Key events<\/p>\n
GOAL! Switzerland 2-0 Canada (Manzambi 57)<\/p>\n
Johan Manzambi gets another World Cup<\/a> goal!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 56 min Ali Ahmed clips a good cross from the left that evades Larin, who seemed to be distracted by his physical battle with Akanji.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 53 min Canada have been quiet as an attacking force for a lot of the game. and right now a second Switzerland<\/a> goal looks more likely than a Canada equaliser.<\/p>\n At the risk of offering insight, I wonder whether the relative lack of jeopardy has subdued them.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 51 min \u201cWow,\u201d says Andrew Goudie of Ollie\u2019s half-time poem. \u201cRhyming \u2018scary\u2019 with \u2018Demb\u00e9l\u00e9\u2019 is genius! Take a bow, son, take a bow. Who needs Mac Millings for top-level wordplay?\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 50 min If it stays like this, Switerland will stay in Vancouver and Canada<\/a> will be off to Los Angeles to play (potentially) South Korea.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 49 min \u201cAyup,\u201d writes Richie. \u201cMy mate is one of the flag-carrying volunteers here in Philadelphia and they can confirm that they are indeed very heavy. They are made of thick, durable canvas (thicker than your typical flag material) and they must have a minimum of 16 people on each long side and eight on the shorter sides, (mostly to have enough folk to prevent it from taking off if there is a strong wind).<\/p>\n \u201cWhen they parade off the pitch it\u2019s like a military unit; there are so many people marching by holding that rolled-up thing. Sadly after doing all that work (for which they show up to the stadium five and a half hours before kick-off) they have to turn in their credentials and leave the stadium. They are not allowed to stay and watch.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Switzerland worked the ball efficiently down the right before Manzambi clipped a cross into the middle. It evaded Embolo at the near post and reached Vargas, who took a touch and rattled a decisive finish past Crepeau. A well-taken goal.<\/p>\n Ruben Vargas shoots \u2026 Photograph: Albert Gea\/ReutersAnd it\u2019s a perfect start to the second half for Switzerland as Vargas\u2019 shot beats Canada\u2019s keeper Maxime Crepeau. Photograph: Lee Smith\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.19 EDT<\/p>\n GOAL! Switzerland 1-0 Canada (Vargas 46)<\/p>\n Ruben Vargas scores after 40 seconds of the second half!<\/p>\n Switzerland’s Ruben Vargas (right) celebrates with Johan Manzambi after opening the scoring. Photograph: Lee Smith\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.15 EDT<\/p>\n 46 min The second half is under way, and\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI had you split-screened with the BBC,\u201d writes Steve Chalastra. \u201cI think it\u2019ll be BBC-only in the second half. They\u2019re beating you about 5-1. I expect better from the Guardian than smarmy comments and a complete dearth of anything resembling insight. A Guardian subscriber.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Half-time reading<\/p>\n Ollie, aged 12, has sent in a World Cup<\/a> poem. And it\u2019s infinitely more entertaining than that first half.<\/p>\n double quotation markWorld Cup fever here again, Three Lions roaring on my shirt, Harry\u2019s on a scoring streak! But France are looking pretty scary: Ghana had us in their pocket, Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.01 EDT<\/p>\n Half time: Switzerland 0-0 Canada<\/p>\n Your life is precious, my friend, and you have just wasted 45 minutes of it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45+1 min \u201cIf I close my eyes,\u201d writes Barbra Streis- Tom Hopkins, \u201cI can still see Rijkaard\u2019s flob glistening in Rudi V\u00f6ller\u2019s magnificent perm. Is that or Benjamin Massing\u2019s valedictory wave after receiving a very harsh second yellow card the defining moment of Italia 90?\u201d<\/p>\n Gary Lineker\u2019s undercrackers would like a word.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45 min Four minutes of added time.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 44 min Canada are having their best spell. Another sharp counter-attack ends with David spraying a left-foot shot wide from 20 yards.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 41 min Johnston arrows a good pass into David, who turns and slides the ball further across to Ali Ahmed. His slightly tame shot is pushed round the near post by Kobel.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 41 min It\u2019s been a forgettable first half, and we should have always known it would be like this.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.43 EDT<\/p>\n 40 min A loose ball runs to Johnston, who splashes high and wide from 25 yards.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 38 min Free-kick to Switzerland<\/a> 30 yards out. Xhaka launches it into orbit.<\/p>\n Watch out row Z! Photograph: Fran Santiago\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.49 EDT<\/p>\n 37 min There\u2019s an unpleasant clash of heads between Laryea and Embolo, though they seem to be okay.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 36 min \u201cWhat even is a goal?\u201d asks Ian Copestake. \u201cIs the journey the goal? Ball in the net is perfection realised but surely the rest of it has value. If not at least Wonderwall was top.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 33 min After two penetrative straight passes, first from Xhaka and then Manzambi, Vargas scurries away on the left. But his low cross is too close to the keeper and that\u2019s the end of that.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 33 min A decent break from Canada<\/a>. David angles a pass to Larin, who has pulled cleverly from centre to left. He then cuts back inside and sweeps a shot from 15 yards that is saved by the falling Kobel.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.35 EDT<\/p>\n 32 min Both players are booked. That was mildly farcical. Larin poked the ball away just as Xhaka was about to kick it, so instead Xhaka kicked his shin.<\/p>\n Not sure what Xhaka has been booked for, but there was an endearing physical comedy to the whole thing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.34 EDT<\/p>\n 31 min There\u2019s a bit of posturing when Xhaka tries to take a free-kick and instead kicks Larin, who was lurking near the ball.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n If you want goals, Will Unwin is your man.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 28 min David spins a nice pass out to Buchanan, who knocks the ball past Akanji then takes a dive. The referee doesn\u2019t buy it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 27 min We\u2019re all friends here, so let us speak frankly: the match so far hasn\u2019t been a great advert for a 48-team World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 25 min The match is back under way.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 24 min \u201cRe: the Larin incident – is anyone else fed up with late-flagging linesmen when a player is clearly offside?\u201d writes Stephen Bradfield. \u201cWhy isn\u2019t the flag raised immediately?\u201d<\/p>\n I understand why it happens. The modern world is so viciously intolerant of mistakes, so quick to dehumanise those who make them, that the brains of those involved (in this case assistant referees) are inevitably scrambled. That means the margin for error needs to be greater, because what looks obvious to me and you on the TV probably isn\u2019t to the assistant referee who knows their life will become unliveable if they raise an erroneous flag.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.26 EDT<\/p>\n 23 min Hydration break o\u2019clock.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 20 min Free kick to Canada<\/a> on the right. Choiniere takes, Buchanan knocks it towards goal and Kobel makes a comfortable save.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 17 min Canada started passively but are starting to come into the game. The intensity isn\u2019t through the roof, though, with both teams knowing they\u2019ve almost certainly qualified for the last 32 already.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.18 EDT<\/p>\n 13 min Larin looks offside as he runs onto a through pass from Ali Ahmed. He tries to go round Kobel, who dives at his feet to push the ball away. The ball is clipped back into Buchanan, whose follow-up is blocked by a defender. And then the flag goes up for offside.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>11 min: Chance for Switzerland!<\/p>\n Rodriguez angles a sensational though pass to Embolo, whose shot from 15 yards hits the outrushing Crepeau. Manzambi\u2019s follow-up is crucially, if unwittingly, blocked by Cornelius.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.21 EDT<\/p>\n 8 min Plenty of early possession for Switzerland<\/a>. Most of it is harmless, in their own half, and Canada are waiting for the chance to counter-attack.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 5 min Switzerland win the first corner on the left. It doesn\u2019t beat the first man, at which point anybody over the age of 35 laments the negligence of a corner that doesn\u2019t beat the first man.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 4 min \u201cThose enormous flags \u2013 they just look utterly unmanageable,\u201d winces Charles Antaki. \u201cEither they weigh a ton, or they\u2019re made out of some material one nano-millimetre thick, or all the flag attendance are doing steroids. Perhaps it\u2019s all an AI-generated illusion?\u201d<\/p>\n You\u2019re an AI-generated illusion! (Sorry, I may have watched In Bruges recently.)<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 3 min Nothing to report. Not a thing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 2 min \u201cCheers Mac,\u201d hics Simon McMahon in reference to this offering<\/a>. \u201cAn Overachievers\/Surprise Package XI for when Scotland play their quarter-final in a couple of weeks\u2019 time would be great. And cheers Rob, I\u2019ve been keeping a bottle of Buckfast Premier Cru since 1998 for when Scotland reach the knockouts, and I think tonight could be the night.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 1 min Peep peep! Canada<\/a>, technically the away team, kick off from right to left as we watch.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n On this day in 1990\u2026 Frank Rijkaard mistook Rudi Voller for a lamppost<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.59 EDT<\/p>\n A reminder of the teams<\/p>\n Switzerland (poss 4-3-3) Kobel; Jaquez, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Sow, Xhaka, Freuler; Manzambi, Embolo, Vargas.<\/p>\n Subs: Mvogo, Keller, Widmer, Coemert, Amenda, Zakaria, Jashari, Aebischer, Ndoye, Fassnacht, Okafor, Amdouni, Itten.<\/p>\n Canada (4-4-2) Crepeau; Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea; Buchanan, Choiniere, Saliba, Ali Ahmed; J David, Larin.<\/p>\n Subs: St Clair, Goodman, Waterman, Bombito, Davies, Sigur, Eustaquio, Millar, Shaffelburg, Osorio, Oluwaseyi, P David, Nelson.<\/p>\n Referee Ramon Abatti (Brazil)<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.17 EDT<\/p>\n \u201cShould today\u2019s match fizzle into a drab draw it might well suit both teams,\u201d writes Dan. \u201cCanada would finish top of the group and remain in Vancouver for their next match against a third place team, likely from Groups G or J. Belgium? Algeria?<\/p>\n \u201cThe Swiss would return to Southern California for a winnable match in Los Angeles against the Group A runner up – South Korea? Not a lot to choose between potential opponents. But given their home base is in balmy San Diego, travel logistics might well suit them better than another cross-border West Coast commute for their round of 32 match.\u201d<\/p>\n At this point I\u2019m contractually obliged to post a link to, er, my piece on the Disgrace of Gijon.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Time for the pre-match nonsense ceremony. Canada<\/a> have already added plenty to this tournament and, though tonight\u2019s game isn\u2019t the be-all and end-all, it gives them the chance to stay in Vancouver for the last 32. Maybe even the last 16.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Switzerland and Canada have already qualified for the last 32 of the World Cup\u2019,\u201d writes Ric Arthur, throwing my words back at me. \u201cNot according to the guide<\/a> published this morning on these pages. I think you\u2019re right, though. Which means they did not do their homework. But I can\u2019t find a link to notify them of this.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s true: mathematically, they haven\u2019t qualified for the knockout stage. But they have.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.53 EDT<\/p>\n The World Cup<\/a> Hydration Break XI<\/p>\n \u201cEvening, Robert,\u201d writes Mac Millings. \u201cI think the fabulous Simon McMahon asked for a Hydration Break XI about two weeks ago, so, with my usual promptness, here it is:<\/p>\n Guillermo H2 Ochoa<\/p>\n Damp Burn<\/p>\n Rampamt Capitalisandro Martinez<\/p>\n Erictrolyte Garc\u00eda<\/p>\n Jarell Quartah<\/p>\n Moistyouri Tielemans<\/p>\n Matheus Coolsya<\/p>\n Isotonick Woltemade<\/p>\n Siptor Gy\u00f6keres<\/p>\n Joe Irrigaetjens<\/p>\n Son Heung-Midity.\u201d<\/p>\n Thanks Millings. If only Simon was in a fit state to read it, but Scotland v Brazil kicks off in just under four hours\u2019 time and there are unconfirmed reports of a Buckfast fiasco.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n John Brewin<\/p>\n England, an apology. Football Daily and the wider English media may have previously depicted Thomas Tuchel\u2019s lads as world champions in waiting after taking apart<\/a> a Croatian team led by Luka Modric, 78, in a second-half Texan surge, but we were all so very wrong. Still, as the nation awoke following the goalless draw with Ghana<\/a>, we had our England back. Tradition matters. Tea cups on the lawn, curled-up cucumber sandwiches, overpriced service stations, complaining about the weather, prime ministers departing office; familiarity is important to this nation\u2019s psyche. England serving up the dullest game yet of the Geopolitics World Cup brought that self-same wash of familiarity. A corner of a foreign field that is forever England playing like a drain, a nation\u2019s hopes sagging. England, our ruddy bloody England, welcome home, we\u2019ve been expecting you.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n England latest<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alphonso Davies stays on the bench for Canada, whose two changes are in central midfield: Mathieu Choiniere and Nathan Saliba replace Stephen Eustaquio and Ismael Kone.<\/p>\n Switzerland bring in Luca Jaquez, Djibril Sow, Johan Manzambi and Ruben Vargas for Silvan Widmer, Michel Aebischer, Dan Ndoye and Fabian Rieder.<\/p>\n Manzambi and Vargas both came off the bench to score against Bosnia and Herzegovina.<\/p>\n Ruben Vargas<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.05 EDT<\/p>\n Team news<\/p>\n Switzerland (poss 4-3-3) Kobel; Jaquez, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Sow, Xhaka, Freuler; Vargas, Embolo, Manzambi.<\/p>\n Subs: Mvogo, Keller, Widmer, Coemert, Amenda, Zakaria, Jashari, Aebischer, Ndoye, Fassnacht, Okafor, Amdouni, Itten.<\/p>\n Canada (4-4-2) Crepeau; Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea; Buchanan, Choiniere, Saliba, Ali Ahmed; J David, Larin.<\/p>\n Subs: St Clair, Goodman, Waterman, Bombito, Davies, Sigur, Eustaquio, Millar, Shaffelburg, Osorio, Oluwaseyi, P David, Nelson.<\/p>\n Referee Ramon Abatti (Brazil)<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.44 EDT<\/p>\n We\u2019re already into last-group-game territory, which means simultaneous matches. Will Unwin is covering Bosnia and Herzegovina v Qatar \u2013 so you don\u2019t have to!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Joe Callaghan<\/p>\n Some corners of the internet were determined that Canada\u2019s totemic and traumatic 6-0 World Cup victory<\/a> on Thursday would be remembered mostly through Jesse Marsch memes.<\/p>\n The American\u2019s handsy sideline shuffle<\/a> after Jonathan David rifled the first goal of a hat-trick past Qatar duly racked up social media views by the million. Shots of Marsch holding up six fingers to Canada fans<\/a> at the end of the match were chopped and put side by side with Michael Jordan in identical pose after winning his sixth NBA title with the Chicago Bulls.<\/p>\n The man himself was adamant it would be remembered for what it was: a moment in time and a moment for all times, including the dark ones after Isma\u00ebl Kon\u00e9\u2019s World Cup was ended with a broken leg<\/a>. Kon\u00e9\u2019s horrifying injury came almost halfway through an afternoon that saw records fall like confetti through the Vancouver air.<\/p>\n \u201cTo create an identity for what Canadian soccer could be, you can say and do all the right things, but you need moments like today, where everybody remembers what happened,\u201d Marsch said after the victory, the Canada men\u2019s first in this tournament, the biggest ever by a Concacaf nation and the joint-largest by any World Cup<\/a> host.<\/p>\n \u201cNo Canadian will forget this day. There\u2019ll be 40 million people that said they were here. It\u2019s an incredibly seminal moment for everyone to understand that there\u2019s talent in this country, that there\u2019s mentality, desire, a lot of things that make this country special, even though it\u2019s a hockey country. I\u2019m very proud that we\u2019ve accomplished a moment everybody can remember.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n David Pleat couldn\u2019t have an unoriginal thought about football if he tried, so it\u2019s a pleasure to see him back in the Guardian. Here he is discussing five young stars of the World Cup<\/a>, one of whom should be in action tonight.<\/p>\n double quotation markJohan Manzambi (Switzerland, 20)<\/p>\n The introduction of the forward in the last minutes of the game against Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/a> was quite dramatic. Within minutes this powerful, speedy, right-footed player destroyed his opponents\u2019 hopes of surviving with a draw. They had just lost Muharemovic and Manzambi exploited the extra space with perfect timing to get two goals.<\/p>\n When he scored the first, a well taken volley, it was clear he would be the centre of attention and it reminded me of the impact on Michael Owen\u2019s life when he brushed past Argentina defenders to score for England in Saint-\u00c9tienne.<\/p>\n Manzambi spent his early days with Servette before moving to Freiburg and has shown he has the pace and power, combined with adequate control, to trouble defenders in the Bundesliga. He seems well respected by his colleagues there but after contributing a combined 16 goals and assists for his club this season, he may soon have new teammates.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.44 EDT<\/p>\n Preamble<\/p>\n There\u2019s life in this here dead rubber. Switzerland<\/a> and Canada have already qualified for the last 32 of the World Cup, and not even a 32-0 defeat tonight will change that. But both teams will be keen to top Group B. for reasons of self-esteem, a theoretically easier draw and, in Canada\u2019s case, hosting rights.<\/p>\n The group winners will stay in Vancouver to play one of the best third-place teams, with a potential last 16 game to follow at the same stadium. The runners-up are off to Los Angeles, California, to play the runner-up in Group A; at this stage, South Korea are the likeliest opponents.<\/p>\n After starting their World Cup with a draw, Switzerland and Canada went on a netbusting journey in their second game. Switzerland came alive in the last quarter to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-1. Canada thrashed Qatar 6-0, their first victory at a men\u2019s World Cup, though it was a bittersweet experience because of Ismael Kone\u2019s horrible injury<\/a>.<\/p>\n Canada\u2019s superior goal difference means they have the draw in this game. But they don\u2019t have supremacy in the Fifa rankings, a sometimes useful way of judging such contests. Canada<\/a> are 29th, Switzerland 17th. May the best team stay in Vancouver.<\/p>\n Kick off 12pm local time\/3pm ET\/8pm BST<\/p>\n
Excitement turned right up to ten!
Who will win it? Who can say?
So hot, they\u2019ve all turned to clay!<\/p>\n
Ending sixty years of hurt?
Is it our year? Shall we see?
Having good players is the key.<\/p>\n
Bellingham has reached his peak!
Bukayo Saka on the wing,
England fans can really sing!<\/p>\n
Mbapp\u00e9, Dou\u00e9 and Demb\u00e9l\u00e9!
Messi\u2019s scoring more and more,
Ronaldo\u2019s knocking on the door.<\/p>\n
But next game Rice will score a rocket!
Come on Thomas Tuchel\u2019s men,
Football\u2019s coming home again.<\/p>\n