FIFA World Cup: Argentina go through, but lines of concern emerge | Football News
There will be an explosion of euphoria from Buenos Aires to Bangladesh – Saturday night or Sunday morning, depending on where you sit. The dream of an Argentinian ‘again’ was alive as Julian Alvarez’s curler deep in extra-time beat the outstretched hands of Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel to find the far corner. Lautaro Martinez added another in added time and the 3-1 win set up a bitter semifinal against England with famous historical undercurrents.But as the Three Lions’ German coach Thomas Tuchel said they were “lucky to win” against Norway, Argentina’s die-hards, deep down, also knew they had an escape.Argentina took a 10th-minute lead, courtesy of an Alexis MacAllister header from a Messi corner, but the second half started on a different note. The Swiss began to dominate the midfield as Argentina’s defense continued to collapse. And when winger Dan Ndoye’s equalizer, the culmination of a brilliant move, came in the 67th minute, the global Argentina fanbase was worried.In their last two tight wins against Cabo Verde and Egypt, the three-time champions stayed behind, but were never second best in the field. But in Dallas, within 20 minutes of the second half, the defending champions seemed to be chasing shadows against a well-trained European unit.It lasted until the brain-fade moment of the Swiss striker Embolo in the 72nd minute that everything brought it for the European team, which played in the first quarterfinal of the World Cup since 1954. Already in a yellow, Embolo unnecessarily fell to the ground, trying to get a card for Leandro Paredes, but the VAR recognized the simulation that led to his expulsion.He was disgusted, the Swiss were stunned, social media was in an uproar, but undeniably by the letter of the law. It was a simulation on Embolo’s part and the Portuguese referee was well within his rights to give him his marching orders.The game completely changed after that. For the Swiss, it was a matter of surviving for almost 50 minutes with 10 men, as they defended in two lines of four. Argentina’s attack is good, but this phase of the game is also not encouraging from their point of view.The passing was slow, the crosses unimaginative, and even Leo Messi, by his own galactic standards, had a bit of an off-day. He missed a sitter that was ruled offside but should have been overturned by VAR, while another right-footer after dropping his shoulders missed the mark by a whisker. On top of that, there was nothing much to write home about as Manuel Akanji & Co. defended. the Argentine attacks with ease.But then, it always helps to have a magical dust of talent up your sleeve. There is a reason why there is a bidding war among the top European clubs led by FC Barcelona for Alvarez, who is tipped to replace the outgoing Polish poacher Robert Lewandowski for the Catalan giants after the World Cup.A strike of pure quality, the 26-year-old combined power and precision as Trionda whistled through the night air and hit the back of Kobel’s net. Although it was a World Cup first for the superstar, the goal will find its place in Argentine folklore if the Albiceleste go on to make history next Sunday.But for now, standing in the way is England, a spunky unit showing flashes of its late 1980s early 90s self. In Jude Bellingham, they have a Paul Gascoigne-figure who can marshal the midfield and lock down open defences. And it’s a given that Argentina won’t give an inch in Atlanta on Wednesday. There is also the small matter of a 40-year-old injured and the English may want to believe that a Messi revenge in Argentina will finally bury the ghosts of the ‘Hand of God’ that has haunted them for generations.
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