England will face Argentina in the semi-finals of the World Cup after the holders defeated Switzerland 3-1 in extra time, courtesy of a stunning goal from Julian Alvarez. The match took place in Kansas, where Alvarez's wonderstrike in extra time broke Swiss resistance and set up a mouthwatering clash in Atlanta next week.
England's Path to the Semi-Finals
The Three Lions came from behind to beat Norway in the quarter-finals, with Jude Bellingham scoring a brace to secure a 2-1 victory. Bellingham's performance drew praise from former England defender Gary Neville, who said he had 'never seen any player' like the young midfielder, comparing him to Paul Gascoigne and Michael Owen.
England have not been at their best during this World Cup, with manager Thomas Tuchel calling out their performance after the Norway win. However, Argentina have also been grinding out results without hitting top form, needing extra time to overcome Cape Verde and a dramatic comeback to beat Egypt in the last 16, where they were 2-0 down with 15 minutes left.
Argentina's Dramatic Victory Over Switzerland
Argentina's quarter-final against Switzerland was highly controversial. Alexis Mac Allister gave Argentina a half-time lead, but Dan Ndoye equalized for the Swiss. VAR then intervened, leading to a red card for Switzerland's Breel Embolo. Despite being down to ten men, the Swiss forced extra time and held firm for 20 minutes before Alvarez unleashed a strike from distance that flew into the top corner. Lautaro Martinez made the game safe with a goal in added time in extra time.
Historic Rivalry Renewed
England and Argentina's rivalry transcends football, with several memorable World Cup meetings. Their last competitive encounter came in 2002, when David Beckham scored a penalty to give England a 1-0 win. That match came four years after Beckham's infamous red card in Saint Etienne in 1998, which led to England's penalty shootout defeat. In 1986, Diego Maradona scored two of the most iconic goals in World Cup history – the 'Hand of God' and a stunning solo effort – to eliminate England.
Match Details and Potential Final
England's semi-final against Argentina will take place at 8pm on Wednesday, July 15, in Atlanta. It will be the first visit to the city for both teams. The winner will face either Spain or France, who play in the other semi-final on Tuesday. A potential final between France and Argentina would be a repeat of the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, marking only the second time two nations have met in successive World Cup finals.
