Switzerland won against Canada 2-1 in Vancouver on Wednesday. Second-half goals from Ruben Vargas and Johan Manzambi won Group B for the Swiss. Canada still reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time, as Group B runners-up.
Switzerland won against Canada 2-1 in Vancouver on Wednesday. Second-half goals from Ruben Vargas and Johan Manzambi won Group B for the Swiss. Canada still reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time, as Group B runners-up.
The first half offered little. Switzerland edged territory, Breel Embolo forced a save from Maxime Crepeau, and the two sides managed only a handful of attempts between them.
The game turned within a minute of the restart. Manzambi crossed for Vargas, who finished calmly at the back post for his second goal of the tournament. Eleven minutes later, after a Canadian error, Manzambi drove a finish past Crepeau. Promise David halved the deficit with his first touch in the 76th minute, latching onto a Nathan Saliba cross, but Canada could not force an equaliser as Gregor Kobel kept them out.
Vargas described a contest that ran to the finish. "We are very happy because we won, and we fought until the very last minute," he said. "But I think that Canada went right to the wire. We just seized the opportunity."
Switzerland coach Murat Yakin pointed to the seven-day break before the last 32. "Now we have more rest days and we can recover for a longer time," he said. "Hopefully we can actually work on the details. We can regroup, refocus, organise much better, look at the nuts and bolts."
Canada right back Alistair Johnston admitted the defeat stung, chiefly because it cost a home tie. "It's definitely a bit frustrating because that crowd's been so good for us, and it's kind of a letdown that we can't play another game in front of them," he said. "But at the same time, look, we're in the knockout stage of a World Cup."
Striker Promise David framed the road ahead. "With the knockout, things become a little bit more tender and important, because it's not like you can rely on the next game," he said.
Switzerland finished top of Group B on seven points. The win made them only the third nation, with Argentina and France, to reach the knockout stage in each of the last four World Cups. They were captained by Granit Xhaka on his 149th international appearance.
Canada advanced for the first time in their history. A nation that had lost its first six World Cup matches and entered the tournament without a point drew with Bosnia and Herzegovina, beat Qatar 6-0, and now go through as runners-up. By failing to win the group, Jesse Marsch's side forfeited home advantage and will play no further matches in Canada.
Canada were already without midfielder Ismaël Koné, whose leg was broken in two places against Qatar. He watched from the bench in Vancouver, his number eight held up by fans in the eighth minute. Marsch also left vice captain Stephen Eustaquio out of the starting XI, introducing him in the 58th minute.
Switzerland return to their San Diego base before a Round of 32 tie at BC Place on 3 July against a third-placed finisher.
Canada head to Los Angeles to face the Group A runners-up on Sunday, 28 June. "We wanted to be here in Vancouver, but we still have a massive opportunity ahead of us to find a way to still electrify the nation, even though it'll be from Los Angeles," Marsch said.
