Switzerland reached quarter-finals for the first time since 1954Image Credit source: Getty Images
Switzerland vs Colombia: In every round of FIFA World Cup 2026, one team or the other is creating history and healing old wounds. Egypt came very close and missed doing so in their pre-quarterfinal match against Argentina. But in the last match of this round, Switzerland ended the wait of 72 years. In the match against Colombia, Switzerland won 4-3 in the penalty shootout and made it to the quarter-finals for the first time since 1954. The star of Switzerland’s victory was 6.5 feet tall goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who saved a penalty in the shootout.
No goals were scored for two hours
This match was played in Vancouver round of 16 It was the last match of. The line-up of the quarter finals was to be completed by the winner of this match. But it took about two and a half hours to decide the winner of this match. Playing without some of their star players, both the teams were not successful in scoring goals in the entire match. South American team Colombia put a lot of pressure on its European opponent in this match but could not find a goal in the entire 90 minutes of play.
The reason for this was Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who made two excellent saves in the first 90 minutes. Switzerland also created some chances but they also failed to score. Then the match went into extra time and here too both teams failed for 30 minutes. Once again Kobel brilliantly foiled the Colombian attack. In total, in 120 minutes of play, Colombia attacked Switzerland’s goal 15 times, out of which only 3 shots hit the target. But all three were thwarted by the goalkeeper.
Goalkeeper ends 72 years of wait
In the end the decision was taken in the penalty shootout and it was very special. Switzerland’s 28-year-old goalkeeper Kobel was taking part in a shootout for the first time. Statistics show that before this match in his professional career, he faced 57 different penalties, out of which he could save only 10. But he proved to be a star in his very first shootout.
Davinson Sanchez missed Colombia’s second penalty and his shot hit the goal post. Manuel Akanji, who came to take the third penalty for Switzerland, also missed. After the initial 3-3 penalties, the score was tied at 2-2. Then Colombia’s fourth penalty proved fatal. Cucho Hernandez’s penalty was stopped by goalkeeper Kobel with a tremendous dive, after which Switzerland scored the next two penalties to win the shootout 4-3 and made it to the quarter-finals after 72 years.
