Argentina and England will meet in a blockbuster World Cup semi-final after both sides came through gripping quarter-final ties that were settled in extra time.
The reigning champions defeated 10-man Switzerland 3-1, while England edged Norway 2-1 thanks to another match-winning performance from Jude Bellingham.
Argentina were pushed all the way by a resilient Switzerland side before late goals from Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez finally sealed victory.
Alexis Mac Allister had given Lionel Scaloni's side an early lead, but Dan Ndoye equalised in the second half to leave the holders on the brink of a shock exit. Switzerland's task became even tougher when Breel Embolo was sent off after picking up a second yellow card in the 72nd minute.
The Swiss looked set to force penalties before Álvarez curled home a superb strike in the 112th minute. Martínez then wrapped up the win moments later.
"We're used to suffering," Thiago Almada said. "We want to chase glory and put Argentina at the very top."
Scaloni admitted his side had been tested. "We had to suffer a lot... it's a big achievement to be in the semi-finals," he said.
Earlier, England booked their place in the last four with a 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway.
Andreas Schjelderup put Norway ahead before Bellingham equalised just before half-time. The midfielder then scored the winner early in extra time after reacting quickest to a saved effort from Morgan Rogers.
England manager Thomas Tuchel welcomed the result but admitted his side had not been at their best.
"The result is fantastic. We're in the last four. It's amazing, but I'm not happy with the performance," he said. "We were lucky today."
The victories set up one of the standout matches of the tournament, with England facing Lionel Messi and the defending champions for a place in the World Cup final.
The semi-final will take place in Atlanta on Wednesday, with both nations now just one win away from football's biggest match.
An agreement between Iran and the U.S. to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is expected "soon," a U.S. official has said. The deal would result in the resum...
Typhoon Dolphin lashed Japan’s southern Okinawa prefecture on Saturday, injuring six people, disrupting flights and leaving more than 50,000 buildin...
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan remarked upon progress made towards normalising relations between...
An agreement between Iran and the U.S. to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is expected "soon," a U.S. official has said. The deal would result in the resumption of commercial shipping through the sea passage and the lifting of an American naval blockade on Iranian ports.
U.S. President Donald Trump said negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz are progressing and suggested an agreement with Iran could be reached “soon”.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 8th of August, covering the latest developments.
U.S. President Donald Trump may have to accept concessions he previously opposed if he wants to secure a deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to analysts, as negotiators move closer to a temporary agreement.
A U.S. judge has ordered Meta to pay an additional $567 million over claims that its platforms failed to protect children from online harm.
Serbia will continue to support Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity while seeking closer economic cooperation between the two countries, President Aleksandar Vučić said on Saturday, stopping short of pledging sanctions against Belgrade’s long-time ally Russia.
One year after its launch, the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) has emerged as one of the most significant diplomatic and economic initiatives in the South Caucasus, linking peace efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan with expanding trade and regional connectivity.
A drone entered Bulgarian airspace from Romania on Saturday and exploded near the village of Kardam, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said, adding that there were no casualties or damage to infrastructure.
Russian drone strikes killed a three-year-old boy and his grandparents in a village in the Kyiv region, while another person was killed in an overnight ballistic missile attack on the Ukrainian capital, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday.
Typhoon Dolphin lashed Japan’s southern Okinawa prefecture on Saturday, injuring six people, disrupting flights and leaving more than 50,000 buildings without power, as China shut ports and suspended transport services ahead of the storm’s expected arrival on its east coast.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment