Julián Álvarez's Extra-Time Goal Sends Argentina to Semifinals

Argentina secured another dramatic victory on Saturday night thanks to a brilliant goal from Julián Álvarez.

Álvarez's spectacular long-range shot in the 112th minute helped Argentina defeat a 10-man Switzerland team 3-1 during extra time. With this hard-fought win, the defending champions will now face England in the highly anticipated semifinals on Wednesday.

The amazing goal came from outside the penalty area, completely beating Switzerland's goalkeeper, Gregor Kobel, at the far post.

Switzerland put up a fantastic defense, especially after striker Breel Embolo received a controversial red card. Despite being down to 10 players, the Swiss team defended brilliantly and stopped Argentina's attacks for most of the match. However, Álvarez broke the deadlock with his unexpected, stunning strike.

After the goal, Switzerland had to attack to find an equalizer. This allowed Argentina to counter-attack, and Lautaro Martínez scored in the 121st minute to make it 3-1, sealing the victory. Lionel Messi and his teammates celebrated with great relief.

Why Breel Embolo Received a Red Card

The match changed when Swiss striker Breel Embolo was sent off. He was accused of diving after a challenge by Argentina's Leandro Paredes.

Initially, the referee gave Paredes a yellow card. However, because a card was shown, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviewed the incident. Replays showed there was no contact, and Embolo had dived.

As a result, the referee cancelled Paredes' card and gave Embolo his second yellow card, sending him off the field.

This decision had a major impact on the game. Before this, Switzerland had equalized through a header by Dan Ndoye, putting strong pressure on Argentina's defense after a great second-half performance.

Argentina's Thrilling Path to the Semifinals

Argentina has shown great resilience throughout the tournament. After intense matches against Cape Verde and Egypt, they once again found a way to win in the final moments.

Argentina started strong, with Alexis Mac Allister scoring a header from a Lionel Messi corner in the 10th minute. Although Switzerland fought back and equalized, Argentina's star players stepped up when it mattered most.

This crucial victory keeps Argentina's dream of defending their World Cup title alive as they prepare to face England in the next round.