A second-half blitz from Switzerland, which involved two goals in eleven minutes from Ruben Vargas and Johan Manzambi, ended Canada’s hopes of finishing top of Group B and sent the Nati through as group winners at BC Place in Vancouver on Wednesday night, with a 2–1 victory that was more commanding than the scoreline suggests.
The result means Switzerland advances to the Round of 32 on 3 July, still in Vancouver, where they will face one of the third-placed teams from Groups E, F, G, H, I or J. Canada, despite their historic qualification for the knockout rounds, will now travel to Los Angeles on 28 June, having forfeited home advantage by finishing second.
“It’s hard to make a prediction, but what I will say is that we have a good team. First of all, it’s important that we are through to the next stage,” said midfielder Michel Aebischer.
“I think we played three good games. The first one with the result not so good, but at the end we got two wins, one draw, so we are confident as a team.”
A Cautious First Half
Canada entered the game knowing that a draw would be enough to top the group thanks to their superior goal difference. That knowledge appeared to weigh on their approach: Jesse Marsch’s side were cautious, unwilling to open up and take risks, and the first half reflected it.
Switzerland had the clearest opening, when Breel Embolo, playing his 149th international, saw his shot from inside the box expertly tipped away by goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau. Canada, who had scored six goals against Qatar the week before, managed only three shots on target in a subdued 45 minutes.
Granit Xhaka, captaining Switzerland in his 149th international appearance, was composed, but the game needed a spark.
Read More: Switzerland’s World Cup Opens In Heartbreak
40 Seconds Into the Second Half, Vargas Strikes
The spark arrived with almost comic timing. Just 40 seconds after the restart, Ruben Vargas arrived at the back post to meet a cross from Manzambi and finished calmly, his second goal of the tournament. The Vancouver crowd, having waited 45 minutes for any drama, barely had time to settle back into their seats.
Canada’s game plan, built on the assumption they could manage a draw, was instantly redundant.
Manzambi Makes It Two
Eleven minutes later, the match was effectively over. A moment of “calamitous defending” by Canada allowed Johan Manzambi to capitalise, squeezing an effort underneath Crepeau from inside the box, a goal the goalkeeper will feel he should have kept out. Switzerland led 2–0 and were in full control.
A Late Scare, And Kobel’s Heroics
Canada finally found their urgency. Substitute Promise David, introduced moments earlier, needed just 73 seconds to make an impact, pulling one back with his first touch to make it 2–1 in the 76th minute.
The final quarter of an hour was nervy. Switzerland defender Nico Elvedi produced a crucial block to deny David from equalising in the 68th minute. In stoppage time, goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was called upon twice, denying David a second goal in the 90+3rd minute and making another key stop in the 90+6th, to seal the points.
Switzerland Wins And The Win Is Historically Significant
The Nati are now only the third nation, alongside Argentina and France, to reach the knockout stage in each of the last four World Cups. Murat Yakin’s side have done so with a record of one win, one draw and one defeat, having been denied a winning start by that gut-wrenching own goal against Qatar in matchday one.
For Canada, there is still history to savour: they have qualified for the knockout rounds of a World Cup for the first time ever. But the manner of this defeat, passive in the first half when boldness was needed, and the loss of home advantage will sting. There is also a significant injury concern: midfielder Ismaël Koné was hurt in the match, and with Assim Madibo serving a five-match ban following a serious challenge, Canada face their Round of 32 tie in Los Angeles significantly depleted in midfield.
