Álvarez the artist: Argentina survive 10-man Switzerland to set up an England semi

Argentina reached the World Cup semi-finals with a 3-1 extra-time win over a resilient 10-man Switzerland in Kansas City. Alexis Mac Allister headed the champions ahead from a Messi corner, Dan Ndoye equalised, and Breel Embolo was sent off in a contentious VAR moment before Julián Álvarez's 25-yard extra-time screamer and a late Lautaro Martínez tap-in settled it. Argentina face England in a blockbuster last-four tie.

The champions are through, but Switzerland made them sweat for every inch of it. Argentina beat a brave, ten-man Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in Kansas City to reach the World Cup semi-finals, where a heavyweight, history-laden collision with England now awaits. It took a moment of pure brilliance to finally break Swiss hearts.

Argentina began like a side in a hurry. On ten minutes Alexis Mac Allister rose to head home a Lionel Messi corner, and with the ball zipping around in the Kansas City heat, a comfortable evening looked on the cards. Switzerland, as they have all tournament, had other ideas.

On sixty-seven minutes Dan Ndoye slotted a thoroughly deserved equaliser from a tight angle, and belief surged through Murat Yakin's side. Then, five minutes later, the game turned on its head: Breel Embolo was shown a second yellow and sent off in a chaotic, contentious VAR sequence muddled by a mistaken-identity mix-up. Once again an Argentina match dissolved into cries of robbery, the refereeing questions that have shadowed their whole run resurfacing in an instant.

Here, though, honesty demands a caveat. For all the noise, and for nearly an hour a man down, Switzerland could not hide the gap in quality, and Argentina were clearly the better side. The champions had twenty-three shots and fifty-nine percent of the ball, and in the end their class told in the way great teams' class does.

It told through Julián Álvarez. On a hundred and twelve minutes he collected the ball twenty-five yards out and curled an absolute screamer into the top corner, a goal of the highest class to settle nerves and the tie. Deep in stoppage time Lautaro Martínez tapped in a rebound to make it three, and Argentina were home.

Switzerland leave with immense credit. Yakin's side, penalty-shootout conquerors of Colombia in the last round, gave everything, reduced to ten for the best part of an hour and still forcing extra time against the world champions. They were, once more, the tournament's most stubborn over-achievers.

And so the last four is complete, and it could hardly be juicier. Argentina will meet England in a semi-final dripping with history, from Maradona in 1986 to the Falklands shadow, and perhaps now Messi's last dance against the old enemy. The other semi pits France against Spain. For Kenya and the neutrals, the drama is only sharpening. Argentina wamesonga tena, na sasa vita kubwa dhidi ya England, Messi dhidi ya adui wa zamani: Argentina march on again, and now a huge battle with England, Messi against the old enemy. Follow it on our bracket.