Embolo red card and Álvarez strike end Switzerland's World Cup

Argentina 3–1 Switzerland, World Cup over after extra time

Switzerland are out. Argentina 3–1 Switzerland, World Cup quarterfinal, Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City (1) (2) (3). Dan Ndoye gave you hope with the equalizer that forced extra time. Then Julián Álvarez scored a stunning goal and Lautaro Martinez sealed it (3) (10). "We fought until the end and left it all out on the pitch," Álvarez said afterwards (9).

Embolo red card, Swiss media erupts

Breel Embolo was sent off and the Swiss press are not letting it go. "Un fait de jeu qui entrera dans sa légende," one outlet wrote, a moment that will follow the referee into history (4). The red card is widely seen as the decisive turning point in a match Switzerland had dragged back to 1–1.

Xhaka's message after the exit

Granit Xhaka posted an emotional message to fans after the elimination. The captain did not hide the pain (5). Emiliano Martínez, of all people, acknowledged the post with a gesture (5).

The stat that sums up the run

Switzerland had not trailed for a single minute in this entire World Cup cycle, qualifying and tournament combined, until Sunday night. They were the last of the 48 teams to concede a lead (Reddit). That run ended in Kansas City.

Argentina now face England

Your conquerors move on. Argentina play England in the semi-final, and Álvarez is already stoking the fire: "We're scoring goals at the end of matches, so as long as we keep winning, it's all positive" (9) (10). That one stings.

Fan-reaktioner

Fans are stuck on the Embolo red card, and not just the VAR review. The question on the World Cup subreddit cuts deeper: why would Embolo take a dive in that situation, right after Switzerland had equalized and had all the momentum? Read the thread here. Over on r/soccer, the stat about Switzerland being the last team to trail in the entire 48-nation field has hit hard too (Reddit).