Argentina secures semi-final berth
Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in a World Cup 2026 quarter-final match held in Kansas City. This victory sets up a semi-final clash against England. The match saw goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Julian Alvarez, and Lautaro Martinez for Argentina, while Dan Ndoye scored for Switzerland.
The opening goal came in the 10th minute when Alexis Mac Allister headed in a corner, following an assist from Lionel Messi. Despite an early lead, Switzerland maintained pressure, with Breel Embolo having a notable chance in the first half that was denied by Lisandro Martinez and Emi Martinez. Embolo also had a significant opportunity after the restart, but Lisandro Martinez made a crucial block.
Switzerland’s efforts paid off in the 67th minute when Dan Ndoye linked up with Ricardo Rodriguez and scored from a tight angle, levelling the game. However, their celebration was short-lived. Five minutes later, Leandro Paredes was booked for a foul on Embolo. Under new mistaken identity rules, a VAR review led to referee Joao Pinheiro showing Embolo a second yellow card for simulation, resulting in his dismissal.
Extra-time drama and Messi’s streak
With the score tied at full-time, the match proceeded to extra time. Despite Switzerland holding the reigning world champions for the initial 15 minutes of extra time, Julian Alvarez broke the deadlock in the 112th minute with a long-range strike into the top right corner. Lautaro Martinez then added a third goal in the closing moments of extra time, securing Argentina’s 3-1 victory.
For Lionel Messi, this match marked the end of his nine-match scoring streak in the FIFA World Cup. Despite not scoring, Messi played a crucial role by assisting Mac Allister’s opening goal. His influence on the game through passing and creativity was noted, even though Switzerland’s coach Murat Yakin had expressed confidence in his team’s ability to contain him.
Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, praised Messi’s performance, highlighting his continued dedication and impact on the team. Scaloni remarked on Messi’s enduring quality, suggesting he will remain at the top as long as he desires to continue playing. Messi’s assist ensured he played a decisive role in Argentina’s progression towards potentially defending their FIFA World Cup title.
Looking ahead to the semi-finals
The victory means Argentina will now face England in the semi-finals. This upcoming match will be the first competitive encounter between the two nations in 24 years. The semi-final is scheduled to take place in Atlanta on Wednesday at 8 pm UK time.
The match against Switzerland was the second time in three games that Argentina was taken to extra time in the tournament. This extended play could potentially impact their performance in the semi-finals. However, England also played an additional 30 minutes in their match against Norway, suggesting a level playing field in terms of recent exertion for both teams.
The winner of the Argentina versus England semi-final will advance to the final, where they will face either France or Spain. The quarter-final match against Switzerland was played on Saturday.
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Source: skysports.com
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter