Could Argentina really secure an easy victory? With only eight minutes left in extra time, they were on the verge of a penalty shootout against a determined and well-organized Swiss team that was down to ten players. After an early lead from Alexis Mac Allister, the match had turned into a tense struggle, especially when Dan Ndoye equalized for Switzerland midway through the second half.
This time, Lionel Messi couldn’t save his team, but Julián Álvarez emerged as the hero. With a stunning strike from 25 yards, he sent the ball soaring into the top left corner of Gregor Kobel’s net, reigniting Argentina’s hopes and securing a place in the semifinals against England. Lautaro Martínez later added a second goal, confirming their victory. For Messi, this match holds special significance as it is his first encounter with England in a World Cup knockout stage since the infamous Hand of God incident 40 years ago. Switzerland may wonder what could have been had Breel Embolo not received a second yellow card just five minutes after Ndoye’s goal for diving.
Initially, it was Switzerland that seemed poised to challenge Argentina, having successfully posed similar questions to Colombia in previous matches. However, Argentina breached their defense within ten minutes, with Mac Allister’s header benefiting from a fortuitous setup. The opening goal came following a deflected shot that led to successive corners, the second of which Messi delivered effectively to the near post, allowing Mac Allister to leap above Embolo and Djibril Sow. Although the header’s contact appeared unclean, replay showed it was perfectly placed, granting Argentina a solid foundation.
Switzerland started with intent, pressing Argentina early on, but failed to capitalize on their chances. Sow’s attempt to strike was poorly angled, while Ndoye showed some promise on the left side. The Swiss team seemed ready to exploit any nervousness within the Argentine ranks.
Mac Allister’s goal momentarily quelled those concerns, but the remainder of the first half was largely uneventful. Argentina dominated the game, assuming their opponents lacked the creativity or bravery to challenge them. Yet, there were moments of panic for Lionel Scaloni’s side; Lisandro Martínez nearly allowed Embolo to slip through, only a timely intervention from Emiliano Martínez prevented disaster.
A reckless tackle by Embolo on Leandro Paredes, which earned him a yellow card, momentarily energized a crowd that had fallen into a lull. While the match may have lacked excitement, the atmosphere remained lively under the expansive midwestern sky, with Argentine fans passionately singing throughout.
With no significant developments in play, Argentina sought a second goal to secure their lead. After the break, Messi’s precise pass found Nahuel Molina, who unfortunately missed the target. Álvarez then had a shot deflected wide, but as Switzerland displayed more ambition, the pace of the game picked up.
Suddenly, the match reached a critical juncture. Switzerland began to press down the wings, sensing an opportunity when Martínez caught Embolo’s header. The Swiss team moved the ball with newfound purpose, and in the 65th minute, Ndoye managed to connect with a header that Martínez parried away. Granit Xhaka then forced another messy save from Martínez, setting the stage for the equalizer.
Ndoye, Switzerland’s standout player, maintained his composure as he finished past Martínez following a slick exchange with Ricardo Rodriguez. Argentina was left to question how Ndoye had eluded Molina and executed such a well-constructed goal.
However, Switzerland’s momentum was shattered by Embolo’s reckless error. Referee João Pinheiro had booked Paredes for a foul on Embolo, perhaps mistaking it for retaliation. A VAR review revealed a clear dive, leading to Embolo receiving his second yellow card and leaving the pitch in tears after futile protests.
Messi attempted to capitalize on the situation, trying to lob the ball over Kobel but was flagged offside. Had that goal counted, it could have broken Switzerland’s resolve. Mac Allister narrowly missed with another header, and just before extra time began, Kobel made a remarkable save from Lisandro Martínez. The match seemed destined for a prolonged struggle until Álvarez and Martínez found their scoring touch, sealing a semifinal clash with England.
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