Welcome to FourFourTwo's live coverage of Argentina vs Switzerland.
We will have team news, live updates and everything in between from the game at Kansas City Stadium where Lionel Messi is expected to be centre stage once again.
World Cup Golden Boot Race
- Kylian Mbappe (8 goals)
- Lionel Messi (8 goals)
- Erling Haaland (7 goals)
- Harry Kane (6 goals)
Expect that all to change by the end of play this evening. Where these four go, goals will follow.
Background
The last time Switzerland reached a World Cup quarter-final was in 1954, when we'll assume most of you reading this weren't around.
Since then, the Swiss had made the Round of 16 on five occasions but always bowed out. Not this time.
Argentina, meanwhile, are eyeing a fourth World Cup title to go level with Germany and Italy and one behind South American neighbours Brazil.
Not since 1962 has a country won back-to-back World Cups, when Brazil were triumphant in Chile. Argentina have the opportunity to put that right, but only if they make it past Switzerland first.
Now then
After all the drama of disallowed goals, camera cables, penalties overturned, and extra time winners in the earlier kick-off (can't remember who played), we're sure that this one is going to be all very straightforward.
Hmmm. Maybe not. Argentina needed back-to-back 3-2 wins to get to this game, after all: the first against a Cape Verde side who twice came back from behind to force the game to extra time, and then against Egypt, against whom Argentina were the ones who went behind only to mount a remarkable late comeback.
Switzerland did at least take a pretty routine win over Algeria in the round of 32 - but their cagey goalless draw against Colombia ended in the only penalty shootout of the round of 16.
We've not had one in the quarter-finals so far. Is tonight the night?
The team news
Our starting line-ups for tonight are as follows.
Argentina: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Leandro Paredes; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez
Switzerland: Gregor Kobel; Denis Zakaria, Nico Elvedi, Manuel Akanji, Ricardo Rodriguez; Remo Freuler, Granit Xhaka; Dan Ndoye, Fabian Rieder, Djibril Sow; Breel Embolo
Expectation vs freedom?
Make no mistake that the pressure is all on Argentina in this one.
The reigning World Champions drew a familiarly dubious response to their last two victories, with the Argentinian press - and many fans - feeling that they should be better than eking out tense 3-2 victories over Cape Verde and Egypt.
But this is already the further Switzerland have made it at a World Cup since they hosted it in 1954 - and the tournament went straight to the quarter-finals straight from the group stage in those days.
They're not to be underestimated though. Don't forget that they knocked out the reigning champions at the Euros two years ago before taking England to penalties.
Seeded semis
This is the first World Cup in which FIFA seeded the knockout stage in any way.
It was a subtle little move: if all of the top four ranking sides won their groups, they would be guaranteed to be kept apart until at least the semi-finals.
Those four teams? France, Spain, England...and Argentina.
Three out of four so far. Are we going to get a complete set?
Small mercies
ITV are playing footage of the Argentinian commentator reacting to Enzo Fernandez's winner against Egypt.
Say what you will about Sam Matterface, but every time we see a clip from South America we are eternally grateful to live in a football culture that does not involve commentators going "GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOOOOOOL".
Shut up and go away.
Key man missing for the Swiss
Switzerland have long had a well-earned reputation for being a functional but pretty low-scoring side. They scored just five goals in four games at each of the last two World Cups, and eight in five games at the last two Euros.
They reached nine goals in just four games at this tournament, though, before reverting to type in that goalless draw against Colombia last time out.
Cape Verde and Egypt have already shown that Argentina can be got at. Unfortunately, the player best-placed to do that, Johan Manzambi, is ruled out of this game with a knee injury.
The 20-year-old midfielder has been one of the breakout stars of this tournament so far with three goals and two assists, and his direct running has been a massive weapon for Switzerland.
Two-goal Ruben Vargas has meanwhile been playing through an injury he picked up before the tournament. He came off the bench against Colombia after having a bit of a setback, eventually scoring the winning penalty, and is among the subs again tonight.
Got your sunglasses on, Andros Townsend?
Get your boiled eggs and all?
OK good.
KICK OFF
We're under way in Kansas City! All under the watchful eye of the original Smackdown titantron.
3 - Bright start from Switzerland
The Swiss have had a go up the left side twice in the first three minutes, and they are pressing Argentina nice and high - they just repelled them back from the edge of the Switzerland third all the way to Emiliano Martinez.
They certainly don't look to be playing for a nil-nil here.
6 - Not Sow good
Switzerland on the attack again and they just need a good cross from Sow at the end of it, but his ball is poor. Argentina clear.
Switzerland come again, but Xhaka ends up putting a half volley well off target. Xhaka, when the walls fell.
10 - Argentina corner
First threat from the world champions, and Mac Allister's shot is deflected out for a corner..
10 - GOAL Argentina! 1-0
Easy as that!
Messi goes over to take the corner, straight onto Mac Allister's head, lovely looping header to the far post, keeper no chance.
Advantage Argentina!
17 - Taking it easy
As you might expect, it's been all safety-first rom Argentina since that goal. They're just inviting the Swiss swarm in the press to try and tire Switzerland out.
It's currently 29 degrees in the Kansas City evening, so probably not a bad idea. That's 85 degrees Fahrenheit, if you're a massive wrong'un. "Ooh I eschew the metric system". Grow up.
20 - Reap what you Sow
A pretty comfortable save for Martinez as Sow tries his luck from distance. Straight at him. If anything he's hit it too well, as they say.
22 - Delighted to report...
...that Javier Zanetti still looks exactly the same and still has the same haircut.
A reassuring pillar of consistency in this fast-paced ever-changing world of ours.
23 - Drinkypoos
What's more irritating: hydration breaks, or commentators still making wry remarks about hydration breaks?
It's the latter. Has been since around six days in to the tournament. It's 29 degrees lads, come on. Or 84 Fahrenheit, if you're the kind of person who still insists on such things. "Ooh I'm American, it's all I know, Celsius just feels wrong". Embrace the human capacity for growth mate.
Sorry for saying 'drinkypoos', by the way.
27 - Sow's ear
Sow jumps over a low ball into the box, thinking he has a teammate better placed behind him. He does not.
32 - Double chance!
Embolo tries to get onto a through ball, but can't quite get there.
Argentina break through Molina, but Switzerland win it back and quickly go to Embolo again. He beats his man to get into the box, but Martinez is out off his line to smother his shot! Ndoye then commits a foul trying to win it back.
Switzerland looking the more likely to score the next goal at the moment. That Mac Allister goal was totally against the run of play so far.
35 - Switzerland corner
In from Rieder on the left, but headed away. Rieder then wins a foul on the touchline as he tries to get past Julian Alvarez. Free kick in a crossing position.
Rieder delivers again, Martinez with a massive punch that sends it 30 yards from goal.
42 - Another Switzerland free kick
Paredes scythes down Ndoye out on the left wing. Free kick in a crossing position again. Freuler looking at this one alongside Rieder.
In from Freuler...and that is a dreadful delivery. Curls it straight behind for a goal kick. There looked to be a Swiss foul in the middle anyway, but still.
Messi is having an angry word with the referee over something. Not sure what.
44 - Ooh now
There's a flare-up in tempers here as Embolo goes right through the back of Paredes with a late challenge. Yellow card.
45+3 - Sow unnecessary
Another bad challenge there are Sow gets in late on Tagliafico. No card, but a free kick and a chance for Messi to cross.
He goes short instead, and Argentina go back to halfway twice before keeping possession there.
Think that tells us a bit about their intentions. They just want to get to the break with their lead intact.
HALF TIME: Argentina 1-0 Switzerland
Argentina haven't been much good. Switzerland have been on top almost throughout. But Mac Allister's 10th-minute header from Messi's corner is the difference at the break.
Right. Let's get this off my chest
Let's talk about that car advert where Peter Crouch is sent out to get milk and forgets because he just loves the car so much. Only it turns out he didn't forget: he intentionally left the milk in the car so he could go out again!
Two things.
We're in a heatwave, Peter. I wouldn't be leaving milk in a hot car for any length of time. And presumably, you have had to go to the shop, park up, run in and get the milk. Why bother if you're going to go back out in the car anyway? Just get it from the shop on the second run.
Second: the bottle is of the kind that I have only ever seen delivered by milkmen, around 25 years ago: the classic milk bottle style with the foil top. Where is he going to buy that? Farm shop maybe I guess? But that just makes going out of his way to get it on the first run even worse.
Is Peter Crouch nicking milk from his neighbours' doorsteps? Does Abbey Clancy endorse it, or does she just not know what normal milk looks like?
And, once again: if he's nicking it from doorsteps, in summer, in this weather, and he's pilfering it during the day when the other shops depicted in the advert are open...that is going to be some sour, horrible milk.
None of this adds up. None of it. Get Peter Crouch on the phone. I need explanations.
Just realised
Starting the last entry with "let me get this off my chest" and then proceeding to talk about the mysterious origins of Peter Crouch's left-field milk was probably not a good mental image for anyone. Sorry.
SECOND HALF
We're back under way in Kansas City. Argentina still 1-0 ahead. Obviously, like, but just to orient those who have just joined us and didn't scroll past the Peter Crouch milk screed.
48 - Switzerland free kick
Rieder delivers from the right...straight to Emi Martinez. Too easy.
Switzerland have had plenty of chances to take advantage from set pieces, but their deliveries have generally been rotten.
50 - MASSIVE chance! MASSIVE challenge!
Switzerland carve Argentina open with a raking pass to Embolo, who is played onside by Lisandro Martinez. Embolo takes control, enters the box, squares to Ndoye, just needs to put it past Emi Martinez...but he waits for the ball to come to him, giving Lisandro Martinez JUST enough time to sprint over and dive in with a perfect sliding tackle to make the block!
54 - A bit of intent from Argentina
In the past few minutes, Enzo Fernandez has headed a corner over the bar and Switzerland have had to defend their box a couple more times from open play.
Better from them, finally. Maybe they do want a second goal after all.
56 - Man down
Paredes has gone down holding his knee after helping to defend a Swiss attack - blocked an Ndoye shot and got caught in the follow-through.
Ndoye should have done better again there. It was a lovely cross from Sow, touched down nicely by Xhaka, but the Nottingham Forest man took an age to decide what he was going to do with it to allow the tackle to come. Again.
60 - Save
Switzerland at it again. Rodriguez gets up the left and puts in a well-placed cross, but there's not much pace on it - so despite Embolo making good contact to steer it just inside the width of the post, it's a pretty routine diving save for Martinez.
65 - Bigger save!
Switzerland STILL pushing. Good cross from the left, solid header from Ndoye - but Martinez gets across well to save!
66 - And another for Martinez
Xhaka tries his luck from distance, and being Xhaka it's very powerfully hit to the bottom corner - but Martinez is down well to parry it out and then claim the loose ball.
67 - GOAL SWITZERLAND! 1-1
It's been coming! All it needed was a finish! And Ndoye provides it!
It's a lovely move, too. Nodye get it out wide, plays a one-two off Rodriguez at the corner of the box, receives the return pass at a narrow angle, and catches Emi Martinez off-guard with a near-post finish!
Megs, and all! Lovely stuff.
Big moment for Switzerland
This was the goal that made it 1-1.
Oh, but hold on...play has gone on over the past few minutes, but there could be a red card here...
71 - RED CARD - Breel Embolo (Switzerland)
Embolo just did the world's most obvious dive, and Paredes was booked for the 'foul'.
But that yellow card allowed VAR to step in on grounds of mistaken identity. The referee has a look, and Embolo gets booked for the dive instead...his second of the game...and that means red!
Wow. Thicko deluxe.
73 - Off in tears
You could hear the Swiss players shouting "no, no!" after the referee announced that Embolo would be booked, knowing the red was coming.
The forward has left the pitch in tears. He knows exactly what he has done.
75 - "Was it a dive?"
Insightful stuff from Andros Townsend on ITV. He thinks it was not a dive but "an attempt to initiate contact with a defender".
It was a dive, Andros. Save your ridiculous theories for your Instagram, egg man.
80 - Final ten minutes
We had the hydration break after that red card, and now Argentina suddenly feel like they can take a bit of impetus at last.
Be interesting to see how this one goes. Switzerland have noticeably slowed things down - whether that's an attempt to see it out and try for penalties, or just them needing to work harder to find the angles, who knows.
85 - Messi denied!
Paredes plays a ball over the top for Messi, who only has Kobel to beat! Messi tries to sit him down and dink it over him, but Kobel calls it exactly right and stays upright to make an easy stop! Basically an open-play Panenka fail, that.
The flag was up for offside against Messi, but the replays strongly suggest that decision was wrong and he was in fact onside - VAR would have allowed it to stand had he scored.
87 - Subs
Montiel and Lautaro Martinez on for Argentina, in place of Molina and De Paul.
Amdouni, Muheim and Widmer on for Switzerland, in place of Ndoye, Rieder and Sow.
89 - Over the bar!
Gonzalez does very well to keep an overhit cross in play and put it straight back across the six yard box for Mac Allister - but he puts his header off target!
There was a Swiss boot in there too, and he says it should be a corner. Ref says no. Think that's the right call.
Added time
Nine minutes added. 1-1. Switzerland down to ten men.
Nervy nervy stuff for all concerned.
90+2 - Close!
Messi goes left and then right, sending Xhaka to the wrong fire, before shooting right-footed from 22 yards...but it's a foot or so wide of the post!
Yeah that's right, we too deny the metric system when it suits us. What you going to do about it?
90+5 - Famous last words...
Xhaka has, on the whole, done an excellent job keeping Messi out of this game. He just won another challenge just outside the box to stop him from bursting through on goal.
90+8 - Argentina corner
Messi from the left, whipped in, past everyone at the near post, Lisandro Martinez meets it with a bicycle kick, kept out!
That's a great save from Kobel, who was going the wrong way and had to come back on himself to dive, unsighted, down to the bottom corner and push it away.
Seconds left now before extra time.
END OF 90 MINUTES
Argentina concede a free kick on the edge of the Switzerland box to end their push for a late winner, and that's all the time we have.
Extra time then.
Almada is on for Enzo Fernandez.
'Soccer'
Two betting ads just now both doing the 'it's football, not soccer' bit.
These are the finest creative minds in the advertising industry, during one of the biggest campaigns in their calendar. Think on that for a moment.
Peter Crouch involved again in one of them, by the way.
EXTRA TIME
The additional 30 minutes are under way, with Argentina straight on the attack. And they have a corner.
91 - Argentina corner
Messi delivers from the right...no, short, then the cross is blocked before Alvarez puts it off target. Goal kick.
93 - Save
The fresh legs of Almada play off Messi to get into a crowded box and shoot, but it's pretty bread and butter for Kobel. Or whatever the Swiss equivalent of bread and butter is. Toblerone and a permissive taxation policy?
95 - Side netting!
Almada has looked very bright since coming on, and he gets a ROAR out of the crowd as his shot finds the net! ... but the wrong side of the net. Clipped the rear edge of the post as it hit the side netting.
Sad lack of "WAAAHEEEEEEY!" from the Swiss fans, and now we want Argentina to win as a result.
98 - Subs, yellow cards
Jashari and Comert are on for Zakaria and Rodriguez for Switzerland.
Then Almada and Lautaro Martinez both go in the book in quick succession.
Nobody in an Argentina shirt at risk of a suspension against England tonight, though. Shame.
102 - Free kick
Messi gets absolutely clattered by Amdouni, and his teammate starts to play advantage before remembering Messi is quite good at free kicks from 31 yards, so he stops and asks for the free kick instead. Given.
And he hits the wall. Just not going for Messi tonight.
104 - Argentina injury worry
Nico Gonzalez only came on in the 78th minute, so no reason he should go down with Argentina in possession unless he is hurt.
And yes, he was caught with a nasty one on the ankle by the follow-through on a Jashari tackle - not a foul, but will have been sore.
Gonzalez is back up and trying to run it off.
105+1 - Yeah might be alright
Messi puts in a cross to the back post, and Gonzalez is up to head it back blindly across the box, but it's nobody there to finish it off. He's still limping, though.
Argentina have a corner in the dying seconds of this first period of extra time. MEssi hurries up to take it, Romero heads it off target.
HALF TIME IN EXTRA TIME
All Argentina there, as you might expect at 10 vs 11. But no goals; still 1-1.
If we don't get a goal in the next 15 minutes it's going to penalties. Obviously. You didn't need telling that. Sorry.
SECOND HALF OF EXTRA TIME
On comes Nicolas Otamendi for Romero. To answer your next two questions: 38 and River Plate. Hey that rhymes!
107 - Switzerland free kick
Switzerland get a chance to cross from deep on the left, and it's absolutely hammered low towards the six yard box - but Argentina get it away.
112 - Save!
Meesi tries his luck again, but Kobel denies him again!
Argentina come again...
112 - GOAL ARGENTINA! 2-1
Surely they've just won it! And what a goal to win it! Julian Alvarez!
The Atletico Madrid striker receives it just outside the corner of the box, sets himself with a touch inside, sees the far top corner as he does so, and curls it right into that postage stamp spot!
Beautiful strike.
And celebrate he might
Scenes for Argentina. Heartbreak for Switzerland. They only have a few minutes left to get back in this game with ten men.
119 - Switzerland free kick
Xhaka to deliver from the left. Last chance?
Awful delivery. Easily cleared.
119 - Argentina corner
Messi has one left chance to score for a tenth World Cup game in a row after hitting Switzerland on the break with a run from the halfway line, but his shot is blocked.
Messi takes it short, receives it back, doesn't care at all that he is offside.
Andros Townsend laughs in disbelief. "Lionel Messi, offside from a corner!"
They do it on purpose, Lynn.
120+1 - GOAL ARGENTINA! 3-1
Switzerland have no choice but to throw everyone forward, but Argentina get them on the break again - and this time they finish it off!
Only just, though. Alvarez nicks it off Xhaka, Argntina get three on one, Almada beats his man Kober is out to smother his shot, but the rebound rolls straight to Lautaro Martinez - empty net, easy finish. 3-1!
120+4 - Still playing
Four minutes went up on the fourth official's board just before that goal, and there will be a little bit more than that now...but not much. Around 90 seconds to play, I imagine.
FULL TIME: Argentina 3-1 Switzerland
Argentina are into the semi-finals, and England await them!
Switzerland were much the better side when it was 11 vs 11, despite going behind early to Alexis Max Allister's header and deserved their equaliser - but Breel Embolo's stupid red card five minutes later cost them dear in the end.
A brilliant goal from Julian Alvarez turned it in Argentina's favour in extra time, before Lautaro Martinez polished things off with that goal on the break.
So then
We have our semi-finals - and it's none other than the four top seeds.
France will play Spain on Tuesday in Dallas (well, Arlington, but unless you live in Arlington, who cares). 2pm local time, 8pm UK time.
Then it's England vs Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday. 3pm local time, but again that's 8pm UK time.
Big things. Big big things.
That's all from us
Thanks for joining us! We're going to go and look around all the doorsteps on our street to see if the milkman has been yet.
