SPORTS DESK — World champions Argentina booked their place in the 2026 World Cup semi-finals after a grueling, high-octane 3-1 extra-time victory over a resilient Switzerland side on Sunday.
Dramatic extra-time strikes from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez finally broke the dogged Swiss resistance after the match ended 1-1 in regulation time.
Lionel Scaloni’s men are now set for a blockbuster semi-final showdown against Jude Bellingham’s England.
Early Dominance and Swiss Resilience
The Albiceleste got off to a flying start, breaking the deadlock just 10 minutes into the match.
Master tactician Lionel Messi delivered a pinpoint corner kick, allowing Alexis Mac Allister to rise highest and power a brilliant header into the back of the net.
Despite going down early, Switzerland refused to back down. After squandering a few close chances in the first half, the Swiss team re-engineered their strategy after the break.
Their persistence paid off in the 67th minute when Dan Ndoye finished off a fluid, well-constructed counter-attack from midfield, piercing through the Argentine defense to beat goalkeeper Emi Martinez and level the scoreline.
VAR Drama and a Ten-Man Defiance
The momentum swung back under controversial circumstances just five minutes later. In the 72nd minute, Swiss forward Breel Embolo was caught by VAR attempting to simulate a foul inside the box.
The referee promptly issued a second yellow card for simulation, sending Embolo off and leaving Switzerland with 10 men.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Swiss backline put up a heroic defensive masterclass.
They successfully thwarted a relentless wave of Argentine attacks to drag the tense encounter into extra time as the threat of a penalty shootout began to loom large over both dugouts.
Alvarez and Martinez Seal the Victory
With tension reaching a boiling point, Julian Alvarez produced a moment of pure magic in the 112th minute.
Cutting in from the left side of the penalty box, the forward unleashed an absolute rocket of a right-footed shot into the top corner.
Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel could only watch helplessly as the ball flew past him.
The chaotic goal celebration sparked a heated altercation between both sets of players, resulting in a yellow card for Argentina’s substitute Jose Manuel Lopez.
Desperate to find an equalizer in the dying minutes, a exhausted 10-man Switzerland pushed everyone forward.
Argentina capitalised perfectly deep into stoppage time of extra time, with Lautaro Martinez clinical finishing making it 3-1 to cap off a historic night for the reigning world champions.