04/07/2026

SPORTS SATURDAY | JULY 4, 2026

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2026 WORLD CUP

Tactical masterclass

Murat all praise after defensive coup SWITZERLAND pulled off a superbly orchestrated 2-0 win over Algeria to reach the World Cup’s round of 16 yes terday, shutting down their opponents’ dangerous attack and executing coach Murat Yakin’s defensive game plan per fectly. “It was a very good defensive per formance today, during every single phase during the match, we defended solidly. We didn’t allow any chances for our opponent,” Murat told a media con ference. “I’d like to praise my entire team, because they did have to suffer today, and I think that they scored just at the right moment. I think that we really deserve to move into the next round of this tournament.” Switzerland barely put a foot wrong in defence, forcing Algeria to go wide and restricting them to a handful of half chances while making the most of their own openings at the other end. “We were pushed back and our pressing didn’t really work in the begin ning, but we were really able to exploit the spaces and we were able to get free a couple of times,” Murat said. “It was important to score at the right moment – it was a lucky punch, but after that, I think that we dominated on the pitch, and I’m really happy with the overall performance because we played against very strong individual players.” The 51-year-old said he did not have a preference for which side Switzerland take on next. “There are no easy opponents. Everything has to work out perfectly for us, tactically, football-wise, and the inten sity has to be there as well, every single detail. Now we’re just very happy about this moment,” he said. ALGERIA coach Vladimir Petkovic said his side had been made to pay heavily for their mistakes as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat by Switzerland on Thursday that saw them exit the World Cup in the round of 32. Switzerland took the lead in the 10th minute when Breel Embolo scored following a quick counter attack, and Dan Ndoye added a second immediately after the break. “I can’t necessarily say it’s down to the defence or the defensive unit as a whole, but certainly, in terms of the way we defended as a team, we have been made to pay very heavily for that,” Petkovic told reporters. “Every time we’ve made our first mistake, we’ve conceded a goal … the opposition had three chances and they scored two of those. We had more opportunities than they did, but unfortunately that’s the way it is.” The 62-year-old, who has had a long association with Swiss foot ball and spent seven years in

S WITZERLAND’S Breel Embolo struck early and Dan Ndoye added a second after the break as they cruised to a 2-0 win over Algeria yesterday and into the last 16 at the World Cup, where they will meet Colombia or Ghana back in Vancouver next week. The victory was Switzerland’s first in the knockout stage since 1938, and they will fancy their chances in the next round after a tactical masterclass orchestrated by coach Murat Yakin.

Slick Switzerland sweep past Algeria to secure first knockout stage win since 1938

opponents down. Algeria’s best chance came in first-half stoppage time when Ibrahim Maza dragged a snap shot wide of the near post, one of few efforts on goal they managed in the game. The Swiss struck again almost immediately after the break, attacking down the right before a half-hearted clearance from Rafik Belghali ended up at the feet of Ndoye and the winger placed his shot beyond the dive of goalkeeper Luca Zidane. Ndoye capped a superb perform ance with his well-taken goal, reveal ing he had waited a long time for it. “Before the World Cup, I looking for that goal, and sometimes when you look for it too much, it doesn’t come,” the Nottingham Forest said. “Today, I started playing by telling myself, ‘Just play the way you know how, don’t overthink it,’ and it came natu rally. Our strength is knowing how to play as a team.” Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez announced that the game was his last for the national team. “The goal was to progress, and I think it was a game that was within our reach. We conceded two goals on mistakes, and at this level, we pay dearly for that,” he said. Asked if Thursday’s defeat would be his last match at the World Cup, the 35-year-old went one step further. “It’s my last appearance even with the national team. It was my last game,” he said. – Reuters hadn’t played for a long time, so I had to get back into the swing of things. I was really It was a role carrying considerable responsibility for a player appearing at his first World Cup, yet he embraced it impres sively, working tirelessly both in and out of possession. “I think that you can really use Manzambi on every single position,” Murat told report ers. “He’s incredibly versatile and assertive. “He has a lot of speed with the ball. He found amazing situations two or three times. But he also had to work defensively. And the longer the match went on, the more difficult it got for him. “But then you need small moments when you expect a player to really help out the team. There was a moment when we had to work defensively, and he still had the strength to carry the ball and play it 60m across the pitch. “Manzambi is evolving in the tournament. I think that in the beginning it really didn’t look like it. But I am just very happy with his devel opment.” The victory was a significant one for Switzerland, who had suffered round of 16 exits in 2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022. The three times quarterfinalists have not progressed to the last eight since 1954. Switzerland next play either Colombia or Ghana in Vancouver. – Reuters Switzerland’s Dan Ndoye (left) and Breel Embolo celebrate after scoring in either half to beat Algeria yesterday and march into the last 16 of the World Cup. – REUTERSPIC

squared for Embolo to steer the ball into the net from close range in the 10th minute. The lead secured,

Switzerland shifted to a five-man midfield out of possession, snuff ing out the space and challenging the

They shifted formations and laid traps for Algeria before hitting them with two sucker-punch goals that decided a contest short on excite ment, but full of intrigue and nuance. Pitted against a familiar foe in

Algerians to play through them, but Petkovic’s charges struggled to break

Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic, who had seven years at the helm of Switzerland between 2014 and 2021, Murat set his team up to

their

absorb early pressure and strike on the

break, and that is exactly what they did. “We couldn’t underestimate Algeria and we had to be clinical, that clinical fin ishing made the difference today,” striker Embolo said. “It gave us the energy we needed in the first half. We

could have been even more ruthless in the sec ond half. We played with great maturity. We have to stay humble and keep working.” Switzerland’s opener was as simple as it was effective. They won the ball in their own half and sent 20-year-old Johan Manzambi off down the left on the counter, and he

“We are very happy that we move into the next round of the tournament. I’m very grateful for my staff. I’m grateful to my players, and I’m also grateful to all of the fans in Switzerland who woke up very early this morning.” – Reuters Algeria coach says Atlas Lions punished for mistakes

Manzambi at heart of Swiss knockout success JOHAN MANZAMBI delivered another standout performance at the World Cup as

charge of the national team, said the step up at the World Cup was a big one for his side. “We defended very well and we didn’t concede a lot of goals heading into the World Cup, but here at the tournament, the level has been very high and so we needed to be a little bit neater and tidier and adapt a bit more to this level,” he said. Petkovic said he was happy with how his side had performed overall, and that they had simply lost to the better team. “It was already a big success to be back at a competition like this after 12 years away. And making it through the group stage for only the second time in our history, I think that’s also an excellent result,” he said. “Of course, we wanted to achieve a little bit more, but we weren’t able to do so. “We need to learn from our shortcomings that we displayed but we’ve also had a whole host of positive moments in the matches.” – Reuters

Switzerland booked their place in the round of 16 yesterday, the 20-year-old setting up his team’s opener in a 2-0 victory over Algeria. Coming into the game with three goals and an assist to his name, Manzambi was once again central to Switzerland’s attacking threat as they ended an 88-year wait for a World Cup knockout victory. After scoring one and setting up another in the 2-1 group-stage win over co-hosts Canada, Manzambi was handed a second consecutive World Cup start by coach Murat Yakin. The youngster repaid that faith with a dis play full of confidence and intelligence. Switzerland’s opener was a perfect illustra tion of his quality. Picking up the ball on the left flank, Manzambi drove forward with purpose before whipping a low cross across the face of goal for Breel Embolo to sweep home. The midfielder looked entirely at ease operating alongside seasoned internationals Granit Xhaka, Denis Zakaria and Remo Freuler. After taking the lead, Switzerland settled into a five-man midfield, with Manzambi given the freedom to roam.