标签： South America

ATLANTA — In a tense, physical FIFA World Cup quarterfinal clash that went the distance, Argentine soccer icon Lionel Messi saw his historic nine-match World Cup scoring run come to an end against Switzerland Saturday night — but the living legend still dictated the match’s outcome, setting up the opening goal to help propel defending champions Argentina to a 3-1 extra-time victory. The win books Argentina’s spot in the tournament semifinals, where they will face off against England this Wednesday in Atlanta.

The match’s first breakthrough came just 10 minutes in, when Messi crafted a corner opportunity with a brilliant display of close control and skillful footwork. The Inter Miami star sent a pinpoint cross into the penalty area, where Alexis Mac Allister converted a clinical header to put Argentina up 1-0. While the opening goal came from Messi’s playmaking, the 39-year-old took a hard blow to the area near his right eye in the second half, requiring on-field attention from training staff to patch him up for the remainder of the match.

Switzerland held firm to level the scoreline in the 67th minute, forcing the tightly contested knockout match into 30 minutes of extra time. With fatigue setting in for both sides, Julian Alvarez broke the deadlock with an unstoppable 112th-minute strike that curled into the top corner of the Swiss net, before Lautaro Martinez iced the win with a late closing goal to seal the 3-1 final score.

Heading into the matchup, Swiss head coach Murat Yakin faced widespread media questioning about how his side planned to contain Messi, who entered the match as co-leader in the tournament’s Golden Boot race alongside France’s Kylian Mbappé. Yakin joked that the question was unsurprising, noting that his staff had prepared multiple game plans to stop the Argentine, adding that the real test would be executing those plans on the pitch. In the end, the Swiss side largely delivered on their goal of shutting down Messi’s scoring: they successfully held the all-time tournament leading goalscorer, who has 21 career World Cup goals to his name, off the scoresheet, snapping his streak that included goals in six consecutive knockout round matches.

Messi’s run of form at this year’s tournament has already cemented his status as the tournament’s standout player. A little over three weeks before the Swiss clash, Messi opened his World Cup campaign at the same venue with his first-ever World Cup hat trick, leading Argentina to a 3-0 opening group stage win over Algeria. He carried that form through the knockout rounds, notching eight goals heading into the quarterfinal. His tournament has not been without close calls, however: he missed penalty chances against both Austria and Egypt, with the second miss leaving Argentina trailing 2-0 and on the brink of elimination. Even in that high-pressure moment, Messi stepped up to turn the tide: he assisted Cristian Romero’s 79th-minute header to get Argentina on the board, then scored an equalizer four minutes later against Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, before Enzo Fernandez scored a stoppage-time winner to send Argentina through to the quarterfinal.

With many speculating that this tournament could be Messi’s last appearance on the World Cup stage with Argentina’s national team, Argentine head coach Lionel Scaloni heaped praise on the veteran playmaker, comparing his consistent elite performance to that of a well-oiled machine. “Those that are not so much acquainted with him might be surprised, and at 39 years of age some people might think he will not rise to the challenge,” Scaloni said. “But I’ve said this before, as long as he wants to be the best — and I’m not saying this because I’m coaching him — but because if he wants to continue, he will continue to be the best.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A dramatic turning point unfolded in Saturday night’s World Cup quarterfinal clash between Switzerland and Argentina, as Swiss striker Breel Embolo was ejected from the match following a VAR review that exposed his attempt to feign a foul tackle. The incident, which altered the course of the tightly contested game, marked only the second time the tournament’s “mistaken identity” VAR protocol has been used to reverse a yellow card booking.

Initially, Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes was issued a yellow card for what referees believed was a reckless tackle that sent Embolo to the turf. But when the video assistant referee pulled the clip for closer examination, clear footage proved Embolo had already begun falling to the ground before Paredes made any physical contact. What looked like a standard foul was actually a deliberate attempt to draw a wrongful penalty against Argentina.

The booking fell to Embolo instead, and the timing of the card proved devastating for Switzerland: Embolo had already received a yellow card earlier in the match, so the second infraction elevated to a red card ejection. With the score locked at 1-1, the Swiss side was forced to play the entire remainder of the high-stakes knockout match with just 10 men on the pitch.

The red card came just moments after Swiss winger Dan Ndoye had scored the equalizing goal to level the match, swinging all momentum back in Switzerland’s favor. Embolo’s ejection immediately flipped that momentum back to Argentina, turning the tide of the quarterfinal in a single, game-altering sequence.

The reversal of the original booking via the “mistaken identity” protocol is a rare occurrence at the World Cup. This protocol explicitly permits VAR to step in when match officials incorrectly award a card to the wrong player, a rule that was invoked for only the second time throughout this tournament. The sequence added another layer of controversy to a knockout match already packed with tension, highlighting how VAR continues to reshape the landscape of high-stakes international soccer.

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – The 2024 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal clash between Argentina and Switzerland delivered another iconic early moment from soccer legend Lionel Messi, who helped the defending champions grab a critical 1-0 halftime lead on Saturday night. A perfectly placed corner kick from Messi found the head of teammate Alexis Mac Allister in the 10th minute, putting the tournament favorites ahead before most fans had even settled into their seats at Arrowhead Stadium.

Coming into the match, Switzerland’s defensive organization had been one of the biggest stories of the tournament. The Swiss side had given up just three goals across their first five matches, and they looked set to continue that form when they controlled possession in the opening minutes of the contest. But Messi, whose career has been defined by game-changing moments on the world’s biggest stage, turned the tide in an instant. After helping force the corner, he stepped up to take the set piece and delivered a cross that cut through the Swiss penalty area perfectly for Mac Allister’s finish.

The early goal holds multiple notable layers for both sides. It marks the earliest goal Argentina has scored throughout this entire World Cup run, and it is the first time Switzerland has found itself trailing in any match this tournament. For Argentina, the early strike also lifted a tangible weight off the squad heading into the rest of the match. The defending champions have navigated a rocky knockout stage so far: they only narrowly defeated Cape Verde in extra time to open the elimination round, and just days earlier, they needed a dramatic late comeback – three goals in 11 minutes – to erase a 2-0 deficit and defeat Egypt.

Argentina, a three-time World Cup winner that currently holds the tournament title, is chasing history in this year’s competition. A win against Switzerland would see them advance to the semifinal, putting them one step closer to becoming the first men’s national team to successfully defend a World Cup crown since Brazil accomplished the feat in 1962. Waiting for the winner of the quarterfinal is England, who secured a 2-1 win over Norway earlier the same day to book their semifinal spot. The upcoming semifinal is scheduled to take place Wednesday in Atlanta.

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida — The humid 92-degree heat of South Florida could not stop Jude Bellingham from writing a new chapter of World Cup history on Saturday. The 21-year-old Real Madrid midfield star delivered two clutch goals to lift England to a dramatic 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Norway, booking the Three Lions a spot in the tournament’s final four for the first time since 2018.

The match opened with a brief moment of silence to honor 25-year-old South African midfielder Jayden Adams, whose passing was announced earlier the same day, before play got underway. It did not take long for the underdog Norwegian side to shock the heavily favored English squad. Andreas Schjelderup, making just his second start of the tournament, stunned England, which had dominated possession to that point, in the 36th minute when his shot ricocheted off the right post and rolled into the net. The young winger, who set up both of Erling Haaland’s goals in Norway’s round-of-16 upset win over Brazil, celebrated as his teammates lifted him onto their shoulders, while England’s Harry Kane lingered near midfield, appealing for an uncalled foul.

Schjelderup’s opening strike put Norway ahead going into halftime, but Bellingham responded with a close-range equalizer before the break that drew a deafening roar from the packed stadium, which included celebrity spectators Mick Jagger and England legend David Beckham. There was minor controversy around the equalizer: moments before Bellingham received the ball, a Norway goal kick appeared to glance off an overhead aerial camera cable before falling to England midfielder Elliot Anderson. Under FIFA rules, a ball striking the cable requires a stoppage of play and a drop ball restart, but tournament officials later confirmed that in-game sensors installed in the match ball confirmed no contact took place, allowing the goal to stand.

Norway came close to doubling their lead in the 56th minute, when Torbjørn Heggem put a rebound past England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford after a corner. However, a VAR review ruled the goal out due to a foul by Haaland in the penalty area. It was one of multiple missed chances for the Manchester City star, who entered the match as the tournament’s joint-top scorer. Haaland was denied a goal by a point-blank save from Pickford in the first half, and was held scoreless for the first time throughout the entire World Cup. Fatigue and a dead leg picked up in the second half forced Haaland off the bench in the second period of extra time, and the star striker sat slumped on the substitution bench, clearly dejected after the premature end to his match. Norwegian head coach Ståle Solbakken defended the choice to substitute his star, noting “He was finished. Maybe I should have taken him out 10 minutes before. … He did everything he could.”

With the match tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes, Bellingham struck again in the third minute of extra time, slotting home the go-ahead goal that would seal the win for England. When the final whistle blew, Bellingham locked arms with Kane as the thousands of England fans in attendance sang The Beatles’ iconic “Hey Jude” in tribute to the match-winner.

With the win, England, the 1966 World Cup champions who have carried relentless pressure to return to the tournament final this year, advance to the semifinal round where they will face Argentina. Bellingham now sits level with Kane on six tournament goals, just two goals behind shared leaders Kylian Mbappé of France and Lionel Messi of Argentina, and one behind Haaland. This is Bellingham’s second consecutive two-goal performance, after he netted twice to guide England past co-host Mexico in the round of 16.

In the aftermath of the win, the England camp saw a public disagreement between head coach Thomas Tuchel and Bellingham over the team’s performance. Tuchel opened his post-match interview with Fox Sports by acknowledging the quality of reaching the final four, but made clear his dissatisfaction: “We made life very, very difficult for ourselves today. The result is fantastic… but I’m not happy with the performance in every sense.” He later clarified in his official press conference that he was proud of the squad’s ability to battle through adversity, but stood by his critique, adding “I think we can play faster. I think we can play more clinical.”

Bellingham pushed back on the assessment, pointing to the grueling conditions that shaped the match. “Well, whatever,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s difficult out there. It’s a tough shift. My thoughts and appreciation goes to the players out there who put in a great shift.” He also highlighted the mental resilience that carried England through the test: “For me, the biggest one is psychological and how you can manage setbacks, how you can manage adversity. This team showed yet again that they can do it and that’s a really valuable skill and trait to have.”

For Norway, the defeat brings an end to a breakout World Cup run that captured global attention, marked by the team’s viral “Viking row” celebration and the magnetic charisma of Haaland. This is the first time the Nordic nation has ever reached the World Cup quarterfinals, marking a historic milestone for the program even as their run ends one step short of the final four.

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — When the final World Cup quarterfinal kicks off Saturday night at Arrowhead Stadium, two teams separated by decades of footballing prestige and history will face off for a spot in the tournament’s final four. Defending World Cup champions Argentina enter the match as undeniable favorites, fielding a star-studded squad led by Lionel Messi — widely hailed as the greatest player of his generation — alongside elite attacking talents like Lautaro Martinez and Julián Alvarez.

Standing in their way is Switzerland, a side that has defied expectations to reach this stage, and enters the matchup as one of the tournament’s biggest underdogs. On paper, the contrast could not be starker: Argentina claims three World Cup titles and a global legacy of footballing excellence, while Switzerland has never advanced past the quarterfinal round, with their last appearance in this stage of the tournament dating back to 1954, when they fell to Austria as tournament hosts.

Yet Argentine fans and pundits alike have been reminded repeatedly in this tournament that no victory is guaranteed, even for the sport’s most dominant sides. La Albiceleste already scraped past a stubborn Cape Verde side earlier in the competition, and just days ago needed a dramatic late comeback from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Egypt in the round of 16, with Messi equalizing in the 83rd minute before Enzo Fernández scored a stoppage-time winner. That history of hard-fought wins has given Switzerland, which knocked out Colombia on penalties to earn this quarterfinal spot, quiet confidence that they can pull off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.

“We know Argentina has many fine qualities. Few talk about the Swiss qualities,” Swiss captain and defensive midfielder Granit Xhaka told reporters Friday. “Tomorrow we will talk on the pitch, and we will show what we can do, and everything else doesn’t matter.”

Defender Manuel Akanji echoed that sentiment, acknowledging the magnitude of the challenge while emphasizing his side’s readiness to compete. “It’s obviously a very tough challenge, but I think we’re ready. I think we can play against any opponent and make it hard for them,” Akanji said. “We know it’s going to be difficult but we’re going to give our best.”

Switzerland’s path to an upset runs through their stout defensive structure, which has conceded just three goals across five matches in the tournament. The side held Colombian star Luis Díaz scoreless across 120 minutes of play in the round of 16, and the full responsibility of containing Messi will fall to Xhaka, Akanji, Remo Freuler, Nico Elvedi and goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Even Xhaka admits that shutting down the Argentine icon for a full 90 minutes is nearly unachievable, but says his side has a clear gameplan to limit his impact.

“I don’t know that we can stop him over 90 minutes. It’s going to be difficult,” Xhaka said. “But we have to be smart, compact, close the gaps and not give him too many spaces. We just try to play our game.”

For Argentina, momentum is firmly on their side. La Albiceleste carries an 11-match World Cup unbeaten streak dating back to the 2022 Qatar tournament, and has scored multiple goals in every one of those wins — a streak that ties with Uruguay for the longest in World Cup history.

Messi, who notched a hat trick against Algeria in an earlier group stage match at Arrowhead Stadium, remains locked in a tight race for the tournament’s Golden Boot. He enters Saturday’s match level with France’s Kylian Mbappe on eight goals, and has extended his all-time record to 21 career World Cup goals, including at least one goal in a record six consecutive knockout matches. Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said Messi’s consistent brilliance makes him an irreplaceable role model for the rest of the squad.

“Especially for those players on the bench, the players who watch Lionel Messi play and can’t believe what they’re watching — he should be a role model for them,” Scaloni said. “He tries again and again, and I get goosebumps.”

In terms of injury news, Argentina enters the match fully healthy, but Switzerland will be without key midfielder Johan Manzabi, who remains sidelined with a knee injury. The SC Freiburg star scored twice in a 4-1 group stage win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, and head coach Murat Yakin said the entire squad has missed his presence and energy. “We tried everything we could to get him back in peak form,” Yakin said. “Momentum was on his side, and there was so much joy when he plays, and he has his teammates by his side. Everything worked out so well for him until now.”

One variable that will not impact the match is extreme Kansas City weather, which has been a persistent concern for tournament organizers amid summer heat indexes regularly topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit and severe storm activity across the American Heartland. Forecasters predict favorable conditions for kickoff, with temperatures around 88 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) and only a minimal chance of rain.

The match has also drawn pre-game attention to the officiating, after multiple high-profile refereeing decisions sparked debate throughout the tournament. In a break from standard protocol, which usually sees FIFA appoint referees from confederations unrelated to both competing teams to avoid bias, Portuguese referee João Pinheiro — a member of UEFA, the same confederation as Switzerland — will take charge of Saturday’s match.

The winner of the clash will advance to a semifinal spot next Wednesday in Atlanta, where they will face off against the winner of the quarterfinal between Norway and England for a place in the World Cup final.

DETROIT – For 26-year-old catcher Eduardo Valencia, Thursday night at Comerica Park was more than just a long-awaited Major League Baseball debut. It was a history-making, emotion-filled moment that extended beyond the diamond, dedicated to his family and a nation reeling from devastating disaster. Called up from the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens just hours before first pitch, Valencia became the 10th player in Detroit Tigers franchise history to hit a home run in his first career plate appearance, powering the team to a 4-1 win over the Oakland Athletics and cementing a three-game series sweep.

The opportunity for Valencia’s promotion opened unexpectedly when Tigers All-Star catcher Dillon Dingler was sidelined by a bruised right hand, clearing a spot for the eight-year minor league veteran on the big league roster. Entering as a pinch hitter for outfielder Kerry Carpenter in the seventh inning against Oakland reliever Hogan Harris, Valencia connected on a 425-foot blast to center field, rounding out the scoring for Detroit and sending the home crowd into a roar.

In a post-game on-field interview with the Tigers’ broadcast team, Valencia struggled to contain his emotion, his voice cracking with tears as he reflected on the years of grind that led to the milestone. “I was waiting a lot for this, for my family, for Venezuela and I’m so excited,” he said, describing his approach at the plate: “I was just thinking, like, I was trying to hit for contact. Get a good pitch, just be the most calm that I can do it. I was so excited.”

A native of Valencia, Venezuela, Valencia made the meaning of the moment clear as he celebrated around the bases. After connecting, he pointed to the sky, pounded his chest, and gestured a heart toward his wife, who was in the stands waiting to share a victory embrace on the field after the final out. His parents were unable to travel from Venezuela for the debut, and Valencia made sure to dedicate his historic hit to the entire Venezuelan people, who are still recovering from a rare double earthquake that struck the country on June 24. The disaster has killed at least 920 people, injured more than 3,300, and left hundreds more missing and presumed dead.

“This is for all Venezuela people,” Valencia said. “They gave me everything.”

Valencia’s historic debut marks the first time a Tigers player has homered in their first big league at-bat since outfielder Akil Baddoo achieved the same feat on April 4, 2021. Signed by the Tigers as an 18-year-old prospect back in 2018, Valencia spent more than eight seasons climbing the ranks of the club’s minor league system, appearing in 439 minor league games before earning his first call-up. He only reached the Triple-A level last year, notching 50 games with Toledo in 2023 before posting 76 appearances with the club this season ahead of his promotion.
After his historic home run, Valencia stayed in the game as Detroit’s designated hitter, and was hit by a pitch in his second plate appearance. Following the final out, his jubilant teammates celebrated the milestone by dousing him with a cooler of water as the remaining home crowd cheered. Still overwhelmed by the moment, Valencia summed up the experience simply: “I mean, this is so exciting. I’m just trying to help the team to win. … I was waiting a lot of time for this moment. It’s so exciting. … I can’t talk right now.”