Newcastle United’s interest in Johan Manzambi is well justified. The 20-year-old Freiburg forward showcased his talent by dismantling Algeria’s defense, setting up Breel Embolo for Switzerland’s opening goal in a decisive victory that secured a spot in the last 16. Captain Granit Xhaka has been attempting to temper rising expectations, but it becomes increasingly challenging after Switzerland’s first knockout win in a World Cup since 1938.
This marks a significant milestone for the current Swiss squad, although President Guy Parmelin noted their recent strong form. Seated in the VIP section with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Parmelin sported a striking red cap reminiscent of Donald Trump’s, which read, “Switzerland great since 1291” instead of the usual campaign slogans.
Manzambi not only added to his three previous goals with an assist but also became the youngest player to achieve five goal involvements at a World Cup since records began. The only other player under 21 to reach this milestone in the past two decades was Thomas Müller with Germany in 2010. “He is a precious player for us, a brilliant footballer and he is just improving one match after the other,” stated Switzerland’s head coach, Murat Yakin. “He has so many qualities as a player … It’s just so much fun to work with him and see him perform like that. He is really evolving.”
Despite a warning from the stadium announcer urging the audience to watch out for Manzambi, Algeria’s defense was caught off guard. “He’s had a great tournament, keep your eyes on him,” echoed through the stadium as his warm-up was displayed on the giant screen. The same display indicated that Manzambi ranked sixth in FIFA’s attacking power rankings, trailing notable stars like Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland.
Just ten minutes into the match, Ruben Vargas delivered a clever pass to Manzambi, who took charge and skillfully maneuvered the ball down the wing, evading Algeria’s right-back Aissa Mandi. Despite being off-balance, he managed to deliver a precise cross that Embolo finished off, celebrating with a playful facial expression.
After taking the lead, Switzerland controlled the game and extended their advantage just 48 seconds into the second half. Dan Ndoye effortlessly converted Mandi’s hopeful clearance with his left foot, then sent a powerful shot with his right into the far corner, just beyond goalkeeper Luca Zidane’s reach. Yakin, sporting a greying quiff and thick-rimmed glasses, emerged from the dugout to savor the moment as the team moved closer to the next round.
Switzerland’s journey started with a disappointing draw against Qatar, where a late equalizer overshadowed their dominance. However, they have now secured three consecutive victories, scoring eight goals while conceding only two. Vargas was a constant threat on the left side, while Ndoye posed challenges on the right. Manzambi was substituted midway through the second half, having made his mark. Defensively, Switzerland faced little trouble, with Algeria failing to test goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Houssem Aouar squandered a prime opportunity after five minutes, and later Ibrahim Maza shot wide after Mahrez’s assist. Following Algeria’s second goal concession, Mahrez’s shot lacked conviction. The Algeria captain announced his retirement from international football, leaving him to lament that missed chance in his final outing.
Switzerland nearly scored a third goal in the 81st minute when Denis Zakaria crossed into the box, but instead of scoring, Fabian Rieder mishandled the opportunity, allowing Zidane to recover the ball easily. Ultimately, this miss was inconsequential, as Switzerland comfortably advanced to their next match against either Colombia or Ghana in Vancouver on Tuesday.
Vladimir Petkovic, Algeria’s head coach, is familiar with Switzerland, having managed the team for seven years, leading them in two World Cups and to the Euro 2020 quarter-finals. “In tournaments, you need a little bit of the rub of the green, to be in the right place at the right time, but Switzerland have a lot of quality and they can certainly make it through the next round,” Petkovic remarked. “Switzerland can compete with every team at this tournament.”
- World Cup 2026
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