Julián Álvarez steps up as Argentina escape Swiss scare to reach World Cup semis

Julián Álvarez stepped out of Lionel Messi's shadow to deliver a moment of magic, firing Argentina into the FIFA World Cup semifinals. His thunderous strike from outside the box in the 112th minute curled into the top-right corner, breaking the resolve of a 10-man Swiss side and giving Argentina a crucial 2-1 lead.

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And then he let loose a thunderous strike from outside the box that curled, dipped and sailed into the top-right corner of the net.

Lautaro Martínez sealed the victory with a third goal in the dying moments, securing a 3-1 win and Argentina's place in the final four for the seventh time. The celebrations that followed were a mix of relief and elation, with players joining fans in song and dance, a step closer to their dream of defending the World Cup title.

However, Argentina has been made to fight for every inch in this tournament. Their knockout stage matches have been nail-biting affairs. After a spirited performance from Cape Verde in the Round of 32, which Argentina eventually won 3-2 in extra time, they faced Egypt in the Round of 16. Egypt led 2-0 before a vintage Messi performance inspired a comeback with three goals in the final 12 minutes for a dramatic 3-2 win.

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Alvarez had made it 2-1 for Argentina in the 112th minute, knocking the wind out of the 10-man Swiss sails.

Against Switzerland, the narrative shifted as the Swiss managed to keep Messi relatively quiet for large parts of the game. This put pressure on the rest of the squad to provide inspiration. Alexis Mac Allister, who plays for Liverpool, opened the scoring for Argentina with a header from a Messi corner, showcasing a routine perfected in training. Mac Allister has been lauded as one of the world's best midfielders.

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Messi did have a contribution in the opening goal of the game, though. He played a perfect cross from a corner, and Alexis Mac Allister made a darting run forward and glanced his header accurately to put Argentina ahead.

Switzerland had started the match as the stronger team, controlling possession and creating chances. But Mac Allister's goal provided Argentina with the impetus they needed. Despite the close calls and the team's tendency to rely heavily on Messi, their resilience and the emergence of other key players like Álvarez and Mac Allister have kept their World Cup aspirations alive.

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This is the same Mac Allister who plies his trade for Liverpool, and who was rated as one of the three best midfielders in the world today by former England star Steven Gerrard.