ONE TOUCH SUMMARY
- Switzerland held Colombia to a goalless draw before winning 4-3 on penalties to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.
- Ruben Vargas scored the decisive penalty after overcoming pre-game injury doubts, securing Switzerland's shoot-out victory.
- Switzerland had two shots on target in 131 minutes; Colombia wasted a header off the bar and a saved penalty.
ONE TOUCH INSIGHT
Switzerland scraped through against Colombia not with attacking verve but with icy nerve and a goalkeeper who kept them alive. Murat Yakin’s side managed just two shots on target in 131 minutes, their last effort coming in the 32nd minute, yet Ruben Vargas held his nerve to slot the decisive penalty after Gregor Kobel denied Cucho Hernández and Manuel Akanji’s miss gifted Davinson Sánchez’s earlier slip a second life. The extra‑time header from Jhon Lucum that rattled the cross‑bar and Jaminton Campaz’s wasted chance showed how thin the Swiss offense was, while Colombia’s expansive play lacked a finisher to punish the cautious approach.
Argentina now loom as a far sterner test; the Swiss must find a way to test Emiliano Martínez beyond the spot‑kicks if they hope to progress. Whether Yakin can coax more shots on target from his forwards before the quarter‑final kick‑off will decide if the shoot‑out luck holds.
WHY IT MATTERS
Switzerland's penalty shoot-out win marks their first-ever World Cup knockout victory via penalties and first quarter-final since 1954, underscoring their resilience and setting up a historic clash with defending champions Argentina.
TACTICAL FIT
Advancing via penalties reinforces Switzerland's pragmatic, low-risk approach under Murat Yakin, emphasizing defensive solidity and mental strength, which will be crucial when facing Argentina's attacking prowess in the quarter-finals.
THE DEBATE
Did Switzerland's penalty luck mask a lack of attacking creativity against Colombia?
Switzerland vs Colombia; FIFA World Cup Round of 16 FTFull TimeAETAfter Extra TimeLIVEThis is a live match.ETExtra TimeHTHalf Time Switzerland vs Colombia. FIFA World Cup Round of 16. 9:00pm, Tuesday 7th July 2026. BC PlaceAttendance: Attendance52,497. #### 
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0 Switzerland win 4-3 on penalties. Latest FIFA World Cup Odds - [skysports.com/get-sky?dcmp=getskysports_matchheader_article_football) - Get a NOW Sports Membership - Watch Live # World Cup 2026: Switzerland 0-0 Colombia (Pens: 4-3) - Swiss through to quarter-finals to face Argentina after shoot-out success Match report as Ruben Vargas converted Switzerland's decisive penalty to ensure his side advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals with a 4-3 shoot-out win over Colombia after a goalless draw in Vancouver; Switzerland will face defending champions Argentina on Saturday Laura Hunter Football Features Writer Wednesday 8 July 2026 01:17, UK 
Image:Ruben Vargas scored Switzerland's winning penalty - Share on Facebook - Share on X - Share on WhatsApp - Share by email Switzerland held their nerve to edge a tight and cagey contest with a 4-3 penalty shoot-out success over unfortunate Colombia and seal a quarter-final meeting with World Cup holders Argentina on Saturday. Ruben Vargas shook off his pre-game injury doubts to deliver the decisive spot-kick after a painful 120 minutes of goalless knockout football, where neither side managed to impose themselves, needing the cruelty of a shoot-out to finally reveal a winner. The extra-time period at least offered slightly more excitement, with Jhon Lucum crashing a header against the crossbar and Jaminton Campaz inexplicably fluffing the best opening of the match, which was probably justly decided by the lottery of kicks from 12 yards. 
Image:Colombia's Gustavo Puerta and Switzerland's Remo Freuler battle for the ball - As it happened | Teams | Stats | Knockout bracket - World Cup day-by-day schedule | Latest: World Cup - Follow our World Cup coverage in the Sky Sports App #### Shot-shy Swiss Switzerland's last shot on target against Colombia came in the 32nd minute. Overall, Murat Yakin's side had just two shots on target in 131 minutes of play across normal/extra time. Colombia's Davinson Sanchez was the first to miss his penalty but was reprieved by Manuel Akanji skiing his attempt over the crossbar. Cucho Hernandez was then denied by a brilliant save from Gregor Kobel, allowing Vargas to latterly seal the deal. The outcome felt harsh on a Colombian side whose gameplan was far more adventurous and expansive than their more conservative European counterparts in front of a partisan crowd in Canada, but they ultimately lacked a finisher, and paid a brutal price. 
Image:Colombia were left devastated by penalty shoot-out defeat to Switzerland Swiss persistence prevailed in the end - their first ever World Cup shoot-out victory - sealing a first quarter-final appearance since hosting the tournament all the way back in 1954. Colombian tears flowed. Their vast promise never got its rightful reward. ### The key moments from Vancouver 21: SHOT! Gustavo Puerta's long-range effort is pushed to safety by Kobel. ### Sign up for Sky Sports push notifications 
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