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DEFENDING champions Argentina battled past 10-man Switzerland 3-1 after extra time to reach the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they will face England in one of football's most storied rivalries.
Lionel Scaloni's side took an early lead in Kansas City through Alexis Mac Allister, who headed home from Lionel Messi's delivery in the 10th minute.
AFP reported that Switzerland fought back after the interval, with Dan Ndoye levelling the scores in the 67th minute before Breel Embolo was sent off five minutes later after receiving a second yellow card for simulation following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.
Despite enjoying a numerical advantage, Argentina struggled to break down the resilient Swiss defence until Julian Alvarez produced a superb curling effort into the top corner in the 112th minute.
Lautaro Martinez sealed victory moments later with a third goal deep into extra-time injury time.
Argentina have now gone 12 consecutive World Cup matches unbeaten as they continue their bid to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to retain the world title.
Messi also reached another milestone, registering his 10th World Cup assist across six tournaments, although he was unable to add to his tally of eight goals, which leaves him level with France captain Kylian Mbappe among the competition's leading scorers.
Switzerland, chasing a first-ever World Cup semi-final appearance, pushed the holders throughout the contest and forced extra time despite playing with 10 men for almost 50 minutes.
Argentina will now meet England in Atlanta on Thursday in a high-profile semi-final that rekindles one of international football's fiercest rivalries.
The fixture carries significant historical weight, including Argentina's famous 2-1 victory at the 1986 World Cup featuring Diego Maradona's controversial "Hand of God" goal and his celebrated solo effort, widely regarded as one of the greatest goals in football history. - July 12, 2026
