World Cup: Alvarez's wonder goal sends Argentina to star-studded semis with extra-time win over ten-man Switzerland

Julian Alvarez‘s unstoppable 113th-minute strike sends Argentina through to the 2026 World Cup semi-final at Switzerland’s expense. The holders were far from their best in all three knockout stage fixtures so far, but they continued fighting until the end to join a star-studded semi-final lineup.

The three-time winners looked in total control in a cagey first-half as Alexis Mac Allister put them in front in the tenth minute. Lionel Messi produced his tenth World Cup assist with a corner-kick delivery. 

Murat Yakin’s Switzerland massively improved after the break, and they scored the equalizer with Dan Ndoye slotting it home after a perfect one-two with former Wolfsburg defender Ricardo Rodríguez. However, they were reduced to ten when Breel Embolo saw a second yellow card for a dive following a VAR intervention.

Gregor Kobel faced several shots with Argentina dominating the game after the red card. Borussia Dortmund‘s shot-stopper and his defense managed to keep the holder until the final ten minutes of extra-time. Following Alvarez’s stunning goal, Lautaro Martinez added a third to seal the victory.

Despite stopping Messi from scoring in ten successive World Cup games, Alvarez, who is pushing for a mega summer transfer, ended Switzerland’s dream of reaching a first-ever semi-final. Five Bundesliga players featured in Switzerland’s first quarter-final since 1938, while seven more had previous stints in Germany’s top-flight league.

The semi-final bracket is now complete with the four top ranked teams in FIFA’s coefficient reaching the last four of the World Cup for the first time. It’s also the first occurrence that none of the semi-finalists needing a penalty shootout win to reach the stage since the introduction of the Round of 16 in 1986. Favorites France and Spain will contest the first semi-final on Tuesday before Argentina and England write the next chapter of their historic rivalry – although it’ll be Messi’s first time facing England – the next day.