There was an explosion of euphoria from Buenos Aires to Bangladesh — Saturday night or Sunday morning, depending on where you sat. The dream of an Argentinian ‘repeat’ was still alive as Julian Alvarez’s curler deep into extra-time beat Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel’s outstretched hands to find the far corner. One more was added by Lautaro Martinez in added on-time and the 3-1 win set up a grudge semifinal against England which will have famous historic undercurrents.But just as the Three Lions’ German coach Thomas Tuchel said that “they were lucky to have won” against Norway, the Argentina die-hards, too, will know deep down that they had an escape.Argentina had taken a 10th minute lead, courtesy an Alexis Mac Allister header from a Messi corner, but the second half started on a completely different note. The Swiss started bossing the midfield as the Argentine defence kept falling back. And when the equalizer by winger Dan Ndoye, 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 had kept it late, but were never second-best on the field. But in Dallas, for 20 minutes of the second half, the defending champions seemed to be chasing shadows against a welldrilled European unit.It lasted till the brain-fade moment of Swiss striker Embolo in the 72nd minute that all brought it down for the European team, playing its first World Cup quarterfinal since 1954. Already on a yellow, Embolo unnecessarily threw himself to the ground, trying to extract a card for Leandro Paredes, but VAR identified the simulation that led to his expulsion.He was distraught, the Swiss were stunned, social media went berserk, but it couldn’t be denied that by the letter of the law. It was simulation on Embolo’s part and the Portuguese referee was within his rights to give him the marching orders.The game completely changed after that. For the Swiss, it was a matter of survival for close to 50 minutes with 10 men, as they defended with two lines of four. Argentina attacked alright, but this phase of play wasn’t exactly inspiring from their point of view either.The passing was slow, the crosses unimaginative, and even Leo Messi, by his own galactic standards, was having a bit of an off-day. He missed one sitter which was adjudged offside but would have been overturned by VAR, while another right-footer after dropping his shoulders missed the mark by a whisker. Beyond that, there wasn’t much to write home about as Manuel Akanji & Co. defended the Argentine attacks with a degree of ease.But then, it always helps when there’s magic dust of talent up your sleeve. There’s a reason why a bidding war is going on between top European clubs led by FC Barcelona for Alvarez, who is tipped to take the place of the outgoing Polish poacher Robert Lewandowski for the Catalan giants after the World Cup.A strike so pure in quality, the 26-year-old combined power and precision as the Trionda whistled through evening air and hit the back of Kobel’s net. While it was a first in this World Cup 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 that’s 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 open defences. And it’s a given that not an inch will be given to Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday. There’s also a small matter of a 40-year-old hurt and the English may well like to believe a revenge on Messi’s Argentina will finally bury the ghosts of the ‘Hand of God’ that has haunted them for generations.
