this stage since 1954. They had previously beaten Colombia in the last round, winning on penalties after a goalless draw. Argentina had also faced a scare in an earlier round, overcoming a two-goal deficit against Egypt to reach the last eight. The upcoming semi-final matches promise further intense competition as the tournament progresses.
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Source: aljazeera.com
