Argentina fight thru to semis after extra-time drama

Will face England on Thursday (1:00 am as per BST)

FE Team | Published: July 12, 2026 22:09:27

KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 12 (AP): Perhaps it is in Argentina's character that the reigning World Cup champion always finds a way to win.
Perhaps it is simply its ability to suffer. Whether it was tiny Cape Verde taking them to extra time, or Egypt burying them in a two-goal hole late in their match, Lionel Messi and La Albiceleste have always been able to survive. And that was the case once more on Saturday night, when Julián Alvarez's long-range strike in the 112th minute and Lautaro Martínez's finish later in extra time sent them back to the semifinals with a thrilling 3-1 victory over Switzerland at raucous Arrowhead Stadium.
"We're among the best four," Alvarez said, "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." "It seems like if there's no suffering, it doesn't count," Argentina's Leandro Paredes added, "but as long as the results come through." Alexis Mac Allister had the other goal off a corner kick from Messi for La Albiceleste, helping to send them into a showdown with England on Wednesday in Atlanta. The Three Lions beat Norway 2-1 earlier in the day. Messi's nine-game World Cup scoring streak ended, but his pursuit of a second World Cup title continues. With Argentina and England joining France and Spain in the semifinals, it's the first time the top four teams in the FIFA rankings have advanced that far.
"A match is coming up," Paredes said, "that every kid dreams of playing." The game against Switzerland swung on a call sure to rile up those who think Argentina has been favored by World Cup officials.
It was the second time a yellow card has been overturned using the "mistaken identity" protocol at the World Cup. The rule allows the video assistant referee to intervene when an incorrect player is shown a yellow or red card.
"We were punished because of a rule that in my opinion is completely unacceptable," Switzerland coach Murat Yakin said. "I don't understand. It's very painful that we were eliminated that way. I don't think we deserve that today, in my opinion."
It was a maddening end to the Swiss' first World Cup quarterfinal appearance since 1954. They still have never made a semifinal, nor have they beaten Argentina in eight meetings - three of those in the tournament that matters the most.
Argentina has made its base for the past month in Kansas City, training at the home of Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City while winning over thousands of new fans. And on Saturday night, they filled Arrowhead Stadium for the second time this tournament, hoping to see Messi make more magic after his hat trick against Algeria in the same building a few weeks ago.
It was brutally hot and humid throughout the day, but the temperatures began to fall with the setting sun, producing a picturesque setting for the 100th match of an expanded World Cup, and the final match of the quarterfinal round.