Embolo's dive and Bellingham's brace send Argentina, England to the semis

Saturday’s quarterfinals did not need penalties to be cruel. Both went to extra time, both turned on a single officiating call, and both ended with the team that looked worse for long stretches walking off celebrating.

A dive that made World Cup history, for the wrong reasons

Argentina led through Alexis Mac Allister’s 10th-minute header off a Messi corner, and Switzerland dragged it level when Dan Ndoye curled one in from a tight angle in the 67th. Five minutes later, Breel Embolo went down under a challenge from Leandro Paredes, and referee Joao Pedro Silva Pinheiro initially booked Paredes for it. Then VAR stepped in, decided there had been no contact at all, and flipped the card: Paredes was cleared, Embolo was booked for simulation, and since he’d already picked up a first-half yellow, that was a second yellow and an early night. Switzerland now had ten men and a very good reason to be furious. Embolo becomes just the fourth World Cup player in 60 years sent off for simulation, joining a list that includes Francesco Totti. Argentina made the extra man count late, with Julian Alvarez rifling in the winner in the 112th minute and Lautaro Martinez adding a third in the 121st to close out a 3-1 win in Kansas City. Switzerland’s best World Cup run since 1954 ends in the video review room.

Haaland finally goes quiet, and so does Norway’s fairy tale

Norway’s dream run, the one that came with beach photo ops and a hotel switch over Miami noise complaints, hit a wall named Jude Bellingham. Andreas Schjelderup put Norway ahead in the 36th minute, but Bellingham equalized in stoppage time, cutting inside off an Anthony Gordon pull-back to beat Orjan Nyland. Norway thought they had it back in extra time when Ole Heggem poked home a loose ball, except Erling Haaland had shoved Rasmus Anderson in the buildup, and VAR chalked it off. Bellingham then delivered the sting himself, scoring in the third minute of extra time to send England through 2-1. Haaland, who had scored in every match so far, finished the day with nothing, while Bellingham and Harry Kane sit level on six goals apiece, still chasing Kylian Mbappe and Messi at the top of the Golden Boot race.

Semifinal set: Argentina vs. England is on.

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