Julián Álvarez’s Stunning Extra-Time Goal Sends Argentina Past Switzerland in World Cup Quarterfinals

Argentina once again required extra time to secure a spot in the semifinals, with Julián Álvarez delivering a spectacular goal that sealed the victory. His strike from outside the box in the 112th minute broke the deadlock against a resilient 10-man Switzerland, pushing the match to a 3-1 finish.

The defending champions will face England next Wednesday after surviving a tough contest where Switzerland had been down to ten players for over 20 minutes. Breel Embolo’s red card for simulation shifted the momentum but Switzerland’s defense held strong until Álvarez’s unexpected long-range shot beat goalkeeper Gregor Kobel at the far post.

How the Red Card Changed the Match

Embolo was sent off following a controversial incident near the sideline involving Argentina’s Leandro Paredes. The referee, João Pinheiro, gave Paredes a yellow card quickly, likely influenced by Embolo’s earlier booking for a rough challenge. VAR reviewed the situation and found Embolo had dived, resulting in a second yellow and his dismissal.

This decision mirrored an earlier World Cup event where a player received a card for simulation after an initial foul was called. Because Paredes was already booked, the VAR review was allowed, leading to the crucial red card for Switzerland.

Switzerland’s Equalizer and Argentina’s Late Surge

Switzerland managed to score first with Dan Ndoye heading in a goal five minutes before Embolo’s sending off. The Swiss side improved their attacking pressure after halftime, challenging Argentina’s defense consistently despite missing key striker Johan Manzambi due to injury.

Argentina opened the scoring early, with Alexis Mac Allister heading in a corner from Lionel Messi just ten minutes into the game. However, the lead did not last comfortably as Switzerland fought back to level the score twice.

Despite Messi’s efforts, it was Álvarez, playing his third start of the tournament and scoring his first goal, who ultimately broke the deadlock. Once Switzerland pushed forward searching for an equalizer late in extra time, Lautaro Martínez capitalized on a counterattack to make it 3-1 in the 121st minute, sealing Argentina’s passage.

Argentina’s Pattern of Late Drama

This match continued Argentina’s trend of needing last-minute heroics to advance. Their previous knockout games featured intense comebacks and extra-time drama, underscoring their resilience and ability to deliver when it counts most.

Messi and Martínez’s celebrations after the final goal captured the relief and joy of escaping another challenging encounter. The semifinal clash against England promises to test Argentina further as they chase another World Cup title.