World Cup: England edges Norway 2-1, Argentina downs Switzerland 3-1 in extra time after Julián Álvarez wondergoal

What an epic morning.

After 240 minutes of football, England and Argentina become the final two sides to qualify for the semifinals, joining Spain and France in the final four.

It is the first time that the World Cup semifinals spots have been populated by the top four teams in the FIFA rankings.

We now have a couple days to catch our breath.

Then, it’s France vs Spain in the first semifinal on Wednesday at 5am AEST, before England and Argentina face off exactly 24 hours later.

Thank you so much for joining us today, and we hope to catch you back here in a couple days time.

What a mouthwatering prospect it is.

England and Argentina will face off for a place in the World Cup final in Atlanta, at 5am AEST on Thursday morning.

On the evidence of what we’ve seen this morning, I think England should be confident.

Although not at their complete best against Norway, they looked a lot more impressive than Argentina did in labouring to an extra-time victory over Switzerland.

Who do you think will progress to the tournament decider?

Argentina does enough to get the job done.

La Albiceleste create exactly 2 xG, compared with Switzerland’s 0.53.

Jubilation and relief for La Albiceleste at the final whistle.

Once again, it is far, far from convincing from Argentina.

But once again, La Albiceleste find a way to get the job done.

A stunning Julián Álvarez strike sends the South Americans through to a semifinal date with England.

It took until deep into extra-time for Argentina to go ahead against the ten men of Switzerland, with Alvarez brilliantly curling home from 30m out.

What a way to score your first goal of the tournament.

Lautaro Martinez then sealed the victory for Argentina, side-footing home with Switzerland committing bodies forward.

All of that came after the Swiss had the better of normal time, with Dan Ndoye’s second-half strike cancelling out Alexis Mac Allister’s early header.

But the game changed in the shadows of the second-half hydration break, when Swiss striker Breel Embolo sent off after receiving a second yellow card.

Embolo was rightly pinged for simulation after VAR review.

Switzerland were exceptionally organised with a man down, and really, were desperately unlucky to be undone by a goal of the utmost quality.

Argentina will face England in the second semifinal on Thursday morning, Australian time.

Switzerland are, understandably, pushing everyone forward, leaving them very light at the back.

Argentina break forward from a defensive set piece, and it’s three on one in the South Americans’ favour.

Thiago Almada overruns the ball, but it bobbles out to Lautaro Martinez, who finishes with ease from the edge of the penalty area.

Game over in Kansas City.

Jose Manuel Lopez commits a foul and Granit Xhaka has another opportunity from the dead ball.

It’s a terrible delivery, striking the head of the one-man wall and Argentina can break.

Lionel Messi is in the penalty area and has his side-footed effort blocked.

We’re into four minutes of stoppage time.

Not long left now.

The 10 men of Switzerland, already having shown so much courage in Kansas City, ready themselves for a final push.

Switzerland whip a ball into the penalty area and Emi Martinez is out to claim.

Unsurprisingly, the Argentine goalkeeper goes down and takes all the time he can off the clock.

Oh my goodness, that is special from Julian Alvarez.

The forward receives the ball about 30m out from goal, cuts inside onto his right foot and lets a curler fly towards the top corner.

It is one of the sweetest hits we’ve seen in North America and one of the best goals.

The ball flies past the outstretched arm of Gregor Kobel and Argentina are back in front with five minutes of extra time to play.

So, so cruel on Switzerland.

Switzerland are camped on the edge of their penalty area and Argentina are knocking the ball around menacingly.

Lisandro Martinez dinks in a ball to the penalty area, but it evades his namesake Lautaro.

Meanwhile, Lionel Scaloni brings on yet another attacker.

It’s Jose Manuel Lopez on in place of Leandro Paredes.

Alexis Mac Allister brings down his marker, Switzerland are awarded a free kick and more than happy to milk whatever they can.

Eventually, Granit Xhaka fizzes in a brilliant set piece, low and hard and bouncing.

It’s just about cleared by the Argentine defence.

And Argentina, after throwing on a glut of forwards towards the end of normal time, make a defensive change.

It’s Nicholas Otamendi coming on for Cristian Romero.

This has been an inspired defensive display from the 10 men of Switzerland, who are now just 15 minutes away from penalties.

And it’s Lisandro Martinez striding forward.

His shot is deflected and eventually out for a corner.

Lionel Messi’s corner is met by the head of Cristian Romero, but the ball flies well over the bar.

Lionel Messi is brought down about 30m from goal and wins a freekick.

This is very much in Messi territory.

But it is a shocking set piece from Messi, his shot never getting high enough and clattering into the lower portion of the Swiss wall.

Thiago Almada brings down his opponent and is shown a yellow card.

The free kick is only metres forward of halfway, but Switzerland opt to hoof it into the mixer.

The ball bobbles out of play off a Swiss head.

Substitute Thiago Almada has been brilliant since entering the game and he goes close to putting Argentina back in front.

He cuts in from the left and lets fly from the edge of the penalty area.

The ball flies into the side netting.

This is some serious pressure from Argentina.

How long can Switzerland hold out?

There is some lovely Argentine interplay on the left, and the ball ends at the feet of Thiago Amada, who manufactures some space in the penalty area.

He gets his shot away, but it’s tame and directly into the clutches of Gregor Kobel.

Argentina push forward from the kick-off and fashion a chance almost immediately.

Nico Gonzalez is all alone just inside the penalty area but scuffs his shot wide of the target.

It’s Argentina who kick us off.