Ugly win, but still a win: Penalty roulette pairs Switzerland with Argentina in World Cup quarter-finals

The penalty roulette said - red!

Switzerland advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals, beating Colombia 4-3 on penalties after an extremely uneventful two hours of football.

A goalless game isn’t always necessarily uneventful, but in the case of the clash between Switzerland and Colombia, you can bet it was by far the dullest match of the 2026 World Cup.

Statistics don’t always show the full picture, but here they did so with pinpoint accuracy, as the two rivals had a combined xG of 0.7 - less than one goal!

The opening half produced a few attempts, the second period was as drab as it gets. The best chances of the match came in extra time when the Colombian defender Jhon Lucumi hit the bar, while Zeki Amdouni and Jaminton Campaz missed colossal opportunities.

In the penalty shoot-out, the Swiss missed one shot (Manuel Akanji), while the Colombians wasted two (Davinson Sanchez and Cucho Hernandez). The European team kept a cool head, won 4-3, and scheduled the duel against Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Overwhelmed by the importance of the game or just unwilling to come out all guns blazing, Switzerland and Colombia played a rather uninteresting first half. Physical, but largely uneventful. Simply put - plenty of battles, little excitement.

Each side carved out one decent chance, but both goalkeepers were equal to the task: Gregor Kobel, denying Gustavo Puerta's 21st-minute long-range effort, and Camilo Vargas nine minutes later, producing a superb point-blank save after Fabian Rieder's shot.

In general, Colombia mostly controlled possession and showed greater attacking intent, but the Swiss defensive block held firm, keeping the game at the break - 0-0.

Pharaohs turned into mummies! Argentina's impressive comeback scripts Egypt's tragic World Cup ending

The war on the pitch of BC Place stadium in Vancouver continued in the second half, but with even greater intensity. Both teams had to sweat for every inch before gaining even the slightest advantage over their opponents. The time was passing, but even some half-chances never came.

Colombia manager Nestor Lorenzo surprised many, subbing out two of his most creative players, James Rodriguez and Jhon Arias, as early as the 66th minute, but these subs did not improve his team's performance.

Martinez is out, Jorge Jesus is coming next

Both Los Cafeteros and Switzerland looking ready to wait for the penalties to decide if necessary, as neither side was willing to risk anything and leave themselves exposed in the back. Therefore, a goalless draw and extra time were a natural outcome.

After more than an hour of literally nothing, Colombia finally came close to breaking the deadlock, when Jhon Lucumi hit the bar with a header following a corner kick in the 99th minute. At that point, set pieces seemed like the best opportunity for either side to threaten, as they hardly created chances through the open play.

However, as if the defender's attempt ignited a tiny spark, Juan Quintero tested Kobel with a long-range effort minutes later, while Vargas saved Los Cafeteros in the 104th minute with an outstanding stop of Zeki Amdouni's shot.

The final chance for the clash to be decided before the penalties came in the 115th minute, when the sub Jaminton Campaz wasted a colossal opportunity, sending the ball far over the bar from close range, following the Swiss defence's serious mistake. After that miss, it was clear that the "roulette" was inevitable.

The penalty shoot-out was a genuine rollercoaster. After three series, the teams were tied (2-2), as the two centre-backs, Davinson Sanchez and Manuel Akanji missed their shots. In the end, the Swiss were cooler under pressure, as Cucho Hernandez's miss - or rather Gregor Kobel's save - in the penultimate series, sealed Colombia's fate and scheduled the duel between Switzerland and Argentina in the quarter-finals.

WORLD CUP - KNOCKOUT STAGE

Round of 16

Saturday

Canada - Morocco 0-3 (0-0)

/Ounahi 50, 82, Rahimi 90+8/

Sunday

France - Paraguay 1-0 (0-0)

/Mbappe 70 pen/

Brazil - Norway 1-2 (0-0)

/Neymar 90+10 pen - Haaland 79, 90/

Monday

Mexico - England 2-3 (1-2)

/Quinones 42, Jimenez 69 pen - Bellingham 36,38, Kane 60 pen/

Portugal - Spain 0-1 (0-0)

/Merino 90+1/

Tuesday

USA - Belgium 1-4 (1-2)

/Tillman 31 - De Ketelaere 9, 33, Vanaken 57, Lukaku 90+3/

Argentina - Egypt 3-2 (0-1)

/Romero 79, Messi 83, Fernandez 90+2 - Ibrahim 15, Ziko 67/

Switzerland - Colombia 4-3 on penalties (0-0)