Argentina set up titanic World Cup semifinal against England with extra-time victory over Switzerland after Breel Embolo’s embarrassing red card

Here we go. Clear your calendars and stock up your fridge. Argentina vs. England in a World Cup semifinal and, for Lionel Messi, a rare first.

What a night it should be and what a glorious quirk of Messi’s marathon international career that over the last 21 years, across six World Cups and 205 games for his country, the 39-year-old has never faced England.

Meetings between these two nations don’t come around often and the last time England faced Argentina – in a friendly in Geneva in late 2005 – Messi was suspended. A few months earlier, he had been sent off just 30 seconds into his Argentina debut against Hungary.

Two decades later, on another torturous night for the defending champions, Messi booked his date with England at long, long last. My God, Argentina were made to sweat in this quarterfinal against Switzerland, who frustrated Lionel Scaloni’s side for long periods. Again Argentina needed extra time. And, again, they needed a moment of genius to squeeze through. In fact, Argentina had two forwards to thank for deciding this game. For once, neither was Messi.

Sure, he created Alexis Mac Allister’s opener but with 23 minutes to go, this game sat on a knife edge after Dan Ndoye had brought Switzerland level. Then, in a moment of stupidity, Breel Embolo got himself sent off for diving.

Down to 10 men, Switzerland clung on until the 112th minute, when Julian Alvarez curled a quite brilliant shot into the top corner. And then, in stoppage time, Lautaro Martinez slotted in a third to set up the latest chapter of one of soccer’s most storied battles.

Lionel Messi and Co will now face England in a mouthwatering semifinal in Atlanta

Lautaro Martinez sealed Argentina’s 3-1 victory with a goal in stoppage time of extra time

So, barring disaster over the next four days, Messi will lead Argentina out for their sixth World Cup clash with England. The story of this rivalry stretches over 64 years, from the Chilean city of Rancagua to a $1.6billion dome in Atlanta, via Wembley, Mexico City, Saint-Etienne, Sapporo, one raised hand and one flick of David Beckham’s leg.

With victory over Mexico, England have already exorcised a few demons at the Azteca. Now, 40 years after they were haunted by the fist of Diego Maradona, they face the dancing feet of another Argentina No 10. All that remains to be seen? How much more Messi’s creaking body can take. The 39-year-old has now racked up 330 minutes over three knockout games. But only a fool would bet against him writing his own slice of this story.

Shortly before kickoff in Kansas City, in a brief pause from the adverts and announcements and the invitations to make more noise, the stadium cameraman zoomed in on one elderly woman in the stands.

She was decked out in Argentina colors and she was carrying a sign. It read: ‘I’ve lived through every World Cup.’

Simple arithmetic would suggest she is knocking on the door of a century and over the course of that extraordinary life, she won’t have seen many tournaments or title defenses quite like this. Or individual campaigns with numbers to rival these.

It took 10 minutes for Messi to register his 10th goal involvement of this World Cup, Mac Allister meeting his corner with a glancing header that flashed past Gregor Kobel and ratcheted up the noise another few notches.

Switzerland striker Breel Embolo was sent off for diving during a dramatic second half

A few minutes earlier, Dan Ndoye had brought Switzerland level, leaving this tie on a knife edge

It was a terrific header but, for Switzerland, it was a sickener – they had settled much the quicker, only to concede from Argentina’s first real venture forward. All of a sudden, Murat Yakin’s side were tasked with coming from behind – that was uncharted territory for Switzerland at this World Cup.

And for 20 minutes of this second half, they banged on the Argentina door without any joy. Emiliano Martinez saved from Embolo’s header and then from Ndoye’s header and then from Granit Xhaka’s long-range shot. Each time, the goalkeeper responded by whipping up the crowd. But they eventually fell silent after Ndoye finished off a neat move by beating the goalkeeper from a tight angle.

For the first time all night, the noise was coming from the tiny pocket of Swiss fans behind Martinez’s goal. Then referee Joao Pinheiro booked Leandro Paredes for a tackle on Embolo and all hell broke loose: VAR asked Pinheiro to have another look.

Replays showed Embolo – who was already on a yellow card – had dived. That did not stop the Swiss bench from exploding in fury. Cue more allegations of favoritism toward the defending champions. But let’s be clear: it was the right call. And so a blubbing Embolo had to be escorted down the tunnel by Swiss players and staff.

From there on out, they were clinging on for penalties. Mac Allister sent a late effort over and then, in stoppage time, Messi curled narrowly wide before Kobel parried away an acrobatic volley from Lisandro Martinez. 

Extra time was a little more than a siege and Switzerland held firm until Alvarez opened up his body and took aim for the far corner. By then, the Swiss had nothing left. But there was still time for Martinez to add a third and set up a mouthwatering semifinal.

FANS FACE MORE TORTURE 

Next week’s showdown in Atlanta promises to be an occasion to rival any other at this – or any – World Cup. It is a fixture teeming with history and storylines and scores to settle. And recent history suggests it could be a brutal watch.

For much of this World Cup, neither England nor Argentina have really clicked into gear. Time and again, they have been forced to dig themselves out of a hole. Time and again, they have relied on the genius of a few individuals. It has made for dramatic, chaotic journeys to the last four. And on Wednesday, something has to give. 

If France’s clash with Spain looks set to be a tactical tussle between two slick attacking units, England against Argentina could be another night of torture for fans of both teams.

Alexis Mac Allister gave Argentina an early lead with a header from Messi’s corner

Embolo was overcome with emotion after he was shown a red card by referee Joao Pinheiro

EMBOLO LEAVES SWITZERLAND IN THE LURCH 

In the end, Breel Embolo ended this World Cup just as he began it – separated from his teammates and wondering what he had done wrong. Nearly six weeks have passed since the Switzerland striker was blocked from traveling to the US because of issues with his visa.

It turned out his ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) was no longer approved. Thankfully, it didn’t take long for Embolo to rejoin the rest of the squad and over the past month he has led the line for Yakin’s side – scoring two goals, creating two more and causing Argentina plenty of problems here, too.

But then the authorities took issue with Embolo once more. Switzerland had just equalized when the referee consulted his monitor and realized that Embolo had dived. It was brainless from the striker. No wonder the tears began to flow after his fate was sealed.

ARGENTINA INVADES THE MIDWEST 

They boarded flights before dawn on the West Coast of this vast country. They congregated in the lobbies of hotels around Kansas City. They wandered along the highways toward Arrowhead Stadium in the scorching midafternoon sun. And then they flicked their wrists and emptied their lungs all night.

This was an invasion of Argentineans and locals besotted by their No 10. Together, they made a deafening din throughout this quarterfinal. Save for a small pocket of red behind one goal, this entire stadium was painted blue and white. It was a remarkable sight.

The only snag? There was space for plenty more Argentineans. In the middle and upper tiers of Arrowhead Stadium, empty seats were everywhere. It was a crying shame and a dreadful look for FIFA who – of course – announced another full house regardless. Earlier in the week, on one resale site, the cheapest ticket for this game was $1,142.