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Switzerland eliminated Colombia in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup by winning 4-3 in the penalty shootout, after a goalless draw that lasted through the full 90 minutes of regulation and the entire 30 minutes of extra time.
The match was held this Tuesday at , starting at 4:00 PM Cuban time.
The match saw little offensive production from both sides. Colombia had a slight edge in possession at 51% and generated five shots, though only one was on target. Switzerland, with just two attempts, managed to place both on goal. Corner kicks also favored the Colombians (four to one), but neither team was able to convert during regulation or extra time.
The match was characterized by yellow cards: Granit Xhaka (min. 51) and Denis Zakaria (min. 59) received cards for Switzerland, while Luis Suárez (min. 60) and Davinson Sánchez (min. 95) were carded for Colombia.
One of the most talked-about moments came in the 66th minute, when Colombian coach Néstor Lorenzo substituted James Rodríguez and Jhon Arias for Juan Quintero and Jordi Campaz. In the 119th minute, with the score still tied at zero, Yerry Mina came on for Lucumí, aiming to be a key player in the shootout.
In the penalty shootout, Quintero opened the scoring for Colombia, and Xhaka responded for Switzerland. Davinson Sánchez's turn was crucial: his shot did not score, leaving Colombia at a disadvantage. Amdouni extended Switzerland's lead, Campaz pulled one back for the Colombians, but Manuel Akanji's miss kept the excitement until the end. With the score at 4-3 in favor of the Swiss, Colombia was eliminated from the tournament.
The Colombians arrived at this crossing as undefeated leaders of Group K with seven points, having beaten Ghana 1-0 in the round of 32 thanks to a goal from Jhon Arias. Switzerland, on the other hand, had just eliminated Algeria 2-0 with goals from Embolo and Ndoye, marking their first victory in a knockout stage of a World Cup in 88 years.
With their spot in the quarter-finals secured, Switzerland will face Argentina on Saturday, July 11, in Kansas City. The Albiceleste advanced this Tuesday after coming back to defeat Egypt 3-2 in their own round of 16 match.
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