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.
U.S. President Donald Trump has endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the country’s...
Poland plans to give railway guards powers to neutralise drones threatening rail infrastructure, including in s...
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Sunday for talks with Central Asian of...
An unknown projectile struck a tanker 68 nautical miles northeast of Saudi Arabia on Friday according to a report released by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on Saturday.
The day after waiving sanctions and tariffs related to Russian exports, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he has yet to announce a final decision on the matter as Secretary of State Marco Rubio said officials want more time to evaluate the situation.
A Saudi AH-6i helicopter crashed in the Najran region of Saudi Arabia due to a technical malfunction, killing its two crew members, the Saudi-led coalition's spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki said in a statement on Sunday.
What started out as planned protests against the cost of living, declining public services and education funding in France, quickly devolved into violent riots across the country on Saturday.
The AnewZ documentary “Counterpoint: Two Centuries of German-Azerbaijani Shared History” investigates the story of German settlers who arrived on Azerbaijani lands around two centuries ago and established communities that left a lasting mark on the country’s cultural heritage.
U.S. President Donald Trump has endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the country’s parliamentary election on 27 October, praising him as a strong leader and a partner in the war with Iran.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Sunday for talks with Central Asian officials, as the Trump administration seeks to strengthen ties with a resource-rich region bordering China, Russia and Iran.
Poland plans to give railway guards powers to neutralise drones threatening rail infrastructure, including in some cases with firearms, under draft legislation published by the government on Friday.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s approval rating has fallen below 50 per cent for the first time since she took office in October last year, according to a Kyodo News Agency poll published on Sunday, amid criticism of her handling of a scandal involving her former agriculture minister.
The day after waiving sanctions and tariffs related to Russian exports, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he has yet to announce a final decision on the matter as Secretary of State Marco Rubio said officials want more time to evaluate the situation.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment