Switzerland sealed their place in the last 32 of the World Cup by defeating co-hosts Canada to finish top of Group B.
Goals from Ruben Vargas and Johan Manzambi in the opening 12 minutes of the second half were enough to secure top spot in Vancouver.
The victory also ensured Switzerland are only the third nation – alongside Argentina and France – to reach the knockout stages in each of the last four World Cups.
As a result, they will face one of the third-placed teams from Group E, F, G, H, I or J in Vancouver on 3 July.
Despite the defeat, Canada secured a place in the knockout stages for the first time in their history after finishing second in Group B, having drawn with Bosnia and Herzegovina and thrashed Qatar in their previous two matches.
But by failing to finish top of the standings, Jesse Marsch’s side have surrendered their home advantage and will now not play any more of their matches in Canada.
Their next match will come at the Los Angeles Stadium in California on 28 June when they will face the runners-up of Group A.
…Mexico Crush Czech To Maintain 100% Winning Run
Mexico scored three second-half goals to eliminate the Czech Republic from the World Cup and end the group phase with maximum points.
Co-hosts Mexico had been confirmed as group winners prior to their final game in Mexico City, having already beaten South Africa and South Korea.
That gave boss Javier Aguirre an opportunity to rotate his squad and left-back Mateo Chavez, one of five players brought into the starting line-up from their previous fixture, showed superb composure to net his first international goal just after half-time.
Teenager Gilberto Mora, another player given his first start of the tournament, impressed in midfield and supplied the pass that led to Mexico’s second goal, which was scored by Julian Quinones.
Mora slid Jorge Sanchez through on goal and, although he was initially denied by goalkeeper Matej Kovar, a chaotic passage of play inside the Czechs’ six-yard box ended with Quinones poking in a loose ball to score his second goal of the World Cup.
Aged 17 years and 253 days, Mora became the sixth-youngest player in history to start a men’s World Cup match and the youngest player to do so for Mexico.
He received a brilliant ovation when he was substituted after 72 minutes and his replacement, Alvaro Fidalgo, found the top corner from 15 yards to complete the scoring.
BBC
