Argentina and Lionel Messi head to World Cup semifinals after extra time victory vs. Switzerland

This one is Lautaro Martinez after a rebound went into Switzerland's net, and that's the game. 

Argentina needed something special, and it came from someone other than Messi as Julian Alvarez hit an absolute curler of a shot to put them ahead in extra time.

Still, the advantage is to Switzerland, who are happy to see the clock tick down as they want to force penalties. 

It's not going according to plan right now as Messi's free kick strikes the wall, and there's only a minute remaining in the first period of extra time.

The Argentine midfielder hits the side netting as another chance goes wide for Argentina as extra time winds on.

Argentina have only had two shots on target during the entire match, and they'll now try to avoid penalties.

Argentina had a corner, but Switzerland were able to save it as we're inching closer to 30 minutes of free soccer in Kansas City.

Only seven minutes remain in regulation, and Gregor Kobel was able to make an important save to keep things level as Lautaro Martinez enters the match.

After a VAR review, Breel Embolo was sent off for simulation and picking up a second yellow card. While some may feel that Argentina are getting the benefit of the doubt, this was a scenario where the yellow for simulation had to happen.

It's Ndoye who scores as Switzerland puts together a much better counter attack, and Argentina's struggles continue defending down the wings.

It's a chance to score a goal that led to a broken counterattack, and a corner kick that couldn't be converted. Switzerland are running out of time.

It's time for a rethink for Switzerland, but as we enter the second half, Argentina are still pushing the pace of the game.

Alexis Mac Allister's header still separates the sides as this game has been balanced, but that will favor Argentina.

It's probably 80-20 of Argentine fans to Swiss ones in Kansas City and it shows as it has been a sleepy start for the Swiss. While theres' s still openings for Swizerland to attack, they've been unable to take them so far.

A water break is coming, and while Switzerland has the majority of possession, a rethink is needed because they need to come out of their shell to break down Argentina.

It's Alexis Mac Allister who scores from a corner kick, and Argentina leads within 10 minutes of the game, this could get out of hand.

Switzerland are trying to push the pace in the early going they have two shots, but none are on target yet.

The teams are on the pitch, and we're ready to go in this match.

Argentina's attacking pressure will be enough to break down Switzerland without needing 120 minutes to do so. If Manzambi were healthy, this may go differently, but Switzerland won't be dynamic enough going forward to keep Argentina at bay, ultimately losing. Score: Argentina 2, Switzerland 1

Ricardo Rodriguez is in, and this is the lineup that will be tasked with stopping Messi.

Switzerland XI: Gregor Kobel, Ricardo Rodriguez, Manuel Akanji, Nico Elvedi, Denis Zakaria, Djibril Sow, Granit Xhaka, Remo Freuler, Ruben Vargas, Breel Embolo, Dan Ndoye

Julián Álvarez  is back in the XI

Argentina XI: Emiliano Martínez, Nicolás Tagliafico, Lisandro Martínez, Cristian Romero, Nahuel Molina, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez

Messi has aged like a fine wine, being the joint top scorer in this World Cup alongside Kylian Mbappe with eight goals and an assist so far during this tournament. Argentina have been tormented down the wings, but none of it has mattered as Messi has pulled them back no matter what has happened. There are limits to that prowess, and that's where Kobel and the Swiss defense come into play. No one has been able to stop Messi, but Switzerland hasn't been a team that will go into a defensive panic late in a game, which, if Argentina go behind early yet again, will make it tougher to come back.

At least one of Julian Alvarez or Lautaro Martinez will need to join Messi in the attack if Argentina are to win this World Cup, and while they did find the back of the net during the group stage, the attack has been Messi-powered during the knockouts so far, which can only go on for so long as the opposition gets tougher by the game.

Argentina have delivered instant classic after instant classic during this World Cup. The group stage was a walk in the park, topping Group J with a perfect nine points from three games, while only conceding one goal. But in the knockouts, Argentina needed heroics to get past Cabo Verde in the round of 32, forcing an 111th-minute own goal to avoid a penalty shootout. That ramped up in the round of 16 against Egypt. Trailing 2-0 after the 67th minute of play, Argentina scored in the 79th, the 83rd, and the 93rd minutes of play to advance out of the round. It's plenty of fire for Argentina to deal with, but that's the level of inevitability that a team is afforded when they have Messi. Switzerland will be working uphill in this one.

On the Swiss side, winning their group over host nation Canada earned them a favorable draw in the round of 32. They took care of Algeria with a standard 2-0 victory but then got pitted against Colombia in the round of 16. Once there, the defense took over, pitching a shutout despite facing a high-powered attack, and they kept their steel in extra time to win a penalty shootout.

It has been a while since these two have met, but this will actually be their third World Cup meeting. Argentina last faced Switzerland during the round of 16 in Brazil. That game was deadlocked for 90 minutes despite Argentina taking 20 shots during regulation, but in extra time, the Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria connection struck to send Argentina through to the next round. Messi marched towards the box and laid off a low ball to Di Maria, who used his signature left foot to place a low shot into the far side of the goal for the 1-0 win in one of the most iconic goals of the Argentina national team. 

Messi and Xhaka were both in the starting lineup for that game, and 12 years later, they'll both be expected to start and play large roles in this match.

Argentina predicted XI: Emiliano Martinez, Facundo Medina, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez

Switzerland predicted XI: Gregor Kobel, Miro Muheim, Manuel Akanji, Nico Elvedi, Denis Zakaria, Djibril Sow, Granit Xhaka, Remo Freuler, Ruben Vargas, Breel Embolo, Dan Ndoye

Date: Saturday, July 11 | Time: 9 p.m. ET
Location: Arrowhead Stadium -- Kansas City, Missouri
TV: Fox (Eng), Telemundo (Spa) | Live stream: Fubo (Try for free)
Odds: Argentina -143; Draw +260; Switzerland +450

In what could be his final World Cup appearance, Lionel Messi continues to perform better than ever as he looks to push Argentina to back-to-back titles. With eight goals and an assist, only Kylian Mbappe has matched Messi's goal output so far during this tournament as he's doing everything he can to keep Argentina moving forward.