- Recent form: Switzerland are unbeaten in their last five games, coming off a win over Algeria.
- Recent results: Colombia are also unbeaten in their last five, drawing 0-0 with Portugal last time out.
Tight Round of 16 scrap expected
Form and momentum
Switzerland come into their Round of 16 game with Colombia after a three-game winning streak and they have the momentum and mental edge that is so often vital in the knockout stages of a FIFA World Cup.
Murat Yakin's side have been a tough nut to crack in all competitions, winning five, drawing four and losing just one of their previous ten games. They beat Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada and Algeria in their three warm-up games.
Tactical setup
Yakin has built a team that is compact and versatile, able to move seamlessly between a back three and a back four while maintaining the structure of their play. Switzerland likes to overload the centre of the field and then take advantage of the space on the flanks with the pace they possess in wide areas and the directness of their forwards and wingers.
Switzerland's swagger can make them a match for Los Cafeteros
Colombia have been a little more controlled in all of their games, averaging 1.70 goals for and only 0.80 against, compared with 2.20 and 1.10 respectively for the Swiss. Néstor Lorenzo's 4-2-3-1 system can be modified to a 4-3-3 to make a game tight or stretched and the players seem to have a clear understanding of when and how to do that.
The quality and depth of talent in their squad is higher, with Jhon Arias as Colombia's main danger man in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage, scoring one goal in one game. However, three of Colombia's goals in their past seven games have come from Arias, and he is the type of player to make a match swing in one swift break.
Breel Embolo can create space for Switzerland
Breel Embolo's one goal in his one game for the World Cup is perhaps a better representation of his influence on the game as he is always moving around in the channels, stretching the back line and opening up space for the speedier players around him to turn the ball over in transition. He is the top scorer for Switzerland in the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup with one goal in one game.
- Colombia will likely be the winners as they are the better team overall, but they are only just favourites in the odds markets, coming in at 2.29 compared with the 3.56 of Switzerland.
- The draw is 3.36 and both sides are hard to separate, but we're taking the Colombians to just edge it here.
