Argentina 3 – 1 Switzerland

Julian Alvarez’s extra-time stunner goal saw Argentina beat 10-man Switzerland 3-1 to set up a World Cup semi-final meeting with England.

Lionel Messi and Co. face the Three Lions in Atlanta on Wednesday at 8pm UK time, with a place in the final against either France or Spain up for grabs.

This will be the first competitive meeting between the countries in 24 years.

Despite Switzerland’s positive start in Kansas City, they had only themselves to blame when they fell behind within 10 minutes. Alexis McAllister was twice left unmarked at a corner – and the second time he punished them by guiding in a header after being picked out by Messi.

Brill Mbolo had the most promising chances for the Swiss in the first half, but the combination of Lisandro and Emi Martinez prevented him from getting a shot from inside the box. He had a huge chance to level soon after the restart, but was denied by a world-class block from Lisandro Martinez.

Dan Ndwe and Granit Xhaka then forced saves from the Argentina goalkeeper after a spell of steady pressure, which eventually paid off when the former linked up brilliantly with Ricardo Rodriguez and fired home from a tight angle to level the game.

The Swiss euphoria was short-lived. Five minutes after the equaliser, Leandro Paredes was booked for a foul on Embolo – but Under the new mistaken identity ruleVAR recommended a review and referee Joao Pinheiro instead showed Mbolo a second yellow card for simulation.

Messi and McAllister both had chances to win it for Argentina before the final, but they couldn’t find a way to prevent extra time.

Although Switzerland managed to keep the reigning world champions at bay for the first 15 minutes, Julian Alvarez’s 25-yarder, into the top right corner, took the wind out of their sails. Lautaro Martinez added gloss to the dying embers and by then the Swiss race was running.

Highlights from Kansas City

• 10: aim! Messi gave away Argentina’s second corner in quick succession and found Alexis McAllister, who headed unmarked.
• 32: great opportunity! Switzerland’s Bril Embolo is sent clear, but Lisandro Martinez and Amy Martinez combine to prevent him from missing the shot.
• 43: wasted! Remo Freuler takes the free-kick in a promising position on the left, but despite four men waiting in the box, takes the glory and misses the target by some distance.
• 50: Block! Incredible from Lisandro Martinez, who recovers an embolo to deny a certain goal.
• 67: aim! Dan Ndoye played a neat one-two with Ricardo Rodriguez and fired past Amy Martinez from a tight angle.
• 72: red card! Embolo is shown a second yellow card for simulation under the new mistaken identity rule.
• 89: chance! McAllister met a Nico Gonzalez cross, but headed over from six yards.
• 112: aim! Julian Alvarez scored to restore Argentina’s lead.
• 120+1: aim! Lautaro Martinez added the gloss late on after keeping out Thiago Almada’s initial shot.

Argentina taken to extra time twice – will this affect them vs England?

Sky Sports’ Dan Long:

Facing the reigning world champions, Switzerland were always going to be up against them in their bid to reach the World Cup semi-finals for the first time. But they certainly made it difficult for Lionel Scaloni.

The Swiss deserved their equalizer and might have forced a winner had Brill Embolo not been sent off. He was helpless when he was given his marching orders and with good reason. His outing changed the game.

Once extra time was guaranteed, they were content to sit back and try and force a penalty lottery. Unfortunately for them, that’s when Argentina came to life.

But England will probably be happy to see their next opponents pushed all the way. It’s the second time in three games that extra time has been taken. Had Enzo Fernandez not scored the 93rd-minute winner against Egypt in the last-16, it could have been three to three.

Whether that will affect Argentina in the semi-final is debatable, of course, but with England playing an extra 30 minutes against Norway, at least the playing field will be level on Wednesday night in Atlanta.

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