Hello and welcome to tonights highly anticipated Group B match up between Switzerland and Canada, taking place at the BC Place in Vancouver.
Switzerland take on the co-hosts Canada in a winner takes all game to decide who tops Group B. Canada, playing on the continent they’re co-hosting, there’s enormous pressure to deliver infront of their fans. Switzerland, as ever, will look to be disciplined and hard to break down. Don’t expect fireworks early considering what’s at stake, but with so much potentially riding on the result for both sides, this has all the ingredients for a nervy, tense affair that could go right down to the wire.
The lineups are out and here’s how both sides will take to the field.
Two changes for the hosts following their 6-0 thrashing over Qatar. Stephen Eustaquio is replaced by Anderlechts Nathan Saliba, as well the injured Ismael Kone is replaced by Mathieu Choiniere. So Canada will be starting this game with a new midfield duo who are yet to start a game together this tournament.
Switzerland have made four changes as Silvan Widmer, Michel Aebischer, Fabian Rieder and Dan Ndoye are replaced by Luca Jaquez, Djibril Sow, Johan Manzambi and Ruben Vargas. Manzambi has been rewarded with a deserved start after an inspired brace off the bench from to give the Swiss their first win of the tournament vs Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Canada will need just one point to secure the top spot in Group B and qualify for the knockout stages for the countries first time. Switzerland need to win if they want to top the group. The winner of the group will face a third place team while the runner up will face the runner up in group A.
1′ Switzerland get us underway here in Vancouver
4′ Canada with an early free kick deep in the Swiss half but they fail to capitalise as Canada clear their lines
9′ Switzerland have started the better of the two sides, and look imposing on the ball. Canada have started very tentatively and have struggled with the Swiss press
11′ Breel Embolo misses a golden opportunity to give the Swiss the lead has he finds himself one on one with Maxime Crepeau but the Swiss forward is denied as his shot is well saved and the first big chance of the game is missed
14′ Cyle Larin finds himself one on one infront of Gregor Kobel but appears to have too much time on his hands and fails to round the Dortmund keeper, although the offside flag goes up anyway
18′ If Canada were to top Group B they would face their round of 32 opponents on home soil
20′ Luc De Fougerolles connects from an outswinging corner but his effort on goal is straight at Kobel who calmy catches the shot
23′ The referee blows for the first hydration break of the game
29′ Turning our attention to the other game in Group B playing at the moment, Bosnia have taken the lead as they look to secure a third place finish and progress to the knockout stages
31′ Tensions flare as a coming together between Granit Xhaka and Larin with teamates from either side piling on
31′ Both Xhaka and Larin have been cautioned with a yellow card
33′ Larin with a good chance to give Canada the lead as he brilliantly works his way to the left hand side of the box as his bending shot is well saved by Kobel down to the keepers left hand side
36′ Embolo is appealing for a penalty as he appears to be brought down in the box by De Fougerolles but there was minimal contact and the referee waives the Swiss strikers plea
37′ Another update in the Bosnia vs Qatar game. Bosnia now find themselves 2-0 to the good and look certain to progress into the knockout round
38′ Switzerland get a free kick just 25 yards out and the captain, Xhaka steps up but blazes the opportunity well over the bar
40′ Ali Ahmed of Norwich City has a golden chance as the ball is worked across the box to Ahmed on the left hand side who is in acres of space but he could only force a routine save out of Kobel who parries it out for a corner
42′ A third update in the other game in group B and is the comeback on? Qatar pull one back through Hassan Al Haidos to unsettle the nerves of the Bosnia fans and players
44′ Canada are currently enjoying large amounts of possession and have had a few chances during this time. The latest coming from Jonathon David who’s shot from the edge of the box is blazed high and wide.
44′ Can Canada make the most of this momentum?
45′ The fourth offical anounces four minutes of additional time
HT’ The referee blows for half time, neither side being able to capitalise on their chances as we are at a 0-0 stalemate.
Canada will be the happier of the two, they’re doing what they need to do to top the group. The longer this stays 0-0 the more desperate the Swiss will get which could leave opportunities for Canada to go up the other end and kill the game completely.
Who do you have finishing atop Group B come the end of the 90 minutes?
45′ And we’re back underway…
46′ GOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL. Switzerland stun Canada, just 40 seconds after the restart, Vargas is unmarked at the back post as he’s picked out brilliantly by Manzambi, Vargas slots his effort away brilliantly leaving Crepeau no chance. If this result stays like this it would mean Switzerland would top the group
46′ Manzambi is on fire once again, this time providing the assist for the goal and has now racked up three G/A’s this tournament
46′ Vargas has now scored the fastest second half goal of the tournament and the fastest since the 2010 World Cup
51′ Canada look very unsettled following the Swiss early second half goal, Jesse Marsch will need to rally his players together if they want to finish top of Group B
57′ GOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL. It’s Manzambi again, this time he finds himself on the scoresheet. Embolo holds up the ball brilliantly in the box who lays it off to Manzambi and fires his shot under Crepeau. Switzerland’s starboy does it again
57′ Crepeau really should be doing better there as the shot goes right under him but Switzerland won’t care as they look certain to finish top of the group.
59′ The BC Place Stadium has fallen silent following the two Switzerland second half goals
65′ Manzambi has played just over 100 minutes for Switzerland this tournament and has racked up three goals and an assist. If Switzerland are to win this game and finish top of Group B they have him to thank
68′ Huge block by Elvedi as he denies Ahmed a certain goal. Ahmed’s eyes must of lit up as the ball bounced to him just a few yards out but in comes the flying Swiss to block the shot and keep their two goal advantage
72′ The referee blows for the second and final hydration break of the game
72′ Manzambi and Vargas are the first pair of Switzerland team-mates to both score in back to back World Cup matches since 1954
76′ GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL. Promise David with his first touch after coming off the bench gives Canada a lifeline as he superbly slides in to rifle his effort into the back of the net. Ladies and Gentlemen we have a game on our hands, Canada just need one more goal to top the group
78′ All the momentum is with the Canadians, the crowd are up for it but are the players? Can they produce one more moment of magic
79′ Canada almost make it 2-2 as Derek Cornelius almost guides his header goalward, alas he misses the target and it remains 2-1 to Switzerland who are well under the cosh.
81′ Update in the Bosnia vs Qatar game. Bosnia now solidify their third place in the group as Ermin Mehmic puts the game to bed
85′ The minutes are ticking by and with that Canada get more and more desperate as they search for this equaliser
87′ A wasteful corner by Canada as they fail to beat the first man and Switzerland clear it easily, these are opportunities Canada cannot waste
Can Canada knick a last minute goal?
90′ We now head into additional time as the fourth offical holds up six remaining minutes
90′ Another chance for Cornelius as he gets slight contact on his header after an inswinging ball into the box, any sort of decent contact and it would of been a certain goal
90+2′ Promise David has a chance to grab his second, a long throw was flung into the box and he flicks his effort goalwards but Kobel makes a good diving save
90+5′ It’s now or never for Canada…
90+6′ What a chance for Johnston who has a free header in the box but can’t guide it into the back of the net, either side of Kobel and that’s a certain goal but the Celtic man cannot capitalise on the chan
FT’ And that is that, Switzerland top Group B. Canada through everything at it towards the end but they came up just short. Switzerland will be thrilled having started so well in that second half which ended up putting the game to bed
Switzerland leap frog Canada to finish top of the group as both teams qualify to the knockout stages. Breel Embolo had the best chance in the first half as his shot was saved following a one on one. Vargas fired Switzerland ahead within 40 seconds following the restart. Manzambi after setting up the first goal scored the second of the game after slotting his chance into the back of the net. Promise David gave Canada life following his goal on the 76th minute. Following the goal back it was all Canada but they couldn’t capitalise on their momentum. Switzerland will now face a third-placed team in the Round of 32 while Canada will face the runners up of Group A, which at the moment is South Korea. Thanks for tuning into this live coverage.