KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Julián Alvarez propelled defending champions Argentina back to the World Cup semifinals with a stunning long-range goal in the 112th minute, as Argentina overcame Switzerland with a final score of 3-1 on Saturday night. Another goal from Lautaro Martínez, just before the final whistle in extra time, made the victory appear far more comfortable than it was, as the match tested Argentina's resolve.
In addition to Alvarez's remarkable strike, Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring for La Albiceleste from a corner kick delivered by Lionel Messi. This win allowed Argentina to advance to play against England on Wednesday in Atlanta, following England's earlier victory of 2-1 over Norway.
Alvarez stated, “We’re among the best four, so we’re meeting our objectives, and we knew it wasn’t going to be easy. The whole match was hard, and we would have loved to have the win earlier, but we tried to get the win however we could.” He acknowledged the strength of their opponents: “The opponent was really good but we fought until the end, and finally the goals came.”
Despite his nine-game scoring streak in the World Cup ending, Messi remains in pursuit of a second World Cup title. With Argentina and England joining France and Spain in the semifinals, this marks a historic occasion as the top four teams all ranked highest in the FIFA rankings have reached this stage.
The match's turning point came in the second half, which may spark debate among critics who feel Argentina benefited from officiating. Following a 67th-minute equalizer from Switzerland’s Dan Ndoye, Argentina’s Leandro Paredes received a yellow card for a tackle on Breel Embolo, who fell before contact was made. Because Embolo had already received a yellow card earlier in the game, he was sent off, leaving Switzerland to contend with just ten players.
Using the "mistaken identity" protocol of VAR, the decision allowed for the reversal of the yellow card shown to Paredes. Swiss defender Nico Elvedi expressed confusion regarding the effectiveness of VAR in this instance, stating, “I just don’t understand how VAR can make that kind of decision.”
Argentina, currently on a 12-match unbeaten streak in World Cup play, had been showing moments of vulnerability in the knockout stages. Under the management of Lionel Scaloni, they had required extra time to narrowly defeat Cape Verde and mounted a comeback against Egypt, overcoming a 2-0 deficit within the last eleven minutes of regular time to reach the quarterfinal stage against Switzerland.
This quarterfinal marked Switzerland's first World Cup appearance at this stage since 1954, but historically, they have struggled against Argentina, who has never lost to them in the eight encounters, including three times at the World Cup.
For a month, Argentina has been training in Kansas City, developing a fanbase while playing at the home stadium of MLS’s Sporting Kansas City. Arrowhead Stadium was once again filled with supporters, all hoping to witness Messi’s skills after his sensational hat trick against Algeria in the same venue weeks prior.
Despite the oppressive heat and humidity that characterized the day, conditions improved as evening approached, setting a scenic backdrop for the historic 100th match of this expanded World Cup and concluding the quarterfinal round.
Switzerland, known for their stoic defense, had previously conceded only three goals in five matches. They began the match dominant in ball possession but failed to capitalize during early opportunities. Messi, however, ignited the heavily pro-Argentina crowd, which included Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, orchestrating a corner kick that Mac Allister converted into a 1-0 lead for Argentina.
Despite Argentina’s defensive weaknesses evident in recent matches, particularly with two goals conceded in their last games, Switzerland couldn’t capitalize sufficiently. Missing key player Johan Manzabi due to a knee injury, they struggled for offensive depth but found an equalizer in the 67th minute, thanks to Ndoye’s skillful finish following a pass from Ricardo Rodriguez.
However, the momentum gained from the equalizer quickly dissipated with Embolo's red card, allowing Argentina to resume their offensive pressure. Mac Allister narrowly missed a header goal in the 89th minute, and Messi's scoring opportunity in stoppage time also slipped past the goal, leading to further tension as the match headed into extra time.
As has been the pattern throughout the tournament, Argentina ultimately triumphed as they persevered and kept their dream of back-to-back championships intact. Midfielder Thiago Almada remarked, “We knew this could happen. They have top players, very good position, they were trying to find people inside. We knew how to hold up and we made it through.”
