Switzerland forward Breel Embolo was sent off following a dramatic video assistant referee (VAR) intervention just minutes after Dan Ndoye had equalized, leaving 10-man Switzerland clinging to a 1-1 draw against Argentina in the 72nd minute of their tense World Cup quarterfinal on Sunday.
The high-stakes match took a chaotic turn when the referee reviewed a potential simulation incident. Following a lengthy check that involved overturning an initial case of mistaken identity, the official brandished a second yellow card to a distraught Embolo. The striker had to be physically escorted from the pitch by team officials, leaving the Swiss to play out the final 20 minutes a man down.
The red card halted a roaring Swiss comeback. Trailing since early in the first half, Switzerland finally broke through Argentina's stubborn defense in the 67th minute. Ndoye played a slick one-two with veteran defender Ricardo Rodriguez before catching Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez off guard, firing a sharp effort inside the near post to send the Swiss fans into raptures.
It was a deserved leveler for Switzerland, who had dictated the tempo for large stretches of the match. Despite the Swiss dominating possession with a relentless high-intensity press from the opening whistle, it was Argentina who struck first against the run of play.
In the 10th minute, Lionel Messi rolled back the years with a pinpoint corner delivery, finding Alexis Mac Allister, who rose highest to power home a superb header.
For the rest of the first half, Switzerland continued to boss the game, but a seasoned, clinical Argentinian backline absorbed the pressure comfortably, allowing the South Americans to walk into the halftime break with a 1-0 lead.
The game opened up dramatically in the second half, setting the stage for Ndoye's equalizer and the ensuing VAR controversy.
The winner of the encounter will advance to Wednesday's semifinal to face England, who booked their spot in the final four with a 2-1 victory over Norway.
FIFA World Cup / Argentina / Switzerland
While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.
Copyright © 2026 THE BUSINESS STANDARD
All rights reserved.
