Switzerland shatters 88‑year knockout drought as Algeria exits

In Vancouver, Switzerland defeated Algeria 2‑0 to reach the World Cup round of 16, delivering their first knockout victory since 1938 and ending the tournament for Anis Hadj Moussa and Ramiz Zerrouki. The match saw Breel Embolo open the scoring in the tenth minute after a precise assist from 20‑year‑old Johan Manzambi, who has already recorded three goals and two assists in this tournament. After the break, Nottingham Forest striker Dan Ndoye doubled Switzerland's lead, capitalising on sloppy defending to fire the ball into the left corner where Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of Zinedine, could not intervene. Swiss manager Murat Yakin, who has guided his side to the round of 16 for four consecutive World Cups, now prepares for a quarter‑final against the winner of the Colombia‑Ghana clash, scheduled for 03:30 in Kansas City.

Swiss breakthrough to last 16 as Embolo and Ndoye strike

Algerian forward Anis Hadj Moussa was withdrawn twenty minutes before full‑time for Riyad Mahrez; he had previously scored in warm‑up wins over the Netherlands and Bolivia but failed to find the net in the tournament, having started against Argentina before being subbed after 64 minutes and against Jordan before being taken off fifteen minutes early. Ramiz Zerrouki also started the match but was replaced in the 58th minute by Amine Gouiri. Zerrouki spent the previous season on loan at FC Twente and remains under contract with Feyenoord for another year.

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Substitute Fabian Rieder missed a clear chance after a low cross from Denis Zakaria, who later thwarted a dangerous Algerian attack with a timely interception. Later, Rubén Vargas delivered a high cross that sailed over Embolo, while Rafik Belghali's delivery from the right was cleared by Zakaria; Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was also mentioned as part of the defensive actions.