Argentina survive test against a brave Switzerland side to set up iconic semi-final clash against England

Argentina's dream of retaining the World Cup title is alive, and they will face England in the semi-final. (Image credits - RawPixel, License Details)

Argentina are only two wins away from defending their FIFA World Cup title after defeating a tenacious Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in a thrilling quarter-final match at Kansas City Stadium.

Julian Alvarez's sensational hit in the 112th minute, combined with Lautaro Martinez's late goal, broke the Swiss hearts and advanced Lionel Scaloni's team to a blockbuster semifinal against rival England.

Argentina once again demonstrated an elite winning mentality by winning from a position where they were clearly struggling. It has been a recurring theme for La Albiceleste, as they have always found a way to perform under pressure when they have been stretched to their limits.

They had a fantastic start, taking the lead after only 10 minutes when Lionel Messi's perfectly delivered cross from the corner found Alexis MacAllister, who rose above and headed past Gregor Kobel in goal.

Argentina deserved their goal after dominating possession and tempo in the first few minutes.

However, after scoring, Murat Yakin's team began to regain control of the game, forcing Argentina into a compact low block. Scaloni's team appeared strong defensively, but they were slow to transition and lost possession frequently.

The Swiss' perseverance paid off in the 67th minute, when Dan Ndoye dribbled past the Argentine defense into the box and fired past Emiliano Martinez to level with the defending champions. However, only five minutes later, Argentina regained momentum when Breel Embolo was sent off for his second yellow card for simulation.

Despite being down a man, Switzerland defended brilliantly, holding Argentina at bay until extra time. The penalties seemed unavoidable as the Swiss defense continued to frustrate the Argentine offense.

Then came the magical moment from Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez. In the 112th minute, the 25-year-old received the ball near the edge of the box before curling a brilliant strike into the top corner, leaving Kobel completely stranded. It was a goal worthy of sending a team to the World Cup semi-finals.

Lautaro Martinez finished it off with a goal on the break after Switzerland committed all of their men forward.

Argentina's path to the final four has not been easy, as it required extra time to defeat Cape Verde and Switzerland, as well as a dramatic late comeback victory over Egypt.

These performances have exposed the team's weaknesses, particularly in possession and defense, while also highlighting the champion's mentality that has defined La Scaloneta since he took over the national team.

England now stands between Argentina and their second World Cup final in a row, having defeated Norway 2-1 in extra time.

The semi-final renews a familiar rivalry that dates back to 1966, with the last time they met in the World Cup being in 2002. Lionel Messi will face the Three Lions for the first time in his career, and this historic match will determine one of the finalists. 

Argentina's main goal is to improve in certain areas of their game and win a crucial match against a high-flying English team. The defending champions are still alive and fighting, just one victory away from returning to the competition's biggest stage on July 19th.

England awaits in Atlanta, where La Albiceleste has already staged a miraculous comeback against Egypt, and the two rivals will face off in a game that promises to be a classic.