WC26: Embolo, Ndoye Lead Switzerland To First Knockout Win Since 1938

Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye each scored as Switzerland defeated Algeria 2-0 Thursday in the World Cup round of 32. Switzerland held a 2.45 to 0.74 edge in xG (expected goals) and advances to face the Colombia-Ghana winner in Vancouver on Tuesday. The result ended an 88-year wait for Switzerland, which had not won a World Cup knockout match since 1938. The Swiss had reached the round of 16 in each of the previous three tournaments but advanced no further. Algeria controlled the opening 10 minutes before Johan Manzambi broke down the right flank and delivered a cross that Embolo converted with a tap-in. The finish was Embolo's 26th career international goal. Ndoye put the match away less than a minute into the second half, finishing a drive from the top of the box that Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane could not stop. Manzambi, 20, has emerged as a breakout performer for Switzerland, contributing two goals and two assists in the tournament after starting the competition off the bench. Algeria's head coach Vladimir Petkovic spent seven years managing Switzerland between 2014 and 2021, guiding the side out of the group stage at the 2018 World Cup. Algeria had returned to the tournament for the first time since 2014, when they reached the knockout round before falling to eventual champion Germany. Switzerland ranked 20th among the 48 World Cup nations in collective squad value per Transfermarkt entering the tournament , compared to Algeria's 23rd-place standing.