KANSAS CITY/MIAMI, JUL 12 (IANS): Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez struck in extra time as Argentina outlasted 10-man Switzerland at Kansas City Stadium in the FIFA World Cup 2026™ quarter-finals.
Argentina netted in their 15th successive World Cup game. The only teams with longer scoring streaks in the competition are Uruguay (16 games from 1930-1962), Hungary (17 games from 1934-1962), Germany (18 games from 1986-1998), Germany (18 games from 1934-1958) and Brazil (18 games from 1930-1958).
Lionel Scaloni’s side will now face fierce rivals England in the second semi-final at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday.
At the start, 10 minutes into the game, Argentina struck after a corner from the left with a good cross from Leo Messi, which was well connected with a header by Alexis Mac Allister to make it 1-0.
The first half was full of friction, with a lot of fighting in midfield and no major excitement in either penalty area, which meant that Scaloni’s team went into the locker room with a narrow lead.
The second half began with the Swiss team pressing forward in search of an equaliser. Emiliano Martinez had to make two saves to keep a clean sheet. However, after a one-two on the edge of the area, Dan Ndoye finished with a shot that curled inside the box to make it 1-1.
In the 72nd minute, Switzerland were reduced to 10 men after Breel Embolo was sent off, receiving a second yellow card after a VAR review for diving in midfield.
With the extra man, Argentina dominated the possession of the ball and could have won it at the end with a great bicycle kick from Lisandro Martinez, well saved by goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
In extra time, Argentina searched for a breakthrough, moving the ball from side to side, but space remained elusive. Then Alvarez found it: he cut inside from left to right, unleashed a shot from the edge of the box, and buried it in the top corner for 2-1.
But there was more to come: after a lethal counter-attack, Martinez pounced on a rebound inside the area and tapped it in to seal the 3-1 victory and secure the semifinal clash against England.
Bellingham brace fires England into semifinal
Jude Bellingham’s brilliant brace fired England into the FIFA World Cup semi-finals as Thomas Tuchel’s side overcame Norway by 2-1 after extra time here at Miami Stadium on Sunday.
England had to come from behind after Andreas Schjelderup’s cross-shot gave Norway, who were playing in their first World Cup quarter-final after last-16 runs in 1938 and 1998 and a group-stage exit at USA 1994, a 36th-minute lead.
Bellingham equalised in first-half added time and followed up with the winner three minutes into extra time, reacting quickest when Morgan Rogers’ shot was spilled by Orjan Nyland.
England now look forward to England’s fourth appearance at the FIFA World Cup semi-final, with either Argentina or Switzerland lying in wait in Atlanta.
After a tentative start at Miami Stadium, Norway seized the initiative. Erling Haaland’s header straight at Jordan Pickford was a warning England didn’t heed, as Schjelderup swept a cross-shot in off the inside of the far post to give the Nordics a 36th-minute lead.
England weathered a wave of pressure before levelling in first-half stoppage time through Bellingham’s driving run and cool finish. Harry Kane had the ball in the net moments later, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Torbjorn Heggem thought he had restored Norway’s lead just before the hour mark, only for VAR to intervene and chalk off the effort for Haaland’s push on Elliot Anderson following a corner.
Tuchel’s men survived another scare wMiamihen Kristoffer Ajer headed against the crossbar, while Djed Spence almost capitalised on Nyland’s hurried clearance as a tense contest went to extra time.
Bellingham delivered the winner, reacting quickest from close range after Nyland spilled substitute Morgan Rogers’ fierce strike to bring Norway’s memorable World Cup run to an end.
Bellingham and Kane are on six goals apiece at World Cup 2026. It is the first time two England players have scored at least five times at a single edition of the tournament.
1st Semifinal
France Vs Spain
12:30 am (July 15)