Switzerland are through to the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup after having beaten Serbia 3-2 in their final group game. However, Yann Sommer and Nico Elvedi missed out due to illness.
It was great success for the Nati, having secured their third consecutive place in the knockouts on Friday evening. They beat Serbia 3-2 in what was an intense affair, but were without both Yann Sommer and Nico Elvedi, who were replaced by head coach Murat Yakin by Gregor Kobel and Fabian Schär.
After Switzerland went in front (Photo: imago images/Agencia MexSport) through Xherdan Shaqiri in the 20th minute, the ‘Eagles’ turned it up a notch and quickly turned proceedings around. First Aleksandar Mitrovic glanced home a cross to bring them level (26’), before Dusan Vlahovic dug out a finish on his left foot into the bottom right corner to put his nation in front (35’).
Switzerland were not to be left shellshocked, however – hitting back just before the break, as Borussia man Breel Embolo tapped home an inch-perfect cross from Silvan Widmer to make it 2-2 (44’). Just a few minutes after the restart, the Eidgenossen completed their own comeback – as Ruben Vargas played in Remo Freuler with a backheel, who rifled past the goalkeeper from close range (48’) to make it 3-2 – the final goal of the game.
Portugal await in Tuesday’s round of 16 tie
Switzerland confirmed their place in the round of 16 as they finished second behind Brazil in Group G. Cameroon’s surprising 1-0 win over the Seleção in the group’s other fixture didn’t change that, so the Nati will take on Portugal on Tuesday (20:00 CET) for a place in the quarter-finals. Sommer and Elvedi could feature in the game, with Yakin commenting: “They looked quite good on Friday, but worse on Saturday, so we will have to wait and see.” In terms of the opponent, he added: “Portugal go into it as favourites, but I don’t think they like playing against us. We are ready, and my players are eager to deliver.”
