Швейцар торгуулийн цохилтоор Колумбийг буулган авч, Аргентинтай хийх шөвгийн наймын тоглолтын эрхээ өвөртөллөө.
Канзас-Сити хотноо болох шөвгийн наймын тоглолтын өмнөх энэхүү тулаан үндсэн болон нэмэлт цагт гоолгүй өндөрлөсөн юм. Хоёр баг хамгаалалтад илүү анхаарч, тун болгоомжтой тоглосны улмаас тоглолтын туршид аюултай довтолгоо цөөн гарсан. Шийдвэрлэх торгуулийн цохилтын үеэр Швейцарын хаалгач Грегор Кобель Кучо Эрнандесийн цохилтыг хааснаар багтаа ялалт авчирч, улмаар Рубен Варгас шийдвэрлэх гоолыг оруулснаар 4-3 харьцаатайгаар ялалт байгуулжээ.
Тоглолтын 66 дахь минутад сэлгээнд суусан Колумбийн ахлагч Хамес Родригесийг хөгжөөн дэмжигчид алга ташилтаар үдсэн нь түүний шигшээ багийн карьерын сүүлчийн тоглолт байж магадгүй гэх таамгийг төрүүллээ. Колумбийн дасгалжуулагч Нестор Лоренцо тоглолтын дараа өгсөн ярилцлагадаа дэлхийн аварга шалгаруулах тэмцээний хүрээнд гурван улс дамнан тоглох нь багийн бэлтгэл, цаг уурын өөрчлөлтөд сөргөөр нөлөөлж байгааг онцолсон байна. Хэдийгээр Колумбийн хөгжөөн дэмжигчид Ванкувер хотыг шар өнгөөр бүрхэж, идэвхтэй дэмжсэн ч баг нь дараалан хоёр дахь удаагаа шөвгийн 16-д торгуулийн цохилтоор хожигдлоо.
Швейцарчууд шөвгийн наймд Аргентинтай хүч үзэхээр болсон бөгөөд Лионель Месси тэргүүтэй багийн хамгаалалтын цоорхойг Брээл Эмболо болон бэртлээс эргэн ирэх хүлээлттэй байгаа Йохан Манзамби нарын тусламжтайгаар ашиглахыг зорино. Хоёр багийн тоглолтын турш хамгаалалтын зохион байгуулалт өндөр байсан нь Аргентинтай хийх тоглолтод Швейцарт боломж олгож магадгүй юм.
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The World Cup quarter-final line-up is complete.
Switzerland became the eighth, and final, nation to progress from the round of 16 as they booked a meeting with holders Argentina in Kansas City on Saturday. They defeated Colombia 4-3 in a tense penalty shootout, after a goalless draw; Gregor Kobel proving the hero with an exceptional save from Cucho Hernandez.
A scrappy, even game was dominated by two exceptional defences, and there were precious few chances worthy of the name as both teams wrestled with the weight of the occasion.
Our writers debate the big talking points in Vancouver.
How did the shootout drama unfold?
What the 120 minutes of normal football lacked in drama, the shootout more than made up for.
Juan Fernando Quintero and Granit Xhaka traded opening penalties before Colombia central defender Davinson Sanchez, given the right side of the goal to aim for by Kobel, clanged his shot against the crossbar. The ball bounced down onto the goal line but, crucially, was not over it.
Zeki Amdouni, off a short run-up, calmly placed the next penalty past Camilo Vargas to put Switzerland 2-1 up, before Jaminton Campaz’s low effort squirmed under Kobel.
Manuel Akanji stepped up with the chance to make it 3-2, but again, a centre-back smashed their penalty off target, this time way clear of the bar. We then remained at parity because Hernandez’s shot was brilliantly saved to his right by Kobel.
Cedric Itten went down the middle and scored for 3-2 to the Swiss, then Luis Dias made it 3-3, meaning Ruben Vargas had the chance to win it with Switzerland’s fifth and final penalty… and he sent his namesake the wrong way to spark delirious scenes of celebration.
It meant Colombia lost on penalties at the last-16 stage for their second World Cup appearance in a row, having done so against England in 2018.
Tim Spiers
Can Switzerland trouble Argentina in the quarter-finals?
Well, these teams certainly stopped each other during what was probably the worst match of the knockout phase so far, and one of the most uneventful of the whole tournament.
In 90 minutes, the combined xG (expected goals) figure of both sides was just 0.7, with neither ’keeper seriously tested. It was very 0-0 and extra time looked likely from about the 20-minute mark onwards, owing not just to a lack of individual brilliance in either attack (the injured Johan Manzambi was sorely missed for Switzerland) and also a lack of ambition, but primarily owing to the defensive organisation of the two sides.
Switzerland players celebrate their shootout victory (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
However, none of that means Switzerland can’t trouble Argentina in their quarter-final in Kansas City on Saturday (early Sunday UK time). Lionel Messi and company may have put six goals (three each) past Cape Verde and Egypt in knockout play so far, but they came perilously close to exiting this tournament in both matches, showing a defensive vulnerability neither team showed here.
Switzerland will look to exploit that via Breel Embolo and, they hope, Manzambi, provided he regains fitness. If they can again keep it tight at the back, they’ll have a chance. They’ll certainly be hard to beat.
Tim Spiers
How long can Rodriguez go on?
When James Rodriguez was substituted off in the 66th minute, thousands of Colombian fans in the crowd at Vancouver’s BC Place stadium stood — if they weren’t already doing so — and applauded.
Turning 35 later this week, Rodriguez is now at the stage of his international career when every time he walks off the field could be his farewell.
His numbers are remarkable.
Rodriguez first played for Colombia at senior level in 2011 and has since become arguably their best ever player. The attacking midfielder was making his 132nd appearance for his country here, adding to his lead in all-time caps. Only 19 men’s players in CONMEBOL, South America’s confederation, have represented their nation more often.
James Rodriguez could not break through for Colombia (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
There were moments in the first half here where Rodriguez looked like the player of old, with his ability to turn away from defenders and send precise balls forward. But as the minutes added up, such flashes grew dimmer. His legs looked tired and he became far less effective.
He is currently without a club side after departing Minnesota United of MLS in May, three months on from joining them.
You can make a strong case that a slowing Rodriguez should have made his last appearance for Colombia here. And that’s likely why the fans in Vancouver showed as much adoration as they did.
Joshua Kloke
Did Colombia have this World Cup’s best fans?
A lot of supporters from many different nations have covered miles and miles at the 2026 World Cup, but Colombia’s are genuinely going all over: they are the only country to play games in all three co-host nations, Mexico, Canada and the United States.
Colombia’s head coach Nestor Lorenzo was asked about those travel demands ahead of kick-off today.
“Of course, it’s not a good thing,” he said. “The whole time-change, weather-change, we play at high altitude or in humidity, and in dry weather too — we’re pretty much exposed to all sorts. The fact that the World Cup has been held in three countries, in one big continent, it could have happened to anybody. We just have to accept it.”
Colombia fans turned Vancouver yellow (David Ramos/Getty Images)
And the thousands following them have accepted it.
BC Place was a sea of yellow, as you knew it would be the night before the game when stacks of Colombia fans packed the streets outside the team hotel in the centre of the city, screaming for a glimpse of Luis Diaz (who obliged by appearing on an upstairs balcony to punch the air and wind everybody up even more) and company.
Colombia brought some quality football to this tournament — granted, today wasn’t much of an example of it — and brought colour, too. Don’t ever doubt that the sport is a religion there. And find a more devoted public if you can.
Phil Hay
Were Switzerland lucky not to concede a penalty?
This was a largely uncontroversial tie, but in the first period of extra time, there was a (relatively) big talking point.
Immediately following Quintero’s cross into the box, Swiss defender Miro Muheim attempted to stand up Colombia forward Campaz. The latter tumbled over Muheim’s right leg and tried to sell a possible penalty by lying on the floor clutching his thigh.
His motives were clear, as Muheim’s tackle was hardly nefarious.
Yes, the game needed some sort of spark, and yes, there was contact. But despite the pleas of the pro-Colombia crowd, referee Ivan Barton adjudged it to be nothing more than a collision.
And so the match continued at its plodding pace.
Joshua Kloke
