Messi's Argentina secure semi-final spot amid chaos of 'mistaken identity' red card

Lionel Messi and Argentina have advanced to the World Cup semi-finals following a controversial 3-1 victory over Switzerland, setting up a highly anticipated clash against England this Wednesday.

The match was deadlocked after Dan Ndoye equalized for Switzerland, canceling out Alexis Mac Allister’s opening goal for Argentina. However, the game shifted dramatically following a bizarre VAR review that resulted in the dismissal of Swiss forward Breel Embolo. Embolo was sent off for "mistaken identity" after video footage confirmed he had dived during a challenge involving Leandro Paredes.

Argentina capitalized on the advantage in extra time. Julian Alvarez broke the deadlock in the 112th minute with a spectacular, curling strike into the top corner from just outside the penalty box. Lautaro Martinez then added a late third goal to end Switzerland’s resistance and secure Argentina's place in the final four.

How Alvarez stole the spotlight from Messi
For the first time in the tournament, Lionel Messi failed to score and found himself taking a backseat to Julian Alvarez, who stole the spotlight with a contender for goal of the tournament. While Messi struggled to play with his usual fluency and remained largely peripheral for much of the match, Alvarez stepped up in extra time to deliver a spectacular, curling strike from just outside the penalty box into the top corner.

Messi's main contribution came early in the match when he assisted Alexis Mac Allister’s opening goal from a corner—marking his 10th World Cup assist for a 10th different goalscorer. However, as the 39-year-old Messi showed signs of fatigue from a grueling tournament schedule, his subsequent efforts missed the mark. Instead, it was Alvarez's brilliant 112th-minute breakthrough that broke the deadlock, providing the decisive moment of magic to carry Argentina into the semi-finals.

Inside Breel Embolo’s bizarre red card controversy
The incident unfolded in the 72nd minute with the match tied 1-1. Initially, it appeared Argentina's Leandro Paredes had fouled Breel Embolo, prompting referee Joao Pinheiro to show Paredes a yellow card.

However, the VAR team in Dallas intervened. Replays revealed that Paredes made no contact and Embolo had actually dived, likely anticipating a collision from the fast-approaching defender.

Because the referee had already brandished a card, VAR was able to trigger a review under a liberal FIFA protocol for "mistaken identity." Under modern World Cup rules, this rule is no longer limited to teammates; it applies if the referee penalizes the wrong player from either team.

Upon reviewing the footage, Pinheiro rescinded the yellow card given to Paredes and instead issued it to Embolo for simulation. Because Embolo had already been booked in the first half, this second yellow resulted in a bizarre, history-making red card that left the Swiss forward in tears. Ironically, if the referee hadn't mistakenly carded Paredes in the first place, VAR would have been powerless to review and punish Embolo's dive.


Who holds the edge in the England-Argentina blockbuster?
The upcoming World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina promises to be a deeply rooted and compelling encounter, marking the first time Lionel Messi will face the Three Lions in his career. It has been 21 years since the two sides last met—a 3-2 friendly win for England in Geneva—while their historical World Cup encounters include Argentina’s famous 2-1 win in 1986, an Argentinian penalty shootout victory in 1998, and a decisive England penalty win in 2002.

Heading into the clash, England will take significant encouragement from how Switzerland exposed the reigning world champions. Before being reduced to ten men, the Swiss caused Lionel Scaloni’s side numerous problems, frequently getting behind the defense due to Argentina’s lack of control in midfield. Even with a man advantage in extra time, Argentina looked far from convincing. However, despite their vulnerabilities, the ever-present threat of Messi alone remains a major source of anxiety for England in a highly anticipated match where ticket prices in Atlanta are already fetching a minimum of $3,000.


Will defensive frailty cost Argentina the tournament?
Questions surrounding Argentina’s defensive frailties have emerged ahead of the semi-finals, as Lionel Scaloni’s side showed significant vulnerability before Switzerland's dramatic red card. Instead of pressing home their early lead, Argentina sank into a passive shape during the second half, allowing the Swiss to control possession, find easy line-breaking passes into midfield, and outshoot them six to two during that stretch.

The Swiss equalizer exposed clear lapses in the tournament favorites' defensive concentration. Winger Dan Ndoye was afforded too much space on the touchline by slow-reacting defenders, while midfielder Rodrigo De Paul was caught ball-watching, letting Ricardo Rodriguez's crucial run slip through as Switzerland carved open the defense. Though Argentina possesses undeniable star power and an unerring ability to get the job done, none of their knockout matches have been straightforward, suggesting that upcoming opponents England will find plenty of opportunities to make their own mark against the reigning champions.

How Mac Allister conquered the air to breach the Swiss defense
Alexis Mac Allister exploited Switzerland’s zonal marking system to score the opening goal for Argentina in the 10th minute of their World Cup quarter-final victory.

Despite giving up more than four inches to his closest marker, Breel Embolo, the 1.76-meter (5-foot-9) midfielder used tactical movement and momentum to overcome the height deficit. Switzerland deployed a defensive structure that placed four players guarding the six-yard line and a fifth on the front post. While this setup builds a high numerical presence near the goal line, it leaves defenders vulnerable to ball-watching if the delivery is perfectly placed.

Taking advantage of this passivity, Mac Allister timed his run perfectly to emerge from Embolo's blindside. By tracking the path of Lionel Messi’s dipping, outswinging corner, Mac Allister caught the Swiss defenders flat-footed.

The extra momentum generated from his run allowed him to rise first at the near post and use the pace of the ball to glance his header into the far corner past goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.