Argentina secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Switzerland in the World Cup quarter-final on Saturday, booking a semi-final showdown with England. Lionel Messi was the hero, scoring twice to lead his team to victory.
Messi Double Seals Win
The match at the Lusail Stadium saw Argentina take an early lead through a Messi penalty in the 10th minute. Switzerland equalised through Xherdan Shaqiri's free-kick before half-time. In the second half, Messi restored Argentina's lead with a brilliant solo effort, but Switzerland again levelled through Haris Seferovic. The winner came in the 78th minute when Julian Alvarez tapped in from close range after a goalmouth scramble.
England Await in Semi-Final
Argentina will now face England in the semi-final, a rematch of the 1986 quarter-final. England advanced after a 2-0 win over Sweden. The match is scheduled for Wednesday at the Lusail Stadium. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni praised his team's resilience, saying, "We showed character to come back twice. Now we have a tough game against England."
Switzerland Disappointed
Switzerland coach Murat Yakin lamented defensive errors, stating, "We gave away two soft goals. Against a team like Argentina, you cannot afford that." The Swiss had reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 1954.
