Are Lionel Messi<\/a>‘s Argentina the team of destiny at the 2026\u00a0FIFA World Cup<\/a>? They keep playing like it, delivering a third straight dramatic knockout-stage victory on Saturday to reach the semifinals.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The defending champions\u2019 3-1 extra-time quarterfinal win<\/a> over Switzerland followed their equally grueling Round of 32 (Cape Verde<\/a>) and Round of 16 (Egypt<\/a>) wins that set the stage for Wednesday\u2019s epic semifinal showdown against England in Atlanta.<\/p>\n The winner advances to the July 19 final against either France or Spain at New York\/New Jersey Stadium.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThese games have been so close and very good. They\u2019ve been decided by [the team] with the most belief in the end,\u201d said striker Jos\u00e9 Manuel L\u00f3pez, who assisted on Juli\u00e1n \u00c1lvarez\u2019s stunning 112th-minute winner. \u201cAnd in that sense, I think it\u2019s in our blood.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSo with the support of our people and everything, the atmosphere is incredible. And we have no choice but to keep on going.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n A SENSATIONAL GOAL FROM JULI\u00c1N ALVAREZ TO PUT ARGENTINA IN FRONT IN EXTRA TIME \ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf7 pic.twitter.com\/J3Ql16XwX3<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 12, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Messi helped Argentina take the early lead, serving a corner kick that found Alexis Mac Allister for a looping header that opened the score in the 10th minute.\u00a0<\/p>\n Switzerland leveled in the 67th minute via Dan Ndoye, only to go down to 10 men five minutes later when Breel Embolo was sent off for a second yellow card infraction.\u00a0<\/p>\n Argentina couldn\u2019t find the breakthrough in regulation time, needing \u00c1lvarez\u2019s extra-time golazo and a late insurance tally from Lautaro Mart\u00ednez to secure the result.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThings got tough for us even though we were up a man in extra time,\u201d said \u00c1lvarez.<\/p>\n \u201cBut we knew that if we all went for it together, the goal would come. And that\u2019s what happened, so very happy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Messi and Argentina celebrate with the fans at Kansas City Stadium after advancing to the FIFA World Cup Semifinals \ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf7 pic.twitter.com\/r9gsl43yBF<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 12, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Messi has stolen the spotlight for Argentina through most of this summer\u2019s World Cup, producing 8g\/2a in six matches to fuel a historic tournament.\u00a0<\/p>\n Inter Miami CF<\/a>\u2019s superstar No. 10 continued his legendary form on Saturday in Mac Allister\u2019s opener, earning his record 10th career World Cup assist.\u00a0<\/p>\n But with time running out against Switzerland, it was \u00c1lvarez who stepped up, scoring a goal for the ages.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re one of the four best teams [at the World Cup], so we\u2019re meeting our goals,\u201d said \u00c1lvarez.<\/p>\n \u201cWe knew it wasn\u2019t going to be easy. Every game has been hard. We obviously would prefer to win earlier, but the team fought until the end.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Down to four. \ud83e\udd29 pic.twitter.com\/H7vvTil7TT<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 12, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Up next for Argentina is a formidable and familiar foe: England, who have a well-established World Cup history with La Albiceleste.\u00a0<\/p>\n Their most recent World Cup encounter took place 24 years ago, with LA Galaxy<\/a> legend and Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham scoring the 1-0 game-winner from the penalty spot in the 2002 group stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n Head coach Lionel Scaloni expects another legendary battle on Wednesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to be realistic: there are things that need improving. But winning is always better,\u201d Scaloni said in a post-match interview with Telemundo.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThat said, what this team achieved today is historic. Even though we could\u2019ve played better, playing a semifinal again is something historic.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \n \n
Epic battle<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Not just Messi<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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England await<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n