**_KEIR RADNEDGE in KANSAS CITY_**: Leo Messi, at 39, will come up against England for the first time in his trophy-laden career after Argentina staggered into the World Cup semi-finals with an extra-time dismissal of a resilient, 10-man Switzerland.
Goals from Alexis Mac Allister in the first half then finally Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez in the second half of extra time sent the world champions on to Atlanta and a match-up on Wednesday to revive angst-ridden memories of Wembley in 1966, Mexico City in 1986 and Saint-Etienne in 1998, not to mention group matches in 1962 and 2002. England lead 3-2 overall.
Alvarez’s magnificent strike alone would have been a worthy jewel to crown any World Cup tie.
Yet Switzerland, who earned the extra halfhour with a fine second-half goal from Dan Ndoye might have run Argentina even closer had Breel Embolo not been sent off toward the end of normal time after collecting, stupidly, a second yellow card for a dive.
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**_World champions back in the last four_**
Switzerland started surprisingly positively and possibly paid for their comparative daring by conceding a first corner and, from it, the opening goal. Inevitably Messi was the creator with a snappy curling kick which Mac Allister glanced inside the far post. So quick, so simple, so punishing.
One goal ahead, so soon, allowed Argentina, confident in their technical superiority and the goalkeeping security of Emi Martinez, to settle back and wait for the counter-attacking opportunities which they expected to come their way the longer the match ran on and the more anxious the Swiss became.
Arrogance proved costly in the 67th minute when Argentina allowed Ndoye to slice through them once too often on the left wing before stepping back off the byline to beat Martinez with a beautifully-judged cutback.
Switzerland’s increasing momentum was brought to a shuddering halt five minutes later when Embolo was sent off for a dive that drew an inevitable second yellow card. Initially Portuguese referee João Pedro Silva Pinheiro booked Leandro Paredes for a trip but, on being sent to the monitor, realised his mistake. Paredes had his card rescinded and Embolo, booked earlier for a foul on the same rival, was sent off in tears. He had only himself to blame.
Argentina swarmed around an iron-clad Swiss penalty area in their second extra time bout at these finals but it was not until the 112th minute that Alvarez strode in from the left and delivered a curling drive just within the left-hand angle of post and crossbar.
The Swiss had no option but to throw caution to the wind and leave defence and excellent keeper Gregor Kobel exposed. First Messi raced away to clip the outside of a post then Lautaro Martinez ran off on his own to score a third in the last minute.
Messi and his team-mates now face a race against time to be back at their best in Atlanta. History and the identity of the opposition should invigorate tired legs.
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