Argentina secured their place in the World Cup semi-finals following a 3-1 victory over Switzerland, a match marked by a controversial red card incident involving Swiss striker Breel Embolo. The win sets up a semi-final clash against England on Wednesday.
The match saw Julian Alvarez score a crucial goal in the 112th minute, curling the ball into the top corner from outside the penalty area. Lautaro Martinez added a third goal late in the game, sealing Argentina’s progression. Earlier, Alexis Mac Allister had opened the scoring for Argentina from a corner delivered by Lionel Messi.
Controversial Red Card Incident
A significant talking point of the match was the sending-off of Switzerland’s Breel Embolo. The incident occurred in the 72nd minute, shortly after Dan Ndoye had equalised for Switzerland, cancelling out Mac Allister’s opener. Initially, Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro issued a yellow card to Argentina’s Leandro Paredes after what appeared to be a challenge on Embolo.
However, the VAR team in Dallas intervened, prompting a review of the incident. Multiple replays suggested there was no contact between Paredes and Embolo, indicating that Embolo had dived. The VAR recommended that Pinheiro review the incident on the pitchside monitor, specifically looking into a potential case of “mistaken identity.”
During the review, Pinheiro withdrew the booking for Paredes and instead cautioned Embolo for simulation. As Embolo had already received a yellow card in the 44th minute for fouling Paredes, the second caution resulted in a red card, leaving Switzerland with 10 men for the remainder of the match. This decision left Embolo visibly distraught and in tears as he left the field, with Swiss players protesting the call.
Under rules introduced for the World Cup, reviewable decisions now include mistaken identity when a referee penalises the wrong player of either team. This allowed Pinheiro to reverse his original decision. The irony of the situation was noted, as the incident could not have been reviewed solely for Embolo’s dive without an initial card being shown to Paredes.
Match Dynamics and Performance
Argentina’s manager, Lionel Scaloni, employed a 4-1-3-2 formation, while Switzerland’s manager, Murat Yakin, opted for a 4-2-3-1 setup. Despite taking an early lead through Mac Allister’s goal, Argentina struggled to maintain fluency. Messi, who provided his 10th World Cup assist for Mac Allister’s goal, had a peripheral role for much of the game until Switzerland were reduced to 10 men.
Switzerland, despite being the world champions’ opponents, managed to cause significant problems for Argentina. They equalised through Ndoye, who found space on the touchline after a one-two with Ricardo Rodriguez. The Swiss frequently managed to get behind Argentina’s defence, highlighting a perceived lack of control in midfield for Scaloni’s team. Even with a numerical advantage after Embolo’s red card, Argentina’s performance was not entirely convincing.
The match momentum, which measures the swing of the game by comparing each team’s threat, indicated periods of dominance for both sides. Switzerland’s strong spell before the red card saw them control possession and make effective line-breaking passes into midfield, creating a reliable route towards the penalty area.
| Minute | Team with most threat |
|---|---|
| KO Kick off 1' | Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland |
| 2' | Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland |
| 3' | Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland |
| 4' | Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland |
| 5' | Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland |
| 6' | Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland |
| 7' | Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland |
| 8' | Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland |
| 9' | Argentina Argentina Argentina |
| 10' | Argentina Argentina Argentina Goal |
| 11' | Argentina Argentina Argentina |
| 12' | Argentina Argentina Argentina |
| 13' | Argentina Argentina Argentina |
| 14' | Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland |
| 15' | Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland |
The dismissal of Embolo came with the score tied at 1-1 and approximately 18 minutes remaining in regular time, forcing Switzerland to play the closing stages of the quarter-final with a numerical disadvantage. Following the red card, a hydration break was called, allowing Murat Yakin to reorganise his team, though the task of facing Argentina with 10 men proved considerably more difficult.
Looking Ahead to the Semi-Finals
Argentina’s victory sets up a highly anticipated semi-final against England. This will be the first time Lionel Messi faces England in a World Cup match. The rivalry between the two nations is deep-rooted and extends beyond football, with reports indicating high demand for tickets to the semi-final.
Past encounters between England and Argentina in the World Cup have been tight contests. Argentina triumphed on penalties in 1998 after David Beckham was sent off, while England secured a win via a penalty in 2002, with Beckham converting from the spot. England may draw encouragement from Switzerland’s performance against Argentina, which exposed some defensive vulnerabilities in Scaloni’s side.
Despite the challenges, Argentina’s World Cup dream continues, with Messi’s presence remaining a key factor that could make England anxious in the upcoming semi-final on Wednesday.
Read Also
Source: bbc.co.uk
Priya Nair
Sports Reporter
