KANSAS CITY — Argentina needed extra time once again, but the defending champions kept their World Cup title defense alive with a 3-1 victory over Switzerland on Saturday to book a semifinal showdown against England.Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez scored in extra time after Alexis Mac Allister’s first-half opener as Lionel Scaloni’s side overcame a stubborn Swiss challenge at Arrowhead Stadium.Argentina will face England in Wednesday’s semifinal in Atlanta after the Three Lions defeated Norway 2-1 earlier in the day.”We’re among the best four, so we’re meeting our objectives,” Álvarez said. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. The whole match was hard, and we tried to get the win however we could.”Mac Allister gave Argentina the lead when he headed home Lionel Messi’s corner kick, but Dan Ndoye equalized in the 67th minute to force extra time.Messi’s remarkable nine-match World Cup scoring streak came to an end, but the Argentina captain still played a decisive role by providing the assist for the opening goal as his side moved within two victories of retaining the title.The turning point came moments after Switzerland’s equalizer when forward Breel Embolo was sent off following a VAR review. Referee officials overturned a yellow card initially shown to Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes under FIFA’s “mistaken identity” protocol, instead booking Embolo for simulation. Having already been cautioned earlier in the match, the Swiss striker received a second yellow card and was dismissed.Switzerland coach Murat Yakin blasted the decision after the match.”We were punished because of a rule that, in my opinion, is completely unacceptable,” Yakin said. “It’s very painful that we were eliminated that way.”Playing against 10 men, Argentina increased the pressure and finally broke through in the 112th minute when Álvarez unleashed a superb long-range strike before Martínez sealed the victory later in extra time.”It seems like if there’s no suffering, it doesn’t count,” Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes said. “But as long as the results come through.”The victory sends Argentina into the World Cup semifinals alongside France, Spain and England, marking the first time the top four teams in FIFA’s world rankings have all reached the last four of the tournament.Switzerland’s impressive campaign came to an end in its first World Cup quarterfinal since 1954. The Swiss remain without a semifinal appearance and have still never beaten Argentina in eight all-time meetings.KANSAS CITY — Argentina needed extra time once again, but the defending champions kept their World Cup title defense alive with a 3-1 victory over Switzerland on Saturday to book a semifinal showdown against England.Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez scored in extra time after Alexis Mac Allister’s first-half opener as Lionel Scaloni’s side overcame a stubborn Swiss challenge at Arrowhead Stadium.Argentina will face England in Wednesday’s semifinal in Atlanta after the Three Lions defeated Norway 2-1 earlier in the day.”We’re among the best four, so we’re meeting our objectives,” Álvarez said. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. The whole match was hard, and we tried to get the win however we could.”Mac Allister gave Argentina the lead when he headed home Lionel Messi’s corner kick, but Dan Ndoye equalized in the 67th minute to force extra time.Messi’s remarkable nine-match World Cup scoring streak came to an end, but the Argentina captain still played a decisive role by providing the assist for the opening goal as his side moved within two victories of retaining the title.The turning point came moments after Switzerland’s equalizer when forward Breel Embolo was sent off following a VAR review. Referee officials overturned a yellow card initially shown to Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes under FIFA’s “mistaken identity” protocol, instead booking Embolo for simulation. Having already been cautioned earlier in the match, the Swiss striker received a second yellow card and was dismissed.Switzerland coach Murat Yakin blasted the decision after the match.”We were punished because of a rule that, in my opinion, is completely unacceptable,” Yakin said. “It’s very painful that we were eliminated that way.”Playing against 10 men, Argentina increased the pressure and finally broke through in the 112th minute when Álvarez unleashed a superb long-range strike before Martínez sealed the victory later in extra time.”It seems like if there’s no suffering, it doesn’t count,” Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes said. “But as long as the results come through.”The victory sends Argentina into the World Cup semifinals alongside France, Spain and England, marking the first time the top four teams in FIFA’s world rankings have all reached the last four of the tournament.Switzerland’s impressive campaign came to an end in its first World Cup quarterfinal since 1954. The Swiss remain without a semifinal appearance and have still never beaten Argentina in eight all-time meetings.
