Defending champions Argentina storm into World Cup semi finals

Defending champions Argentina secured a slot in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals after grinding out a hard-fought 3-1 extra-time victory against a stubborn Switzerland side in Kansas City. Lionel Scaloni's squad will now face England in a highly anticipated semi-final showdown, moving closer to defending their global title.

Early Breakthrough and Swiss Resurgence

Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring in the 10th minute, guiding a precise header past Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel off an inviting corner from Lionel Messi. Argentina dictated the tempo for most of the first half, restricting the Swiss side to rare long-range attempts that Emiliano Martinez easily handled.

However, Switzerland fought back fiercely after the half-time break, putting pressure on the Argentine defense with dangerous counter-attacks. Dan Ndoye equalised in the 67th minute, combining effectively with Ricardo Rodriguez before slotting the ball home past Martinez. The momentum tilted back to the South Americans five minutes later when Swiss forward Breel Embolo received a second yellow card for simulation, leaving his team with ten men.

Extra Time Decider

Despite intense late pressure from Messi and Lautaro Martinez during regulation time, the Swiss defense held firm to force the game into extra time. The decisive moment arrived in the 112th minute when Julian Alvarez cut inside from the left flank and unleashed a spectacular 25-yard strike into the top corner. Lautaro Martinez sealed the win late in extra time by converting a rebound after Kobel blocked an initial shot.

Historical trends show that retaining the World Cup is incredibly difficult, with Brazil being the last nation to achieve consecutive trophies back in 1962. Football enthusiasts across Odisha stayed up into the early hours of Sunday morning to watch the dramatic finish stream live. With this victory, La Albiceleste remains on track to match that legendary feat.

With Inputs from Agency Threads and Image Courtesy: ANI