Argentina survive again to book England semifinal
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- Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1 after extra time Saturday in Kansas City, with Julián Álvarez's stunning strike, Alexis Mac Allister's header off a Messi corner, and Lautaro Martínez's late insurance goal securing the defending champions' semifinal berth.
- England awaits in Atlanta on Wednesday after beating Norway 2-1 earlier Saturday, setting up a blockbuster semifinal between the two most successful recent World Cup winners.
- Breel Embolo was sent off via the 'mistaken identity' video review protocol — the second such overturned card at this World Cup — after a yellow card meant for Argentina's Leandro Paredes was reassigned to the Swiss forward, who already had a booking.
- Lionel Messi saw his nine-game World Cup scoring streak end, but still assisted Mac Allister's equalizer as he pursues a second World Cup title at age 37.
- Argentina needed extra time for the second consecutive knockout match, following their miraculous 3-2 comeback from 2-0 down against Egypt in the round of 16.
- The bracket marks the first time since FIFA rankings began in 1992 that all four top-ranked teams reached the semifinals, with France facing Spain in the other semifinal.
Why it matters: The Argentina-England semifinal carries historic stakes: it's the first time since FIFA rankings launched in 1992 that the top-four ranked teams are all in the World Cup semifinals, with France vs Spain completing the bracket. For Argentina, defending their 2022 title now requires beating a third consecutive knockout opponent decided in extra time or by comeback.
