Switzerland edge Canada to reach World Cup knockouts after tense 2-1 win

Switzerland booked their place in the World Cup knockout stages with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Canada, surviving sustained late pressure in a match rich in attacking intent but ultimately decided by Swiss efficiency at both ends of the pitch.

• Switzerland will play with . , on .
• Canada will play with . , on .

Switzerland

• Gregor Kobel (8.6)
• Luca Antony Jaquez (6.9)
• Nico Elvedi (7)
• Manuel Obafemi Akanji (7)
• Ricardo Iván Rodríguez Araya (7.5)
• Remo Marco Freuler (6.6)
• Granit Xhaka (7.3)
• Mohameth Djibril Ibrahima Sow (6.7)
• Johan Manzambi (8.2)
• Rubén Estephan Vargas Martínez (7.5)
• Breel Donald Embolo (7.5)

Canada

Substitutions:

Switzerland

• Mohameth Djibril Ibrahima Sow (Michel Aebischer, 74)
• Luca Antony Jaquez (Silvan Dominic Widmer, 74)
• Rubén Estephan Vargas Martínez (Dan Assane Ndoye, 80)
• Johan Manzambi (Christian Andreas Fassnacht, 85)
• Breel Donald Embolo (Cedric Jan Itten, 85)

Canada

• Cyle Christopher Larin (Tanitoluwa Oluwatimikhin Oluwaseyi, 58)
• Ali Ahmed (Liam Alan Millar, 58)
• Mathieu Choinière (Stephen Antunes Eustáquio, 58)
• Tajon Trevor Buchanan (Promise Oluwatobi Emmanuel Akinpelu, 75)
• Richmond Mamah Laryea (Jacob Everett Shaffelburg, 83)

Ball possession:

Murat Yakin’s side, needing a result to be certain of progress from Match Round 3, made their greater tournament nous count, taking control through a composed first-half display and then digging in under a Canadian onslaught after the break.

Passes:

Canada, already under pressure after earlier setbacks in the group, produced arguably their most assertive performance of the tournament, but were once again left to rue missed chances, wayward finishing and Switzerland’s superior game management when it mattered most.

Defense:

### Swiss edge on the ball, Canadian surge in chances

Face-to-face:

On paper, the match statistics painted a remarkably balanced contest.

Fouls:

Yellow cards:

• Granit Xhaka (Switzerland) at 32 minute
• Cyle Christopher Larin (Canada) at 32 minute
• Liam Alan Millar (Canada) at 87 minute

The last five games (including this match):

• Switzerland –
• Canada –

Top 5 World Cup scorers:

1. Vinícius José Paixão de Oliveira Júnior (2, )
2. Ismael Saibari Ben El Basra (1, )
3. Rubén Estephan Vargas Martínez (1, )
4. K. Alajbegovic (1, )
5. Gessime Yassine (1, )

Line-ups:

Next games:

• Switzerland will play with . , on .
• Canada will play with . , on .