by Craig Laycock
Original article:
Switzerland 0 - 0 Colombia
Switzerland win 4-3 on penalties
The final last-16 match at the 2026 World Cup is complete. Switzerland are through to the QFs for the first time since 1954 on penalties. Great for them.
My verdict? It was terrible. Yes, a team went through and a tie was resolved, but at what cost? My sanity, it seems.
I’m exaggerating, of course, but it’s not an exaggeration to say that this was a very boring game, especially considering the stakes of a place in the Quarter Finals. Once again, it seemed both sides were more interested in not leaving themselves open on the counter, and it led to a nullified contest.
Switzerland were perhaps missing the creative spark from Johan Manzambi that they have so relied on in this tournament. He injured his knee before the game in what is being described as a “non-contact injury”. Given the usual way those injuries go, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is now out of the tournament, which is a huge blow to Switzerland’s chances.
The 90 minutes of regulation time were, at best, uneventful. Jhon Lucumi maybe had the best chance for Colombia in normal time, hitting the crossbar with a header. Jaminton Campaz had a strike from range that forced a save from the keeper, too.
The extra time that was tacked on seemed gratuitous. The penalties offered a beacon of hope that maybe we would get some entertainment from the game.
Colombia have bad memories of penalty shootouts in the Round of 16, having lost to England at this stage in 2018. But they looked to get off to a good start after Juan Quintero smashed home their first.
Xhaka levelled the shootout for Switzerland. Sanchez then smashed one off the crossbar and out. Zeki Amodouni scored to make it advantage Switzerland, Campaz replied, and then Akanji spaffed one over the bar (technical term).
But a let off for Switzerland, as Hernandez has his penalty saved, Itten scored, Diaz levelled and then Ruben Vargas slotted the decisive spot kick into the bottom corner, sending the keeper the wrong way to turn Vancouver into party town for the Swiss.
Switzerland will next face Argentina in the Quarter Finals. Hopefully that one will be less boring.
5 min read
Last 16: Shootout seals Swiss progress
Did either side actually want to win this one?
5 min read
Switzerland 0 - 0 Colombia
Switzerland win 4-3 on penalties
The final last-16 match at the 2026 World Cup is complete. Switzerland are through to the QFs for the first time since 1954 on penalties. Great for them.
My verdict? It was terrible. Yes, a team went through and a tie was resolved, but at what cost? My sanity, it seems.
I’m exaggerating, of course, but it’s not an exaggeration to say that this was a very boring game, especially considering the stakes of a place in the Quarter Finals. Once again, it seemed both sides were more interested in not leaving themselves open on the counter, and it led to a nullified contest.
Switzerland were perhaps missing the creative spark from Johan Manzambi that they have so relied on in this tournament. He injured his knee before the game in what is being described as a “non-contact injury”. Given the usual way those injuries go, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is now out of the tournament, which is a huge blow to Switzerland’s chances.
The 90 minutes of regulation time were, at best, uneventful. Jhon Lucumi maybe had the best chance for Colombia in normal time, hitting the crossbar with a header. Jaminton Campaz had a strike from range that forced a save from the keeper, too.
The extra time that was tacked on seemed gratuitous. The penalties offered a beacon of hope that maybe we would get some entertainment from the game.
Colombia have bad memories of penalty shootouts in the Round of 16, having lost to England at this stage in 2018. But they looked to get off to a good start after Juan Quintero smashed home their first.
Xhaka levelled the shootout for Switzerland. Sanchez then smashed one off the crossbar and out. Zeki Amodouni scored to make it advantage Switzerland, Campaz replied, and then Akanji spaffed one over the bar (technical term).
But a let off for Switzerland, as Hernandez has his penalty saved, Itten scored, Diaz levelled and then Ruben Vargas slotted the decisive spot kick into the bottom corner, sending the keeper the wrong way to turn Vancouver into party town for the Swiss.
Switzerland will next face Argentina in the Quarter Finals. Hopefully that one will be less boring.
Last 16: Shootout seals Swiss progress
Did either side actually want to win this one?
Original article:
Switzerland 0 - 0 Colombia
Switzerland win 4-3 on penalties
The final last-16 match at the 2026 World Cup is complete. Switzerland are through to the QFs for the first time since 1954 on penalties. Great for them.
My verdict? It was terrible. Yes, a team went through and a tie was resolved, but at what cost? My sanity, it seems.
I’m exaggerating, of course, but it’s not an exaggeration to say that this was a very boring game, especially considering the stakes of a place in the Quarter Finals. Once again, it seemed both sides were more interested in not leaving themselves open on the counter, and it led to a nullified contest.
Switzerland were perhaps missing the creative spark from Johan Manzambi that they have so relied on in this tournament. He injured his knee before the game in what is being described as a “non-contact injury”. Given the usual way those injuries go, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is now out of the tournament, which is a huge blow to Switzerland’s chances.
The 90 minutes of regulation time were, at best, uneventful. Jhon Lucumi maybe had the best chance for Colombia in normal time, hitting the crossbar with a header. Jaminton Campaz had a strike from range that forced a save from the keeper, too.
The extra time that was tacked on seemed gratuitous. The penalties offered a beacon of hope that maybe we would get some entertainment from the game.
Colombia have bad memories of penalty shootouts in the Round of 16, having lost to England at this stage in 2018. But they looked to get off to a good start after Juan Quintero smashed home their first.
Xhaka levelled the shootout for Switzerland. Sanchez then smashed one off the crossbar and out. Zeki Amodouni scored to make it advantage Switzerland, Campaz replied, and then Akanji spaffed one over the bar (technical term).
But a let off for Switzerland, as Hernandez has his penalty saved, Itten scored, Diaz levelled and then Ruben Vargas slotted the decisive spot kick into the bottom corner, sending the keeper the wrong way to turn Vancouver into party town for the Swiss.
Switzerland will next face Argentina in the Quarter Finals. Hopefully that one will be less boring.
5 min read
Last 16: Shootout seals Swiss progress
Did either side actually want to win this one?
Switzerland 0 - 0 Colombia
Switzerland win 4-3 on penalties
The final last-16 match at the 2026 World Cup is complete. Switzerland are through to the QFs for the first time since 1954 on penalties. Great for them.
My verdict? It was terrible. Yes, a team went through and a tie was resolved, but at what cost? My sanity, it seems.
I’m exaggerating, of course, but it’s not an exaggeration to say that this was a very boring game, especially considering the stakes of a place in the Quarter Finals. Once again, it seemed both sides were more interested in not leaving themselves open on the counter, and it led to a nullified contest.
Switzerland were perhaps missing the creative spark from Johan Manzambi that they have so relied on in this tournament. He injured his knee before the game in what is being described as a “non-contact injury”. Given the usual way those injuries go, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is now out of the tournament, which is a huge blow to Switzerland’s chances.
The 90 minutes of regulation time were, at best, uneventful. Jhon Lucumi maybe had the best chance for Colombia in normal time, hitting the crossbar with a header. Jaminton Campaz had a strike from range that forced a save from the keeper, too.
The extra time that was tacked on seemed gratuitous. The penalties offered a beacon of hope that maybe we would get some entertainment from the game.
Colombia have bad memories of penalty shootouts in the Round of 16, having lost to England at this stage in 2018. But they looked to get off to a good start after Juan Quintero smashed home their first.
Xhaka levelled the shootout for Switzerland. Sanchez then smashed one off the crossbar and out. Zeki Amodouni scored to make it advantage Switzerland, Campaz replied, and then Akanji spaffed one over the bar (technical term).
But a let off for Switzerland, as Hernandez has his penalty saved, Itten scored, Diaz levelled and then Ruben Vargas slotted the decisive spot kick into the bottom corner, sending the keeper the wrong way to turn Vancouver into party town for the Swiss.
Switzerland will next face Argentina in the Quarter Finals. Hopefully that one will be less boring.
5 min read