Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Billy Munday

Switzerland beat Colombia on penalties: World Cup 2026 last 16 – as it happened

Switzerland players in red uniforms run and celebrate together on a grass pitch
Switzerland players celebrate after winning the penalties. Photograph: Luke Hales/Getty Images

That’ll do from me. I’ll leave you with Alexander Abnos’s match report from Vancouver …

The Switzerland players sit down to watch their supporters celebrate before jumping up to join in with the festivities. There’s one banner of Granit Xhaka, complete with Statue of Liberty spiked crown, holding the World Cup trophy.

The full quarter-final lineup

France v Morocco
Spain v Belgium
Norway v England
Argentina v Switzerland

Colombia’s run ends here, then. From the Azteca in Mexico City to BC Place in Vancouver, via Miami and Kansas City – it’s been a long one. Their fans have been terrific. A tearful Luis Díaz is staring into the distance on the pitch.

Updated

Murat Yakin looks unruffled by the whole thing. He’s broken a streak of three last-16 exits at the World Cup – the first of those by Saturday’s opponents Argentina in 2014. Score to settle?

Switzerland will face Argentina in the fourth and final quarter-final on Saturday night in Kansas City. The winners of that will play Norway or England in the semis.

Swiss joy is contrasted by Colombian tears. The Switzerland bench empties to converge on Kobel and Ruben Vargas down that end. Camilo Vargas sits on the goal-line having dived the wrong way for the winning penalty.

Updated

Switzerland beat Colombia 4-3 on penalties!

Ruben Vargas sends Camilo Vargas the wrong way and sends Switzerland through to their first World Cup quarter-final since 1954!

Updated

Díaz scores! Switzerland 3-3 Colombia

Díaz cooly slots it into the bottom left corner after a stuttering run-up. Ruben Vargas can win it for Switzerland …

Itten scores! Switzerland 3-2 Colombia

It’s advantage Switzerland again. Itten hits it straight down the middle. Díaz must score for Colombia.

Kobel saves from Hernández! Switzerland 2-2 Colombia

Hernández goes bottom left, Kobel gets across and does well to save!

Updated

Akanji misses! Switzerland 2-2 Colombia

We’re level again! Akanji stutters and blazes it over the bar! Dear me.

Campaz scores! Switzerland 2-2 Colombia

Kobel goes the right way diving to his left but Campaz’s kick squirms agonisingly under him.

Amdouni scores! Switzerland 2-1 Colombia

It’s cool as you like. Amdouni’s run-up is slow and he just strokes it into the bottom right corner. Switzerland lead.

Sánchez hits the bar! Switzerland 1-1 Colombia

Sánchez stutters in his run-up and smashes it down the middle. It comes off the underside of the bar, bounces down on to the line and away.

Updated

Xhaka scores! Switzerland 1-1 Colombia

Vargas goes the right way, gets a hand to it, but can only palm it into the top corner.

Quintero scores! Switzerland 0-1 Colombia

The midfield technician smashes it down the middle!

Updated

The penalties will be taken down the end where there are lots of Colombia fans – but it would’ve been anyway. Colombia will take first.

Switzerland’s only previous World Cup penalty shootout was that appalling 3-0 loss to Ukraine at the 2006 World Cup.

Both these teams have lost penalty shootouts to England in semi-recent tournaments (Switzerland at Euro 2024, Colombia at 2018 World Cup) – draw your own conclusions.

Apparently Yerry Mina can take a mean spot-kick. And it’ll probably be Vargas v Vargas (Ruben v Camilo) at some point.

Full time in extra time: Switzerland 0-0 Colombia

It’s penalties! Obviously.

120 min One minute added. Get your lists out.

119 min Mina, seemingly from the depths of time, ambles on.

118 min Lucumí wants to go off. It might be cramp. Yerry Mina is ready to come on.

117 min Quintero swings a free-kick into the box. There’s a flick-on at the near post but no one there at the back stick. Lucumí is down injured in the area.

116 min Big chance for Colombia! Oh, man. A mistake at the back from Switzerland sees the ball bounce at Campaz’s feet inside the box but he sticks it over the bar!

Updated

114 min Xhaka pulls his shirt over his face as he curls a shot of his own over the crossbar from the edge of the box. He is more than capable from that range.

113 min The crowd rises as Quintero cushions the ball on the edge of the box, shifts it on to his left and curls a shot high and wide of the far post.

111 min Switzerland’s back four and goalkeeper ping it around among themselves. There are some boos.

109 min Mojica spanks a pass out of play, unchallenged. Everybody’s looking a bit tired now.

107 min Elvedi scrambles to stop a ball falling to Díaz from Vargas’s long kick. He wins a foul, to Díaz’s disdain.

Back under way: 15 minutes for someone to stop this going to penalties.

“Do either of these teams look like they will seriously trouble Argentina in the quarter-final?” asks David Hindle.

I would argue that Egypt and Cape Verde have seriously troubled Argentina already.

Half-time in extra time: Switzerland 0-0 Colombia

Well there was a fair bit of action there. Lucumí hit the crossbar for Colombia and Amdouni went close with almost his first touch off the Switzerland bench.

105+1 min Ríos skips past a couple of Switzerland defenders and, instead of shooting, feeds it to Díaz. The winger is falling as he shoots and it’s blocked for a corner.

105 min Muheim gets a yellow card for blocking Campaz. One minute added.

104 min Amdouni tests Vargas! The substitute is involved straight away, working space for a shot some 10 yards out. It gets through the Colombia defenders and Vargas stops it diving to his left. The flag was up.

Updated

103 min Vargas yelps as he’s brought down by a sheepish Ríos, who is a booking away from suspension. Zeki Amoundi replaces Rieder for Switzerland.

102 min Lucumí attacks it again and Kobel gets a double-fisted punch to it and wins a free-kick for the fact that Lucumí was challenging him.

101 min Campaz troubles Kobel with a powerful, swerving strike from range. It’s a corner …

99 min Colombia hit the bar! Campaz releases Díaz down the left. He fronts up to Widmar and wins a corner. Quintero’s delivery is excellent and Lucumí heads it against the crossbar.

Updated

97 min Muñoz knees Vargas in the back by the touchline.

95 min Elvedi drops a shoulder to go past Díaz in his own box. Itten tries to get away in the Switzerland half and Sánchez brings him down and is booked.

94 min Xhaka does extremely well to head Quintero’s free-kick out from under his own crossbar. Campaz then goes down under Muheim’s challenge and Colombia want a penalty. Referee says no, VAR agrees.

Updated

92 min Quintero sprays a ball out to the left and Díaz’s touch is loose. He still manages to toe it past Widmar and goes down under the challenge – free-kick given. Quintero stands over it.

Extra time starts

Quintero gets the fun going again.

Full time: Switzerland 0-0 Colombia

We’re in for the long haul, people.

90+4 min The referee speaks to Akanji and Ríos before it’s taken. Sánchez heads Rieder’s cross away.

90+3 min Switzerland win a corner …

90+2 min Sow threads a ball into the penalty area and Ndoye tries to direct it on target from a tight angle but it rolls away from danger. Rubén Vargas replaces Ndoye.

The Switzerland penalty shout – for a challenge from Lucumí on Rieder – is a perhaps valid one. VAR not interested.

Updated

90 min Another desperate penalty shout as Rieder goes down in the Colombia box. Nothing given.

Five minutes added.

Updated

89 min Díaz cuts inside and swings a cross to the back post. Campaz is there but goes down as Ndoye throws an arm out after him. Risky.

87 min Embolo’s afternoon is up – Cedric Itten replaces him. Zakaria heads off too, with Silvan Widmar on in his place.

86 min Díaz has a chance to run at Zakaria, who is on a yellow, but turns it out. It’s played inside and Campaz thumps a cross into a Switzerland defender.

“Lerma is *always* a yellow card waiting to happen,” writes Jim Forrester. Fair point.

84 min Ndoye does well, speeding past Muñoz into the area but the Colombia right-back gets back to deflect the cross out for a corner. Rieder’s delivery is not met by anybody and Colombia counter in numbers … and it’s wasted.

82 min Néstor Lorenzo looks to his Colombia bench again. Richard Ríos and Cucho Hernández replace Suárez and Lerma, who has been a yellow card waiting to happen.

80 min Switzerland apply some pressure but are let down first by a poor cross from Rieder and then by a poorer cross from Zakaria.

There’s a bit of needle between Sánchez and Embolo that starts with a push in the chest and ends in a handshake.

78 min Akanji hits a very wayward pass out for a goal-kick. I think he was trying to find Embolo but, really, who knows.

76 min There’s a real lack of quality from both teams in the final third, summed up by a poor low cross from Campaz when the Switzerland defence is opened up. The flag is up anyway.

74 min Both players are all right and there’s a sporting handshake between them.

Updated

73 min Ndoye wins a free-kick wide of the Colombia box off Muñoz. Rieder swings it in, Sánchez clears and the ball is fed back in. Vargas comes to punch and absolutely wipes Embolo out with a knee in the back. He gets his fists to the ball but it’s a nasty collision.

71 min Switzerland bring on Miro Muheim for Ricardo Rodriguez, meaning we have lost both of our Rodriguez’s. Oh well.

“This is an odd match in that it’s promised to be interesting, since the first minute, without ever actually being interesting,” writes Kári Tulinius. “It’s like one of these strikers who needs a goal to come off his arse. Usually I don’t like to see a mistake in a game like this, but I’d welcome one now. There’s a lot of tinder, but no spark.”

There’s still time (and probably a lot of it) …

68 min The wind is taken out of Colombia’s sails by the drinks break. It is indeed Bon Jovi on the speakers.

66 min You sense Colombia are gaining a bit of momentum. Elvedi perhaps senses this too and goes down holding his lip after Díaz cuts across him.

Double change for Colombia – James Rodríguez makes way for Juan Quintero. Jhon Arias also comes off, with Jaminton Campaz on.

Updated

64 min Suddenly the goal opens up for Suárez after he wins the ball off Xhaka. The striker pulls the trigger on the edge of the box and wildly skews his shot wide. He does the customary scowl at the turf, which was blameless.

62 min It’s getting a bit tasty. Suárez is bumped over on halfway by Akanji, who can’t believe he’s been penalised. Mojica tries a cross from the corner flag and Elvedi hooks it clear.

60 min Zakaria goes into the book as he slides in on Díaz on halfway and gets none of the ball and plenty of the man. Murat Yakin looks worried about that. Díaz turns and shoots on the edge of the box. It’s easy for Kobel but it whips up the crowd. Suárez gets booked for holding on to Kobel.

Updated

58 min Rodríguez tries to send Muñoz away down the right but Akanji is there to cover. Switzerland try to break themselves but the final ball doesn’t find its target. It’s a running theme.

56 min Whistles as Switzerland move the ball around swiftly in the Colombia half. They’ve started the second half better. Zakaria wins another tussle with Díaz down the left.

Gianni Infantino appears on the big screen and there are very loud boos around the ground.

54 min Rieder bends the free-kick round the wall left-footed and it hits the side-netting in a way that makes half the ground – and me – think for a second that it had gone in.

52 min Muñoz is fine to continue, through gritted teeth. Switzerland win a free-kick on the left of the box after Rieder evades Sánchez and is tripped.

51 min Muñoz beats Xhaka to the ball but both players slide into each other. Muñoz stays down but Xhaka gets up to help out as Colombia counter. Rodríguez searches for the run of Arias but the ball bounces out for a goal-kick.

Xhaka gets a yellow for standing on Muñoz’s foot.

49 min Switzerland want a penalty as Ndoye goes down under Muñoz’s challenge in the box. There’s the hint of a shirt/short pull. We move on.

Updated

47 min Sánchez responds well to match an Embolo run in behind. Switzerland recycle it, Ndoye sends a low cross into the box and the substitute Sow slips and skews his shot over!

We’re back under way: Djibril Sow has replaced Jashari in the Switzerland midfield.

Half-time mailbag

“If Colombia win this game, here’s an amazing historical fact about the four quarter-final ties. Each pair of countries were at one time in the same empire! Belgium was the Spanish Netherlands from 1556 until 1714. Argentina and Colombia were both part of Spain’s South American empire. Morocco was part of French West Africa. And England and Norway were for a short time in the 11th century ruled by Cnut the Great. If you print this, be sure not to make a Grauniad-type misprint out of that name now! Supporting Colombia tonight for this reason only,” – Frank Pennycook

“There are quite a few excellent coffee roasters in Vancouver despite the commenter who writes them off as bitter. There are some tired roasters of which the observation is true (e.g. Salt Spring) but try e.g. Milano with their v nice cafes on Commercial Drive and on 8th Ave in Mount Pleasant or Mogiana, available in good grocery stores” – Michael Ledger-Lomas continues Vancouver coffee chat

“Well, I had quite a pleasant nap through that first half. things can only get better, as suggested half time music” – Colin Livingstone

“I love how Swiss manager Murat Yakin has got into the theme of today’s match by dressing as a 1980s Colombian bad guy from the Miami Vice tv series,” writes Matt Leonard.

Half-time: Switzerland 0-0 Colombia

No goals but a decent game. Both teams have had spells. Whether it opens up any more than this is another question … the stakes are high.

45+2 min Akanji is not happy as Switzerland refuse to swing a free-kick into the box and it ends up out for a throw.

45 min Just the three minutes added. The ball has been in play a lot.

Updated

44 min Díaz drives inside, feeds it out to Muñoz on the right. The cross is low, Suárez heeds a shout from Díaz behind him and dummies it. Freuler gets there just in time to divert it out for a corner. Mojica sprints back to stop a Switzerland counter.

42 min Jashari tries to pick out Xhaka with a pass in behind the Colombia back four. The Switzerland captain doesn’t look best pleased as the ball bobbles through out of his reach.

40 min Akanji has his pocket picked on the edge of his own area by Rodríguez. He thinks about shooting from range and instead lays it off to Suárez, who dummies and then has a shot blocked. Another ball goes into the box and Díaz pulls out of a bicycle kick as Zakaria’s head beats him to it.

VAR overturns a Colombia corner after replays showed it came off Arias. It’s not a popular decision.

Updated

38 min Colombia are looking for Díaz down the left nearly every time they break forward. This time Suárez’s pass is overhit – he was fouled too.

36 min Rodríguez feeds a wonderful ball through to Muñoz near the penalty area but the right-back can’t get there before the Switzerland defender.

“Noticed any trends on music played to hide the boos during hydration breaks?” writes Cian Mulligan. “Seems to me they always/only play the Macarena if there is a Spanish-speaking team playing.”

Any time I notice it, it’s Bon Jovi.

34 min Rodríguez pings another ball into the Switzerland box. Díaz goes down with Elvedi giving him a mild cuddle. Referee Bartón is not moved.

33 min The drinks break has helped Switzerland a lot. Ndoye is next to test Vargas. His shot is low and across the goalkeeper, who gets down smartly to trap it. Up the other end, Díaz tries to feed a shot into the far corner but it’s blocked. Rodríguez did really well in a tussle with Xhaka in midfield.

31 min Important save from Vargas! Akanji finds Rieder in plenty of space on the half-turn. He bundles the ball into the Colombia box and shoots low, with Vargas able to bat it away. Decent chance.

Updated

29 min Xhaka skips past Lerma in midfield. The Colombia midfielder duly brings him down. An unmarked Jashari almost latches on to a ball into the Colombia box, which will have jangled a few nerves in the majority of the crowd.

Updated

27 min Everybody is refreshed (under the roof) and we are back under way.

Updated

A reminder that the winners of this will play Argentina in Kansas City on Saturday night after this happened earlier …

23 min Hydration break time, still greeted by boos, which are drowned out by the Macarena.

Updated

22 min Good save from Kobel! Lerma steps in on a loose ball some 30 yards out and it’s fed to Puerta. The midfielder cuts inside on his right foot and bends a shot towards the far corner which Kobel pushes out away at full stretch. Some action!

Updated

20 min Switzerland dally on the ball in their own box after some confident Colombia possession. Kobel takes no chances and gets it launched.

18 min Zakaria shields the ball out for a goal-kick under pressure from the tireless Mojica. Xhaka and Rodriguez get their wires crossed and the latter’s pass down the left rolls out for a throw-in.

16 min A fine backheel from Suárez sets Colombia on their way. Elvedi wins the tussle with Díaz as Rodríguez tries to play the ball through on the counter.

Updated

14 min Elvedi gets bored of Suárez and clatters into Díaz on the left wing after the Bayern winger knocks the ball past him. He escapes a yellow. Rodríguez’s delivery is incredibly enticing but Lucumí can’t get there.

12 min We get our first TV shot of Gianni Infantino in the stands. He is looking exceptionally glum today. On the pitch, Suárez and Elvedi continue their personal duel with a couple of aerial challenges.

10 min Every turnover of possession in Colombia’s favour is greeted by a huge roar. After Embolo drives at their defence, Colombia enjoy a bit of possession in the Switzerland half.

8 min Ndoye has a first-time swing at goal from the left of the penalty area but the flag goes up as Vargas gathers his shot easily. Suárez leaves one on Elvedi after the ball is gone. Bit feisty.

6 min The volume rises as Jhon Arias carries the ball into the Switzerland half. Zakaria gets back to poke his cross out for a corner before Díaz can reach it. Rodríguez’s corner is cleared and Ndoye wins a free-kick.

4 min Zakaria makes a driving run down the Switzerland right but Mojica is able to clear. Freuler gives Mojica a knee in the back in a challenge on halfway.

2 min It’s a bit of a frantic start. Zakaria wriggles away from Díaz on halfway but Sánchez pumps the ball out for a throw-in. The boos and whistles when Switzerland are on the ball are, well, loud. Goalkeeper Kobel skews a ball out of play, to more cheers.

Kick-off

Colombia get us under way after the countdown.

James Rodríguez and Granit Xhaka shake hands at the toss. The officials are from El Salvador.

“I would put my money on what could be worst match in the Round of 16 so far, surpassing the France v Paraguay game,” writes Ahmad bin Faisal. Stay tuned!

Updated

The Switzerland anthem is a mere prelude to the Colombia one. Daniel Muñoz belts it out, eyes closed. There are some tears in the crowd.

Kick-off is next.

Vancouver Stadium is unsurprisingly largely yellow, with a few patches of red (although they could be Canada shirts as well). There is an almighty roar as Luis Díaz is beamed on to the big screen.

Updated

We’ll park the chocolate chat – this is the sort of exposure Canadian businesses wanted from hosting the World Cup, surely – with kick-off approaching. Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi is sitting on the bench in a knee brace – he’ll play no part.

The mega player walk-out is upon us …

“As a Brit & naturalized American who lives in Alaska, Vancouver has been the closest World Cup venue, albeit a 2,200 mile drive away - slightly further than London to Ankara,” writes Mike from Girdwood, Alaska.

“The US is a huge country! On the positive side, whatever time the kickoff, it’s always during daylight!”

“Not a huge chocolate fan, but I can also vouch for Purdy’s -- their Sweet Georgia Browns (a sort of salted caramel/pecans/thick chocolate cluster) are the bomb. Not cheap, mind you,” writes David Marriott from Vancouver Island.

“Frustrating when I hear people make the comment that Colombia are lacking a proper striker, considering Jhon Duran didn’t even receive a call up to the selection! What’s the story there?” asks Carlos.

Durán was named in the 55-man preliminary list but was left out of the final squad after being granted a leave of absence by Zenit in May. The former Aston Villa striker joined the Russian club on loan from Al-Nassr in February but has played very little since. So, it’s a bit of a mystery.

Luis Suárez scored 38 times in all competitions for Sporting last season but is still waiting for his first goal at this World Cup – he set up the winner against Ghana.

“There is a legendary chocolate brand based in B.C. called Purdy’s that you should check out! It rivals the Swiss confections, IMHO. As for coffee, I’ll take a hard pass - far too bitter for my palate, and I have tried it in nearly all its forms and permutations!”

This is exactly the kind of response to my Vancouver-chocolate blind spot that I wanted in my inbox – thank you, leroadrunner.

“As for the match, I’m not sure who to cheer for here. Obviously I have a grudge against Switzerland for denying Canada home field, lol, but I’m also not happy with Colombia knocking out Ghana - too many quality African sides have been eliminated (looking at you, Senegal, Algeria, and now Egypt). I guess I will be a true neutral and hope for a fair and exciting match! While I eat my Purdy’s with a big, cool, glass of milk!”

Colombia’s last two last-16 matches at the World Cup have been memorable. In 2014, it was James Rodríguez’s Puskas-winning chest and volley against Uruguay. In 2018, it was Yerry Mina’s dramatic late equaliser before a penalty shootout defeat to England.

Any excuse …

Updated

“I like coffee. I like chocolate. I like knockout football. I’ve come to the right place, haven’t I?”

Yes you have, Peter Oh. Apparently Vancouver is a coffee-keen city too, but I’m relying on a Google AI overview to tell me this. Not sure about chocolate, but who doesn’t like chocolate?

For those of you tuning in expecting to see David Ospina in goal for Colombia, you will probably be disappointed. The 37-year-old former Arsenal keeper is no longer No 1 for his country, although he is on the bench.

Camilo Vargas is the first choice for Colombia these days – at 37, he’s by no means a newcomer but has managed to supplant Ospina. Vargas plays his club football in Mexico and has quite the backstory – including witchcraft, curses and a very spiritual mother-in-law. Read more in our player guide …

Interactive

Colombia’s route to the last 16

Group K – P3 W2 D1 L0
Won 3-1 v Uzbekistan, Mexico City
Won 1-0 v DR Congo, Guadalajara
Drew 0-0 v Portugal, Miami

Last 32
Won 1-0 v Ghana, Kansas City

Top scorers
Daniel Muñoz 2
Luis Díaz, Jaminton Campaz, Jhon Arias 1

Top assist-makers
Luis Díaz, Juan Quintero, Gustavo Puerta, Juan Hernández, Luis Suárez 1

Switzerland’s route to the last 16

Group B – P3 W2 D1 L0
Drew 1-1 v Qatar, San Francisco Bay Area
Won 4-1 v Bosnia and Herzegovina, Los Angeles
Won 2-1 v Canada, Vancouver

Last 32
Won 2-0 v Algeria, Vancouver

Top scorers
Johan Manzambi 3
Breel Embolo, Rubén Vargas 2

Top assist-makers
Breel Embolo, Johan Manzambi 2
Rubén Vargas 1

I don’t think I need to tell you who the danger men are … although there is no Manzambi today. Milan’s Ardon Jashari starts in his place.

Updated

Iván Bartón was the referee who came out with that booming voice when sending Miguel Almirón off for covering his mouth in the group stage, by the way … and that is at least something to look forward to if we have a VAR review.

Lineups: James Rodríguez starts for Colombia

Both teams have a veteran Rodriguez in their XI, with Ricardo at left-back for Switzerland and James retaining his place for Colombia after coming off at half-time in the previous round against Ghana.

Switzerland (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Zakaria, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Rieder, Jashari, Ndoye; Embolo.
Subs: Mvogo, Keller, Muheim, Widmer, Sow, Fassnacht, Vargas, Comert, Okafor, Amdouni, Amenda, Itten.

Colombia (4-3-3): Vargas; Muñoz, Sánchez, Lucumí, Mojica; Puerta, Lerma, J Arias; Rodríguez, Suárez, Díaz.
Subs: Ospina, Montero, S Arias, Castano, Rios, Carrascal, Cordoba, Mina, Portilla, Ditta, Hernández, Quintero, Campaz, Machado, Gómez.

Referee: Iván Bartón (El Salvador)

Updated

Team news is coming up shortly but one man who definitely won’t be involved this afternoon in Vancouver is Johan Manzambi. Switzerland’s breakout star of this tournament – with three goals and two assists – has been ruled out with a knee injury. ⁠Michel Aebischer and Luca ​Jaquez are also not fit to play.

‘Yellow fever’ has reached Vancouver! After Mexico City, Guadalajara, Miami and Kansas City, the mass migration of Colombia fans has reached its northernmost point.

José Orlando Asencio has been speaking to a few of them, including a family trekking across the States in a minivan …

Argentina await the winners in Saturday’s quarter-final in Kansas City after producing a sensational late comeback against Egypt, with Lionel Messi scoring one and setting up another before Enzo Fernández’s stoppage-time winner.

Scott Murray just about kept it all together …

And Ed Aarons has summed it up nicely …

Updated

Preamble

Hello and welcome to the final fixture of the World Cup’s last 16 – not much has happened, eh? It’s all gone smoothly so far for Switzerland and Colombia, who topped their groups and progressed through the last 32 with a minimum of fuss. For Switzerland, they are looking to take the next step that so often eludes them – reaching a World Cup quarter-final. Since they played in the last eight at their home tournament of 1954, they’ve failed to clear this hurdle five times and were knocked out at this stage in 2014, 2018 and 2022.

As for Colombia, they are out to emulate the class of 2014 – and still have a few of those faces hanging around. James Rodríguez is their captain but has struggled to make an impact at these finals. Their run 12 years ago was ended by hosts Brazil and no doubt a quarter-final date with Argentina on Saturday will be highly prized. Their fans, as always, have turned up in huge numbers.

The curtain comes down on Canada’s involvement in this World Cup too, with Vancouver Stadium hosting its final game of the tournament.

Kick-off is 1pm local time, 4pm EST, 9pm BST and 6am AEST. Let’s go.

Updated

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.