The 42

Switzerland 2

Algeria 0

SWITZERLAND PROGRESSED TO the last 16 of the World Cup as they beat a below-par Algeria in Vancouver.

Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye were on target for Switzerland, who dominated throughout to set up a clash with Colombia or Ghana.

Ramiz Zerrouki had an early penalty appeal waved away for Algeria and that was as good as it got for the African side as Switzerland went ahead after 10 minutes.

Johan Manzambi burst down the left and picked out Embolo to leave the Rennes striker with a simple finish.

After a tepid first-half showing, Algeria made the worst possible start after the break as their defence failed to deal with Embolo’s cross and Nottingham Forest’s Ndoye gathered the ball on the edge of the area before firing past Luca Zidane.

Riyad Mahrez was denied by a last-ditch tackle, but Algeria struggled to create a chance of note.

Instead, Switzerland should have had a third, Fabian Rieder somehow contriving to shoot straight at Zidane with the goal at his mercy after good work by Denis Zakaria.

Zidane denied Remo Freuler by keeping out his low 20-yard effort in stoppage time as Switzerland won a World Cup knockout game for the first time since 1938.

*****

• Check out the latest episode of The 42′s Football Family podcast here 

Written by Press Association and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.