Mumbai, July 12 -- A quick look up to scan the pitch. But Julian Alvarez was never looking to make a pass. It was more of a formality to double-check where the target was.

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. Away from any Switzerland defender hoping to make a block. Away from the outstretched arm of a diving Swiss goalkeeper, Gregor Kobel. And just eight minutes away from a win that would take them through to the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup.

Alvarez had made it 2-1 for Argentina in the 112th minute, knocking the wind out of the 10-man Swiss sails. In one of the final passages of play, Lautaro Martinez made it 3-1 to secure a spot in the ...