Argentina's players were soaking it all in for a full 15 minutes Saturday night in Kansas City, and why wouldn't they? A 3-1 win over Switzerland, clinching their spot in the World Cup semifinals against England, might not have been pretty, but it was another nail-biting escape that had them singing with their fans. This squad is finding ways to win when it counts, pulling off their third straight knockout stage victory in the most dramatic fashion possible. They are the clear favorites, yet every single game feels like a heart attack, a true "survive and advance" masterclass.
Another Escape, Another Celebration
Against Switzerland, this wasn't quite the historic comeback we've seen before, but Argentina still needed extra time to seal the deal. Lionel Messi, who normally lights up the scoreboard, only managed an assist on the opening goal and was largely quiet after that. It was his first game of the tournament without a score, and his first in his last 10 World Cup matches where he didn't find the back of the net. But hey, when Messi isn't scoring, someone else steps up big time. Julian Alvarez delivered what might be the goal of the tournament in the 112th minute, curling a stunning strike from the left side into the far right corner, leaving Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel absolutely no chance. Lautaro Martinez then added the knockout blow nine minutes later. What's wild is that Argentina struggled to generate scoring chances in the second half, even after Breel Embolo was sent off with a red card in the 72nd minute. This team just finds a way, no matter how messy it gets.The Drama That Got Them Here
Look, the Switzerland game was intense, but it wasn't even the wildest ride in this knockout stage for Argentina. In the Round of 32, they scraped by Cape Verde, the smallest nation in the knockout stage, with a 3-2 victory that came only after an own goal in the 111th minute. An own goal! Imagine the stress. Then, against Egypt, they needed a miracle. They trailed 2-0 until late in the game, only to score three times in 13 minutes, with the final goal coming in stoppage time. That game also featured an Egypt goal removed after a controversial VAR decision, and Egypt players were furious they didn't get a penalty late for Mohamed Salah. Lionel Messi was so overcome with emotion after that comeback that he was in tears, celebrating his game-tying goal with more passion than we're used to seeing. Argentina has battled, they've stumbled, and they've survived. Now, they're heading into the semifinals against England. They're the favorites, but you know it won't be easy. Can they keep pulling off these late-game heroics and continue their improbable, dramatic march through the World Cup? We're all glued to our screens to find out.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.