Argentina beats Switzerland 3-1, advances to World Cup semifinals against England

Julian Alvarez sent Argentina into the World Cup semifinals with a long-range strike in the 112th minute against Switzerland on Saturday night, securing a 3-1 victory that looked far more comfortable than the match played out.

Alexis Mac Allister also scored off a corner kick from Lionel Messi, while Lautaro Martinez added a goal with seconds left in extra time. The defending champion advanced to face England on Wednesday in Atlanta, where the Three Lions beat Norway 2-1 earlier in the day.

Messi's nine-game World Cup scoring streak ended, but his pursuit of a second World Cup title continues. The game swung in the second half on a controversial video assistant referee call: Leandro Paredes was shown a yellow card for a tackle on Breel Embolo, but video showed the Swiss player falling before contact was made. Since Embolo had already received a yellow card, he was sent off, leaving Switzerland to defend with 10 players. It was the second time the "mistaken identity" protocol has overturned a yellow card at this World Cup, allowing the video assistant referee to intervene when an incorrect player is shown a card.