Switzerland 2 – 1 Canada

Switzerland silenced the home fans in Vancouver with a 2-1 win over Canada to claim top spot in Group B.

Jessie Marsh’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 was shell-shocked and forced to settle for second.

After a first half where neither side wanted to impose themselves on proceedings, Ruben Vargas gave Murat Yakin’s side the advantage with a fierce strike 40 seconds into the second half.

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

Promise David pulled one back for Canada with his first touch off the bench, but it wasn’t enough. Defeat for the host nation means they won’t have the luxury of being in Vancouver for the Round of 32 tie. As things stand, South Korea will be the Canadians’ likely opponent in Los Angeles, while Switzerland will face the third-place team in Group E, F, G, I or J.

Highlights from Vancouver…

• 11: Embolo wastes a good first chance for Switzerland

• 46: Goal! Vargas scored for Switzerland 40 seconds into the second half

• 57: Goal! Manzambi made it two after disastrous defending

• 68: Elvedi makes a great save to deny David from half a deficit

• 76: Goal! After the introduction of David, 73 seconds behind one pull!

• 90+3: Denied a second and late equalizer by David Kobel

• 90+6: Kobel needed again to put Canada away late on

Analysis: Too little, too late from Canada

Sky Sports’ Callum Bishop:

Jesse Marsh vowed his team would not play for a draw. Yet, they only came up when they were in a position where they needed to rescue one of them.

For the first three quarters of an hour, they were passive, sloppy and did nothing to get the crowd on their feet. They played like a team who knew they were guaranteed to go through. The idea of ​​taking the top spot to stay in Vancouver for the Round of 32 doesn’t seem to motivate them.

Promise David’s initiation lit a fire, and if it had happened earlier, perhaps the outcome would have been different. But it was too late.

Marsh said at full-time that he wished he had moved into the back five at the break. He lamented how his side handled certain moments, but then digressed to praise his team’s response. This was called out by Ian Wright, who described the former Leeds man as “performative” and accused him of not pushing hard enough to secure the top spot.

Maybe Marsh wanted to put a positive spin on the result knowing that the Canadians had already made history by reaching the last 32. They’re still in the tournament – no use beating ourselves up, right? But the way they were so inactive, with their fans behind them, was going to cause disappointment.

What does the result mean?

Marsh is proud of Canada’s heart:

Canada the boss Jesse March:

“I know our team has heart, right? I know we have a team that will give everything every moment. And that’s something to be very proud of. It’s about managing the little moments. Even at the beginning of the game, I thought we were a little aggressive and not really aggressive and not sprinting enough.

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

“The only thing I wish I could have done differently is I went to the back five at half-time to lock things down. And when we came out like that, of course I wish I would have done it. I think I should have done it.”

Alphonso Davis not playing: “Alfonso will be ready (for the next round). We thought about Alfonso, but we were just trying to manage him and not put him in a situation where we thought he would be in danger. He should be ready for the next match.”

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