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Argentina are through to the World Cup 2026 semi-finals and they did in it dramatic fashion again thanks to a hard-fought 3-1 win against Switzerland in Saturday’s quarter-final in Kansas CIty. The Albiceleste were once again not at their best and were pushed to the limit, but found a way to win thanks to a sensational strike from Julián Álvarez in extra-time to set up a spectacular semi-final against England.
#FIFAWorldCup
#Argentina 3 (Alexis Mac Allister, Julián Álvarez y Lautaro Martínez) #Suiza 1 (Dan Ndoye)
¡Final del partido!
Imposible no ilusionarse… ¡vamos, un pasito más!
Nos vemos el próximo miércoles en el duelo ante #Inglaterra pic.twitter.com/nP6NcXPzEY
— Selección Argentina(@Argentina) July 12, 2026
Argentina had a dream start with a goal 10 minutes into the action when Alexis Mac Allister headed home a corner-kick taken by Lionel Messi, and it looked as though the Albiceleste weren’t going to cruise into the semi-final.
But the reigning champions decided to retreat, and gave the Swiss the ball while also doing their best to waste as much time as possible to slow down the pace of the game. The strategy worked for the most part in the first half, and Argentina were in control at the break.
Switzerland stepped up their urgency and pressure to begin the second half, however, and started to create real danger with more possession and movement in the final third. Dan Ndoye scored a beautiful equalizer, and Emiliano Martínez needed to make a couple of big saves to stop the Swiss taking the lead.
Argentina were on the ropes and the Swiss were in full control, but a horrendous dive by Breel Embolo resulted in a second yellow for the striker and stopped Switzerland’s momentum as they went down to 10 men and were forced to defend for their lives for the rest of the game.
Lionel Scaloni made bold and attacking changes with the man advantage but Argentina failed to capitalize, and only created one big chance at the end of regulation as Lisandro Martínez’s volley inside the box was brilliantly stopped by Gregor Kobel to send the game into extra-time.
Argentina’s offensive issues continued in extra-time as the champions struggled to break down a stubborn Swiss defense, and Scaloni sent in every attacker player possible to try and secure a late winner.
Only something special was going to do it for Argentina, and Julián Álvarez was the one to provide it as he fired a spectacular strike from the distance to find the bottom corner and put his nation in front. The Swiss launched a desperate late blitz looking for an equalizer, but Lautaro Martínez scored the third at the death to seal the Argentina victory.
This was another incredible battle for the reigning champions, who keep finding ways to win games and gain more and more strength as they get deeper into the tournament. England is next, and despite Argentina’s struggles and Jude Bellingham’s form, you would have to be crazy to doubt this team.
(Oh, and Julián Álvarez really hurt the narrative, didn’t he?)
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