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Switzerland claimed their first win in a World Cup knock-out match in 88 years, beating Algeria 2-0 to reach the last 16 of this year's tournament.
They will now face the winner of Friday's clash between Colombia and Ghana in a bid to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since their home tournament in 1954.
The Swiss took the lead in the 10th minute through Breel Embolo, but Johan Manzambi did all the hard work.
The Freiburg midfielder sprinted to the box and beat the defender before keeping the ball within the lines and cutting back to Embolo to turn in from close range.
After the break, Switzerland needed only 48 seconds to find the net again and with a very welcome help from the opponents.
Algeria twice failed to clear a ball in the box after a cross from Denis Zakaria. The ball eventually found Dan Ndoye, who steered a low shot into the bottom corner.
Fabian Rieder had the chance to add a third in the 81st, but he somehow failed to finish a chance from close range and with keeper Luca Zidane spread out on the turf.
Rieder sneaked behind the Algeria defence, but his effort bounced into Zidane's arms before being cleared away.
The match also marked Granit Xhaka's 150th appearance for Switzerland.
"This day means a lot to me. It's amazing to have played 150 matches for the country where I was born and raised," the national team captain said.
"I'm proud to wear the red jersey. The fact that we had a good match and advanced (to the last 16) makes it even better."
Forward Riyad Mahrez, meanwhile, announced his retirement from international duty.
"This was my last match with Algeria," the captain said.
"Our aim was to go through and I think it was a game we could have won. But we conceded twice on mistakes and at this level, you can’t get away with it. There are always positives to take away from matches: we did manage to get out of the group stage, but we conceded too many goals to aspire to more."
Mahrez played 119 games for the national team, winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019.
Algeria reached the final after Mahrez scored in stoppage time to give his nation a 2-1 win over Nigeria.
His trophy cabinet also includes four Premier League titles and one Champions League with Manchester City. He also won the Premier League with Leicester in 2016.
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They will now face the winner of Friday's clash between Colombia and Ghana in a bid to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since their home tournament in 1954.
The Swiss took the lead in the 10th minute through Breel Embolo, but Johan Manzambi did all the hard work.
The Freiburg midfielder sprinted to the box and beat the defender before keeping the ball within the lines and cutting back to Embolo to turn in from close range.
After the break, Switzerland needed only 48 seconds to find the net again and with a very welcome help from the opponents.
Algeria twice failed to clear a ball in the box after a cross from Denis Zakaria. The ball eventually found Dan Ndoye, who steered a low shot into the bottom corner.
Fabian Rieder had the chance to add a third in the 81st, but he somehow failed to finish a chance from close range and with keeper Luca Zidane spread out on the turf.
Rieder sneaked behind the Algeria defence, but his effort bounced into Zidane's arms before being cleared away.
The match also marked Granit Xhaka's 150th appearance for Switzerland.
"This day means a lot to me. It's amazing to have played 150 matches for the country where I was born and raised," the national team captain said.
"I'm proud to wear the red jersey. The fact that we had a good match and advanced (to the last 16) makes it even better."
Forward Riyad Mahrez, meanwhile, announced his retirement from international duty.
"This was my last match with Algeria," the captain said.
"Our aim was to go through and I think it was a game we could have won. But we conceded twice on mistakes and at this level, you can’t get away with it. There are always positives to take away from matches: we did manage to get out of the group stage, but we conceded too many goals to aspire to more."
Mahrez played 119 games for the national team, winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019.
Algeria reached the final after Mahrez scored in stoppage time to give his nation a 2-1 win over Nigeria.
His trophy cabinet also includes four Premier League titles and one Champions League with Manchester City. He also won the Premier League with Leicester in 2016.
Continue reading...
