Defending champion Argentina kept its World Cup title defense alive Saturday as Julian Alvarez’s extra time strike lifted La Albiceleste to a hard fought 3-1 victory over Switzerland, securing a place in the semifinals against England.
Alvarez broke the deadlock in the 112th minute with a powerful long range effort before Lautaro Martinez sealed the victory moments before the final whistle, giving Argentina a scoreline that did not fully reflect the closely contested encounter.
Alexis Mac Allister gave Argentina an early advantage in the 10th minute when he headed home a corner delivered by Lionel Messi, whose World Cup scoring streak came to an end despite another influential performance.
Switzerland responded strongly after halftime and found its equalizer in the 67th minute through Dan Ndoye, who finished confidently to level the match and shift momentum toward the European side.
The contest took another dramatic turn five minutes later when Switzerland was reduced to 10 players following a Video Assistant Referee review involving Breel Embolo.
Initially, Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes received a yellow card for a challenge on Embolo. Video replay later showed Embolo had gone to ground before contact was made, prompting officials to apply FIFA’s mistaken identity protocol. Because Embolo had already been booked earlier in the match, the yellow card was reassigned to him, resulting in his dismissal.
The Associated Press noted that it marked only the second time during this World Cup that the mistaken identity protocol had been used to overturn a disciplinary decision involving a yellow card.
Despite its numerical disadvantage, Switzerland defended resolutely and forced Argentina into extra time for the third consecutive knockout round match.
Argentina finally found the breakthrough in the 112th minute when Alvarez collected possession outside the penalty area and drove a powerful shot beyond the Swiss goalkeeper to restore his team’s lead.
As Switzerland pushed forward in search of another equalizer, Argentina struck again in the closing seconds of extra time. Lautaro Martinez finished a swift attacking move to put the result beyond doubt and send the South American champions into another World Cup semifinal.
The victory keeps alive Argentina’s pursuit of consecutive World Cup titles and extends another impressive knockout run built on resilience under pressure.
According to Reuters, Argentina has now survived three straight knockout matches that required extraordinary composure, reinforcing its reputation as one of the tournament’s most battle tested teams.
Messi, whose nine match World Cup scoring run ended Saturday, continued to dictate Argentina’s attack and registered the assist for Mac Allister’s opening goal. His leadership and creativity remain central to Argentina’s championship ambitions even without adding to his personal goal tally.
Switzerland exits the tournament after delivering one of its strongest World Cup campaigns in recent years. The team matched Argentina for long periods and created several dangerous opportunities before the sending off altered the balance of the match.
Argentina will now meet England in a highly anticipated semifinal on Wednesday in Atlanta after the Three Lions defeated Norway 2-1 following extra time earlier Saturday. The matchup will feature two traditional football powers seeking a place in the World Cup final, with Argentina chasing consecutive titles and England attempting to reach its first final since winning the tournament in 1966.
What We Know So Far
Argentina has reached the World Cup semifinals after overcoming Switzerland in another knockout match that required extra time. The defending champions have now played three consecutive elimination matches that tested both their endurance and squad depth before securing victory.
What Authorities Are Saying
Match officials used the Video Assistant Referee system to apply FIFA’s mistaken identity protocol during the second half, resulting in Breel Embolo’s dismissal instead of Leandro Paredes receiving the caution. The decision proved to be one of the defining moments of the match and followed FIFA’s established disciplinary procedures.
Why This Matters
Argentina’s latest victory demonstrates the depth and resilience of a squad aiming to become the first nation in more than six decades to successfully defend a men’s World Cup title. The match also highlighted the growing influence of video review technology, with a major disciplinary decision significantly affecting the remainder of the contest. The upcoming semifinal against England will reunite two of football’s most accomplished nations in one of the tournament’s marquee fixtures.
What Happens Next
Argentina will face England in the World Cup semifinals on Wednesday in Atlanta, with the winner advancing to the championship match. Switzerland will begin evaluating a tournament that showcased its competitiveness against elite opposition and provided a foundation for future international competitions.
