Argentina is heading back to the World Cup semifinals after a 3-1 win over Switzerland that required extra time and two massive moments from forwards who usually play second fiddle to Lionel Messi. Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez scored in the final 15 minutes of extra time to punch the ticket, and frankly, the game should have been put away earlier.
The first half was all Argentina. Alexis Mac Allister got his head on a cross in the 38th minute and the reigning champions looked comfortable. But Switzerland didn’t fold. Dan Ndoye equalized early in the second half with a strike that curled past the keeper, and suddenly it was a dogfight. Both sides pushed. Neither could break through. So into extra time they went.
That’s when Alvarez did this. A ball bounced around the box and he ripped a shot high into the top right corner. Top bins. The kind of goal that makes a stadium lose its mind. Martinez then sealed it in the dying minutes, sliding a finish home to make it 3-1 and send Argentina through to face England.
Argentina keeps rolling but the flaws are still there
Look, Argentina is 6-0 in this tournament. They’ve scored 17 goals and only conceded six. That’s impressive. But they’ve needed extra time in two knockout matches now, and the defense has looked vulnerable against good attacks. Switzerland had chances. Egypt pushed them. Cape Verde gave them trouble early. At some point, that catches up to you.
Messi has been brilliant with eight goals in six games. He’s hunting a second straight World Cup title and a fourth star for Argentina. But it’s the supporting cast that keeps bailing them out when things get tight. Alvarez and Martinez have combined for five goals. Six other players have scored. This isn’t a one-man show, even if Messi is the headliner.
What comes next: England in the semis
Argentina draws England on July 15 at 3 p.m. ET. That’s a heavyweight fight no matter how you slice it. England has looked good in this tournament too, and they’ll test Argentina’s stamina after a draining extra-time battle. The other side of the bracket has France taking on Spain, so either way, the final is going to be brutal.
Can Argentina pull it off? They’re the defending champs. They’ve got Messi. They’ve got a knack for finding goals late. But their margin for error is shrinking fast. Another game that goes 120 minutes and the tank could run dry in the final. For now, though, they’re alive and one win away from a chance at history.
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