See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy ISABEL BALDWIN, US ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR and DANIEL MATTHEWS IN KANSAS CITY Updated: 05:35 BST, 12 July 2026
Relive all the action from Argentina's extra-time 3-1 victory against Switzerland with Daily Mail Sport's live blog after defending champions set up semi-final clash against England. Goodnight!That's all from the action in Kansas City. The Argentines will leave their adopted US home in Missouri to travel down to Atlanta where England lie in wait. The reigning world champions, like England, have had to battle into the semi-finals after extra-time.They had to dig deep - again - but a 3-1 victory over Switzerland got the job done. Switzerland had pulled level in the second half through Dan Ndoye after Alexis Mac Allister's opener. They were then reduced to 10-men with Breel Embolo shown a second yellow card for diving after a VAR review.A stunning Julian Alvarez strike and Lautaro Martínez effort eventually sealed Argentina's passage through to the semi-finals.England and Argentina promises to be a blockbuster clash. The build-up begins now!DANIEL MATTHEWS IS KANSAS CITY: Here we go. Clear your calendars and stock up your fridge. Argentina vs. England in a World Cup semifinal and, for Lionel Messi, a rare first.What a night it should be and what a glorious quirk of Messi’s marathon international career that over the last 21 years, across six World Cups and 205 games for his country, the 39-year-old has never faced England.Meetings between these two nations don’t come around often and the last time England faced Argentina – in a friendly in Geneva in late 2005 - Messi was suspended. A few months earlier, he had been sent off just 30 seconds into his Argentina debut against Hungary.Two decades later, on another torturous night for the defending champions, Messi booked his date with England at long, long last. My God Argentina made hard work of this semifinal against Switzerland. Again they needed extra time. And in the end, Lionel Scaloni’s side had three forwards to thank. For once, Messi wasn't one of them.FULL TIME: Argentina 3-1 Switzerland (AET) It was another late escape for Argentina but they got the job done in dramatic fashion, as per usual. With two extra-time goals, their title defense is still intact. They move on to face England in the semi-finals. The showdown will take place in Atlanta on Wednesday. Meanwhile, it was a valiant effort from Switzerland, who hung on as long as possible. It appeared they could even pull off a major upset at one point as they gathered momentum in the second half. But Embolo's sending off all but crushed any hope. Goal:ET: Argentina 3-1 SwitzerlandIf it wasn't over before, it is now. Thiago Almada's shot is saved but Lautaro Martinez taps in on the rebound, past Granit Xhaka defending on the line.And that makes it three and secures Argentina's passage to the Semi-finals. A thing of beauty Let's take another look at what is surely the winner for Argentina...Goal:ET: Argentina 2-1 SwitzerlandArgentina do it again!Just as you were beginning to wonder if it would ever come, the Argentines dig deep to find yet another late winner. It's been the story of their knockout stage and this time it's the Swiss whose hearts are broken. It's an absolutely stunning goal from Julian Alvarez, who picks the ball up on his right foot, about 25 yards out. He curls it in with power into the top far corner and there is absolutely nothing the Swiss goalkeeper can do about that. It's simply sensational. The substitutes are on the pitch and that's surely done it for Argentina. ET: Argentina 1-1 Switzerland
