Julián Álvarez's Extra-Time Strike Sends Argentina Past Switzerland in World Cup Quarterfinals

Álvarez's Stunning Goal Pushes Argentina to Semifinals

Argentina needed extra time once again to secure a spot in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup. Julián Álvarez delivered a spectacular strike from outside the penalty area in the 112th minute, giving Argentina a 3-1 lead over a resilient, 10-man Switzerland.

This victory marks Argentina’s second knockout-round win in extra time during this tournament, and the defending champions will face England on Wednesday.

The Decisive Moment

The goal appeared suddenly, catching Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel off guard as the ball found the far post. Argentina had been pressing with a man advantage after Switzerland’s Breel Embolo received a controversial red card for simulation.

Despite playing with ten men, Switzerland’s defense stood firm, repeatedly blocking Argentina’s attempts inside the box. But their resilience finally cracked when Álvarez unleashed that unexpected shot.

Once the goal was scored, Switzerland had to abandon their defensive stance to chase an equalizer, which left them vulnerable. Lautaro Martínez took advantage of this, scoring in the 121st minute to seal a 3-1 win and spark celebration among the Argentine players, including Lionel Messi.

Controversy Around Embolo’s Red Card

The turning point came after Embolo appeared to fall following contact with Argentina’s Leandro Paredes. The referee, João Pinheiro, quickly gave Paredes a yellow card, partly because Embolo had already been booked earlier in the match for a reckless challenge.

This earlier booking allowed the use of VAR to review the incident. Replays showed Embolo went down without contact, leading to a second yellow card for simulation and leaving Switzerland with ten players.

This mirrored a similar situation involving the United States in their first World Cup game, where a dive was penalized after an initial foul card.

Shifts in Momentum

Before Embolo’s dismissal, Switzerland had leveled the score with a header from Dan Ndoye, capitalizing on improved offensive play after halftime. They had maintained pressure on Argentina’s defense, which struggled after a slow start.

Argentina’s Late Heroics Continue

Argentina opened the scoring early, with Alexis Mac Allister heading in a corner from Messi just ten minutes into the match. Switzerland looked unthreatening for much of the first half, but Argentina’s lead didn’t last comfortably.

They have a pattern this tournament of needing late goals to advance, as seen against Cape Verde and Egypt. This time, it was Álvarez who stepped up, scoring his first goal of the World Cup in only his third start, showing the team’s depth beyond Messi.

Switzerland was without their top attacker Johan Manzambi due to a knee injury, which weakened their offensive options. Despite this, they pushed Argentina harder than expected, making the win feel like a narrow escape.