Switzerland 2 – 1 Canada

Switzerland claimed top spot in Group B after silencing the home fans in Vancouver with a 2-1 win over Canada.

Jesse Marsch’s side headed into the game knowing a point would be enough to top the group thanks to their superior goal difference, but a second-half flurry from the Swiss left shell-shocked and forced to settle for second.

After a first half in which neither side wanted to impose themselves on proceedings, Ruben Vargas burst the game into life with a fierce strike 40 seconds into the second half to give Murat Yakin’s side the advantage.

That lead was doubled just 10 minutes later as Johan Manzambi capitalised on poor defending to squeeze an effort underneath Maxime Crepeau who should have done better.

Promise David did pull one back for Canada with his first touch off the bench, but it wasn’t enough. Defeat for the host nation means that they will not have the luxury of remaining in Vancouver for their round of 32 tie. As things stand, South Korea would be the likely opponent for the Canadians in Los Angeles, while Switzerland could be in line to face Belgium.

The key moments from Vancouver…

• 11: Embolo wastes good early chance for Switzerland

• 46: GOAL! Vargas fires Switzerland ahead 40 seconds into the second half

• 57: GOAL! Manzambi makes it two after calamitous defending

• 68: Elvedi makes great block to deny David from halving deficit

• 76: GOAL! David pulls one back 73 seconds after introduction!

• 90+3: David is denied a second and late equaliser by Kobel

• 90+6: Kobel needed again to keep out Canada late on

Analysis: Too little, too late from Canada

Sky Sports’ Callum Bishop:

Jesse Marsch promised his team wouldn’t go out to play for a draw. Yet, it was only when they were in a position where they needed to salvage one that they turned up.

For the first three quarters of an hour, they were passive, sloppy and didn’t do anything to get the crowd on their feet. They played like a team who knew they were pretty much guaranteed to go through. The idea of taking top spot to stay in Vancouver for the round of 32 didn’t appear to motivate them.

The introduction of Promise David lit a fire, and had that happened earlier, perhaps the result would be different. But it was too little too late.

Marsch said at full-time that he wished he’d have switched to the back five at the break. He moaned about how his side managed certain moments, but then deflected to praise the response from his team. That was called out by Ian Wright, who described the former Leeds man as “performative” and accused him of not pushing enough to secure that top spot.

Maybe Marsch wanted to put a positive spin on the result knowing that the Canadians have already made history by reaching the last 32. They’re still in the tournament – no point beating themselves up, right? But the way they were so passive throughout, with their fans behind them, is going to cause frustration.

What the result means…

Marsch proud of Canada heart:

Canada boss Jesse Marsch speaking on ITV Sport:

“I know our team has heart, right? I know that we have a group that will give everything to every moment. And that is something to be so proud of. It’s just then managing little moments. Even the start of the game, I thought we were a little bit tentative and not really aggressive and not sprinting enough.

“But we’re going to focus on the positives. We’re going to focus on the response. Again, good performances off the bench.

“The only thing I wish I would have done differently is that I had gone to five at the back to really lock things down at half-time. And when we come out like that, then obviously I wish I would have done that. I think I should have done that.”

On Alphonso Davies not playing: “Alphonso will be ready [for the next round]. We thought about Alphonso, but we were trying to just manage him and not put him in a situation where we felt like he would be at danger. He should be ready for the next match.”

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