The last World Cup round of 16 game left a lot to be desired across 120 minutes, but it still ended with a penalty shootout.
Switzerland edged Colombia 0-0 (4-3 penalties) in Vancouver on Tuesday to claim the final spot in the quarterfinals.
The Swiss’ reward will be facing Lionel Messi and Argentina, the reigning champions. La Albiceleste came back 3-2 earlier Tuesday to take down Egypt in one of the games of the tournament.
The same could not be said of this game, as both sides produced minimal attacking opportunities. After 90 minutes, Switzerland’s 0.29 expected goals and Colombia’s 0.42 made it the third-lowest xG in a World Cup match on record, per data-tracking platform The xG Philosophy.
Colombia bumped its total to 1.03 in extra time, per FotMob, which was due to Jaminton Campaz’s 1v1 miss that went well over the crossbar.
Juan Quintero and Granit Xhaka made their opening penalties to make it 1-1 in the shootout. Colombian center-back Davinson Sanchez drilled the team’s second attempt off the crossbar, as Zeki Amdouni calmly made it 2-1 right after.
Campaz then just snuck his attempt under the arms of star Swiss goalie Gregor Kobel, but center-back Manuel Akanji sent his shot over the crossbar to keep it level at 2-2.
Juan “Cucho” Hernandez came up next for Colombia, but the former MLS striker had his low left-sided effort saved well by Kobel. Veteran substitute striker Cedric Itten responded by going high down the middle.
Colombian star Luis Diaz kept his team alive on the fifth attempt, but Ruben Vargas ensured his nation would seal it right then and there with the winner.
Switzerland is in the quarterfinals for the first time since 1954. The nation has never made it beyond that stage, most recently exiting in the round of 16 in each of the last three World Cups.
Colombia’s best finish was reaching the 2014 quarterfinals. It did not qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Diaz had to do plenty of heavy lifting in attack, but he alone was not enough of a difference maker in a tight game.
Xhaka’s midfield brilliance kept Switzerland in it despite an almost crucial mistake in extra time, while Kobel produced some important saves throughout.
Switzerland will be against the odds when it meets Messi and Co. in Kansas City on Saturday, but it’s a never-say-never game. Cape Verde lost 3-2 in extra time off an own goal while Egypt held a 2-0 lead until collapsing late on.
The Swiss have more quality across the board than the aforementioned promising African nations, so any possible upset will come from staying disciplined and composed. Argentina has shown plenty of flaws in the knockout rounds, and a repeat World Cup final appearance is far from a guarantee.
Awaiting either team in the semifinals will be the winner of Norway vs. England, a matchup pitting Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard against Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.
