Argentina Advances to World Cup Semi-finals After Controversial Win Over Switzerland

Argentina has secured a place in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals, defeating Switzerland 3-1 in a match that was marked by controversy in its closing stages. Julian Alvarez’s stunning extra-time strike and a late goal from Lautaro Martinez sealed the victory for Argentina, setting up a semi-final clash with England.

However, the primary talking point from the quarter-final was the dismissal of Switzerland’s Breel Embolo. Following an incident involving Leandro Paredes, a VAR review led to Embolo being sent off for what appeared to be a dive, a decision that dramatically altered the complexion of the game.

Alvarez Steps Up as Messi is Upstaged

For the first time in the tournament, Lionel Messi did not find the back of the net. Instead, it was Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez who provided the decisive moment with a spectacular curling shot from outside the penalty area in the 112th minute, a goal that could be a contender for the tournament’s best.

Argentina took an early lead in the 10th minute when Alexis Mac Allister headed home an outswinging corner delivered by Messi. This marked Messi’s 10th World Cup assist, notably setting up a different goalscorer on each occasion, a streak dating back to 2006.

Despite the early lead, Argentina struggled to establish control and Messi was largely peripheral for much of the match. The team’s fluency was hampered, and it wasn’t until Switzerland was reduced to ten men that Messi began to exert more influence, though his efforts did not result in a goal. The demanding schedule of the tournament, with multiple 120-minute matches, was noted as a potential factor for the 39-year-old’s performance.

The Controversial Red Card

In the 72nd minute, with Switzerland having equalised through Dan Ndoye five minutes earlier, the game was finely poised. An incident occurred between Leandro Paredes and Breel Embolo. Initially, the referee, Joao Pinheiro, showed a yellow card to Paredes. However, VAR intervened, prompting a review of the footage.

The replays suggested that Embolo had exaggerated contact and dived after a challenge from Paredes, with minimal actual contact. The VAR officials focused on a potential “mistaken identity” regarding the initial yellow card. Under updated World Cup regulations, the reviewable decisions now include mistaken identity when a referee penalises the wrong player of either team.

Following the review, the referee reversed his decision, withdrawing the yellow card from Paredes and issuing one to Embolo. As Embolo had already received a yellow card in the first half, this resulted in a red card, leaving him visibly upset. The irony of the situation was that the VAR review was only triggered because a card was initially shown to Paredes, allowing the dive itself to be scrutinized.

Looking Ahead to England

The victory sets up a highly anticipated semi-final clash between Argentina and England, a fixture steeped in historical rivalry. This will be the first World Cup meeting between Messi and England. The last encounters between the two nations in the tournament were closely contested, with Argentina winning on penalties in 1998 and England securing a penalty shootout victory in 2002.

England will likely take encouragement from Switzerland’s ability to trouble Argentina’s defence and midfield, as demonstrated by Dan Ndoye’s equalising goal. Switzerland’s tactical approach, frequently getting in behind Argentina’s defence, presented challenges for Lionel Scaloni’s side.

Key facts
| Team | Score | Competition | Stage |
|—————|——-|———————|—————-|
| Argentina | 3 | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Quarter-final |
| Switzerland | 1 | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Quarter-final |

This development is significant for FootballGames10 readers as it confirms Argentina’s progression to the penultimate stage of the World Cup and sets the stage for a major semi-final showdown against a historic rival, England. It also highlights the evolving role of VAR in football and its impact on match outcomes.

Source: The Athletic Football (https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7430685/2026/07/11/argentina-switzerland-world-cup-result-analysis/)

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