Switzerland have reached the knockout stages of the 2018 World Cup thanks to a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica in Wednesday's Group E match at the Nizhny Novgorod Arena.
Blerim Dzemaili opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark with a thumping close-range drive, only for Kendall Waston to level on 56 minutes with a deft header from a corner.
The Swiss then surged ahead with just two minutes left through Josip Drmic, but Costa Rica were handed an injury-time penalty, which Bryan Ruiz succeeded in drilling home via the woodwork and a deflection from goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's blow-by-blow live commentary of the action below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the World Cup meeting between Switzerland and Costa Rica in Nizhny Novgorod!
Well, it's been an eventful day so far today, with reigning champions Germany knocked out of the tournament - the first ever time that the giants of world football have failed in the group stages of a World Cup! Group E is not fully settled yet either, so what twists and turns will we see this evening?
Before we look into the permutations, let's see what starting XIs have been picked by the respective coaches of the Rossocrociati and Los Ticos...
SWITZERLAND STARTING XI: Sommer; Lichtsteiner, Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez; Behrami, Xhaka; Shaqiri, Dzemaili, Embolo; Gavranovic
COSTA RICA STARTING XI: Navas; Acosta, Waston, Gonzalez; Gamboa, Borges, Guzman, Oviedo; Colindres, Ruiz; Campbell
Vladimir Petkovic has made two changes to the Switzerland side that started the 2-1 win over Serbia, with Breel Embolo and Mario Gavranovic coming into the XI.
Steven Zuber and Haris Seferovic are the players who drop to the bench, while the 'double-headed eagle' trio of Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri and Stephan Lichtsteiner are all available and in the starting line-up.
Costa Rica, meanwhile, have made three changes to their starting XI as they bid to end an underwhelming campaign on a high note.
Kendall Watson, Daniel Colindres and Joel Campbell are drafted in to start by coach Oscar Ramirez, while Oscar Duarte, Johan Veneges and Marco Urena are the men who make way.
Formation-wise, Switzerland line up in a 4-2-3-1 setup, with a back four of Rodriguez, Akanji, Schar and Lichtsteiner, the midfield pairing of Xhaka and Behrami, and an attacking trident of Embolo, Dzemaili and Shaqiri operating behind lone frontman Gavranovic.
Costa Rica, meanwhile, are in a 3-4-2-1 formation as Waston, Gonzalez and Acosta make up the back three, the midfield is made up of Oviedo, Guzman, Borges and Gamboa, while Ruiz and Colindres are operating just behind Campbell.
So how do things stand in Group E right now, prior to both the final games kicking off (simultaneously at 7pm BST, let's not forget)?
Brazil are currently on top with four points, level with Switzerland, who are second as their goal difference is one goal worse off, while Serbia are third on three points and very much still in with a chance of a spot in the last 16 - only Costa Rica are unable to progress further, having lost both their games in Russia and failing to score a goal thus far.
Brazil will qualify if they avoid defeat against Serbia, while Switzerland will qualify if they win or draw against Costa Rica, or if Serbia lose their clash against Brazil.
If Brazil lose to Serbia and Switzerland lose to Costa Rica, goal difference or disciplinary records could save Brazil, but... here is the one that would cause shockwaves across the football world... if Serbia and Switzerland win then Brazil would be eliminated.
Already we've lost four-time champions Germany today, while fellow four-time winners Italy did not even make it to Russia... five-time champions Brazil could very well fall tonight too, and should that happen, the knockout stages of the 21st World Cup will be without three teams that, between them, have won 13 of the 20 tournaments.
But let's refocus on this game, as Switzerland seek to reach the knockout stages of the World Cup for the second tournament in a row, and the third in four occasions - the Swiss made the last 16 at Brazil 2014 and Germany 2006, but missed out in South Africa 2010 despite that shock victory over eventual champions Spain in their first game.
Switzerland's build-up to this game was dominated by what would happen to the trio of Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri and Stephan Lichtsteiner, who courted controversy with their 'double-headed eagle' celebrations against Serbia and were at risk of being suspended.
As it turned out, the three players would not be suspended, but they did cop fines for having carried out "unsporting gestures"... so well-received was the gesture among ethnic Albanians that an online crowdfunding campaign was set up for fans to pay off the fines!
In the Costa Rica camp, meanwhile, it's an emotional day as Bryan Ruiz, one of their most iconic players, appears set to hang up his international boots after today.
A defenderla como si fuera la última vez en un mundial... #VamosSele 💪🏼⚽️🇨🇷 pic.twitter.com/qcnyV5Lf3n — Bryan Ruiz González (@bryanruizcr) June 27, 2018
Ruiz, who will be well known among Fulham fans, has made 111 appearances for Los Ticos, scoring 24 goals in the process, but his latest tweet, an image of his captain's armband and shirt for the evening along with a message pointing to his "last time in a World Cup", has understandably led to much sadness and emotion among the nation's fans.
A quarter-century of goals in his final appearance for his country, and at a World Cup to boot? Not a bad way to bow out, that.
We're edging ever closer to kickoff, so let's take a look at the head-to-head record between Switzerland and Costa Rica, as well as some stats surrounding the fixture and the teams involved...
Switzerland and Costa Rica have only played twice before, and will be meeting today for the third time and for the first time at a major tournament. Both nations have recorded one win each as the Swiss won 2-0 in 2006, while Los Ticos recorded a 1-0 victory in 2010.
The Swiss are unbeaten in their previous four World Cup games against sides from CONCACAF, winning two and drawing two, with their most recent game yielding a 3-0 win over Honduras at the 2014 World Cup.
Costa Rica, meanwhile, are winless in their last four World Cup games against European sides, scoring just one goal across those four matches, and are winless in their last five World Cup matches outright, failing to score in four of those.
SCORE PREDICTION: Just minutes to go until we're underway, so it's time for me to have a go at predicting the scoreline... given Switzerland must get something from the game to reach the last 16, they will play with more intensity than their opponents, who just have pride at stake, plus Costa Rica have flattered to deceive anyway at this tournament, so for me it'll be a 2-0 win for the Swiss and a place in the knockouts.
Now for the national anthems of both teams - first up the Swiss Psalm, followed by Noble Patria, Tu Hermosa Bandera.
Just a reminder of the teams - For Switzerland, Embolo takes the place of Zuber, while Gavranovic replaces Seferovic at striker, and for Costa Rica, Duarte is replaced in defence by Waston, while Colindres and Campbell replace fellow forwards Venegas and Urena.
It's about 20 degrees in Nizhny Novgorod today, not too warm, so neither side should get burned out too quickly. The formalities are nearly over, Swiss all in red, Costa Rica in white.
KICKOFF! Switzerland are the ones who initiate proceedings!
Switzerland win a free kick, Embolo being brought down just outside the box, and Shaqiri opts for a low delivery but Gavranovic cannot get onto the end of it and it's out for a goal kick.
Shaqiri, Switzerland's goal hero from the previous round, is involved once again as he nutmegs Oviedo and cuts the ball back to Gavranovic, but Gonzalez is able to keep out the latter's snap shot.
Now here come Costa Rica as Campbell clips the ball across goal, and there could be a shout for handball as it brushes the outstretched hand of Rodriguez at point-blank range... but there's no penalty and no VAR review!
CHANCES! And here come Los Ticos once again, Campbell rattles an effort towards goal that Sommer keeps out, then Borges tries his luck with a close-range header and Sommer pulls a superb draw out of the hat, diving down and tipping the effort onto the post! Switzerland looking rattled now!
Costa Rica are not going down without a fight as Colindres, found by Ruiz, tries his luck from 20 yards and sends the ball over the bar.
OFF THE BAR! And here's yet more pressure from Costa Rica! Colindres muscles past Shaqiri, cuts inside from the left and curls an effort towards goal from 25 yards out, Sommer is beaten this time but the underside of the bar comes to the rescue!
BOOKING: A little bit of a lull now, at least compared to the frantic opening 10 minutes... Gamboa is the first player to see a card in this game as he is admonished for his late foul on Embolo.
Rodriguez resumes play from a throw-in and he is certainly taking his time with this, seemingly to take some of the sting out of the game following Costa Rica's energetic drives forward.
Switzerland are finding their feet again after being under the cosh in the opening 10 minutes as a long ball forward forces Navas to race out and punch clear, clattering his teammate in the process.
Over in Moscow it's still goalless between Serbia and Brazil, so it's as you were in Group E, with the Selecao top, the Swiss in second, and Serbia in third.
CHANCE! Shaqiri drives forward and lays the ball off to Dzemaili, who can't quite latch on, but Gavranovic is just behind and has a go, only for the ball to sail wide of the far post!
CHANCE! Costa Rica are determined not to board the plane from Russia without a goal to their name but Sommer is not letting anything pass! Colindres lets rip with a left-footed effort that is fingertipped behind by the Swiss custodian, who then acrobatically catches Campbell's subsequent corner!
Switzerland give the ball away in midfield and Colindres gets another cross in, but Sommer is barely tested as he collects the delivery.
Once again the Swiss give the ball away cheaply and Colindres makes headway down the left channel, but Akanji is on hand to close him down and deflect his effort wide.
Switzerland have a free kick, which Shaqiri takes from the left-hand side towards the box, but Navas is there to punch the ball away.
BOOKING: Campbell holds off Akanji, who goes down holding his face, and the outcome is a booking for the Arsenal man.
GOAL! SWITZERLAND 1-0 COSTA RICA (BLERIM DZEMAILI)
And we have the breakthrough in Nizhny Novgorod, against the run of play! Lichtsteiner delivers a dangerous cross from the right, Embolo flicks the ball into the path of Dzemaili, and the unmarked Bologna man hammers home on the volley to put Switzerland ahead and top of the group as things stand!
CHANCE! And another... almost! Dzemaili so close to nabbing a second in quick succession through Gavranovic's setup on the edge of the area, but Gonzalez charges the effort down and puts it behind for a corner!
Over in Moscow, Paulinho has given Brazil a 1-0 lead against Serbia, so the Selecao are back on top, with Switzerland second and Serbia third.
BOOKING: Bad news for Switzerland... Lichtsteiner is booked for a late tackle on Colindres, and should the Swiss succeed in making the last 16, their captain will miss that game.
Edging towards half time and Switzerland continue to press as Lichtsteiner's flick sends Shaqiri away and the scorer of the winner against Serbia forces a corner.
Now here come Costa Rica as Ruiz feeds a pinpoint pass into the path Campbell, who works the ball to Colindres, but with Borges on the right of the area, the final pass is overhit.
Switzerland are finishing the half strongly, Dzemaili setting Embolo off down the left, a cross is whipped for Shaqiri but Navas is on hand to collect.
Just the one minute added on at the end of this half...
HALF TIME: SWITZERLAND 1-0 COSTA RICA
Clement Turpin blows for half time and Switzerland remain on course for the last 16, weathering a difficult start against a swashbuckling Costa Rica side to score against the run of play and seeing out the remainder of the half to lead 1-0 at the break.
Goalkeeper Yann Sommer was in inspired form early on as he kept out a succession of Costa Rica efforts, and just after the half-hour mark, Stephan Lichtsteiner's deep cross was headed down by Breel Embolo into the path of Blerim Dzemaili, who duly rifled home from eight yards.
With both final Group E games taking place at the same time, we have just 45 minutes left before we will know the fate of each of the three teams still in contention... as things stand, Brazil will be going through as group winners, with a tie against Group F runners-up Mexico in wait, while Switzerland will go through in second and will face Group F winners Sweden in the last 16.
MATCH STATS: Switzerland have enjoyed 67% possession, mustered a total of four efforts (one on target, three off target), won four corners, committed four fouls and completed 320 passes so far in this game.
Costa Rica, meanwhile, have had 33% possession, weighed in with four efforts on target and two off target, won two corners, committed six fouls, and completed 155 passes.
6 - Switzerland have now scored at least once in 6 of their last 7 World Cup games - as many as their previous 15 combined. Sharp. #SUI #CRC #SUICRC #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/ya6Vme6jx0 — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 27, 2018
The second half is coming up shortly... 45 minutes for Switzerland to hold on for a place in the last 16, 45 minutes for Costa Rica to end their campaign on a high, and in Moscow, 45 minutes for Serbia to survive in the tournament.
KICKOFF: We're back underway in Nizhny Novgorod as Costa Rica kick off the second half.
Oviedo is penalised for a foul on Shaqiri, though no card is shown, and the Stoke City man opts to take the free kick himself, but the delivery is headed away.
CHANCE! Costa Rica spurn a great chance to equalise! A poorly-cleared corner is recycled through Borges, who sends the ball back in, Waston's dummy sees the ball run through to Campbell, but the Arsenal man slices his effort wide!
CHANCE! At the other end, Rodriguez decides to let rip with a vicious effort from outside the box, letting the ball bounce twice before striking with the outside of his boot, and it's only just over the bar!
Back at the other end, Colindres tries to find Campbell with a cross into the penalty area but the delivery is too heavy and it goes out of play before Oviedo can recycle the ball on the right wing.
CHANCE! Shaqiri plays a superb angled ball through two white-shirted defenders and into the area for Embolo, but with the angle so tight, Navas successfully bats the effort away!
CHANCE! Campbell's cross is nodded down smartly by Colindres for Oviedo, who attempts an audacious overhead kick, and the outcome is a goal kick for Switzerland.
GOAL! SWITZERLAND 1-1 COSTA RICA (KENDALL WASTON)
And there we have it! Costa Rica finally have their goal at Russia 2018 and are on course for a point as Campbell's corner kick is headed into the corner of the net by Waston! Akanji's defending was suspect there, and Los Ticos have duly made the Swiss pay!
Cue nerves from the Switzerland fans, even though they only need a draw to go through, and even a defeat will be fine if Brazil maintain their lead against Serbia.
SUBSTITUTION: We've ticked over the hour mark and we have a substitution as Denis Zakaria replaces Valon Behrami for Switzerland.
Much like when Costa Rica had their bright spell early on in the match, Switzerland are looking to lower the pace of the game, knocking the ball between themselves. Los Ticos look invigorated after their equaliser and arguably look the likelier of the two to win.
32 - Costa Rica are the last team to score at the 2018 World Cup, with their 24th shot. Bingo. #WorldCup — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 27, 2018
Borges seeks to make the most of a botched Switzerland throw-in by hammering a bouncing ball towards goal from range, but the effort sails terribly wide.
With a draw enough for Switzerland to reach the last 16 but with this game in the balance given the buoyed opposition, it's likely to be a park-the-bus job now for Vladimir Petkovic's side.
SUBSTITUTION: We have another Switzerland change as Mario Gavranovic is replaced by Josip Drmic.
UPDATE: And it's good news for Switzerland from Moscow as Brazil have doubled their lead against Serbia through Thiago Silva! Barring an unlikely turn of events, the Swiss will be joining the Selecao in the knockout stage!
A Costa Rica corner kick nearly catches out the Swiss backline, with Sommer flapping at it, but no white shirts were around to capitalise on the error.
The pace of the game has dropped right down, with Switzerland all but assured of progress to the last 16 and Costa Rica having got off the mark, and there is little happening at present, save for Oviedo being chided for a foul on Shaqiri but with no card shown, causing a bemused Petkovic to dispute the ref's decision.
BOOKING: Now a caution is shown - to Switzerland, as Zakaria is penalised for pulling on Gamboa's shirt as the Costa Rica man was off on the counter.
CHANCE! The unmarked Embolo is perfectly placed to finish off from Rodriguez's cross, but his decision to flick the ball on for Dzemaili rather than go for glory sees the Costa Rica back line regroup and keep the danger out!
OFF THE POST! Embolo once again seeks to turn provider and it very nearly comes off this time as his cross lands into the path of Drmic, who rises to meet the ball with a header, only for the effort to rattle the woodwork!
SUBSTITUTIONS: Switzerland make their final change, with Lang replacing Shaqiri, while Costa Rica bring on Wallace for Colindres.
BOOKING: Schar picks up a yellow card after pulling back Campbell, and Petkovic is livid because, as with Lichtsteiner, the Deportivo La Coruna man will miss Switzerland's next game - two of their key defenders now ruled out for the last 16!
Borges's cross is headed away under pressure by Lichtsteiner, who is clattered by Wallace in the process.
GOAL! SWITZERLAND 2-1 COSTA RICA (JOSEP DRMIC)
What a finale to this game as Switzerland edge back ahead with just minutes left! The substitute ran on to Zakaria's low ball and, with his marker Acosta slipping, the Borussia Monchengladbach man coolly collects and passes the ball into the net from 12 yards out!
NO PENALTY! Ruiz goes down in the area and the referee initially gives a penalty, with Waston also booked for a shove on the official, but VAR sees the decision overturned as Ruiz was offside when he received the ball in the area!
PENALTY! Campbell goes over after a challenge from Zakaria and a penalty is given to Costa Rica - and this one stands! Ruiz to take...
GOAL! SWITZERLAND 2-2 COSTA RICA (YANN SOMMER OWN GOAL)
Costa Rica are level again as they wrap up their 2018 World Cup campaign in style, but it's bittersweet for Ruiz who misses out on his 25th international goal - his effort strikes the underside of the crossbar before hitting Sommer's back and nesting into the back of the Switzerland goal!
FULL TIME: SWITZERLAND 2-2 COSTA RICA
Clement Turpin blows the whistle for full time and what a feast we've been served up with in Nizhny Novgorod as Switzerland succeed in reaching the last 16 of the 2018 World Cup with a dramatic 2-2 draw with Costa Rica, who end their Russian adventure on a high note!
So Group E ends with Brazil going through to the last 16 as group winners, where they will face Mexico, while Switzerland are through as runners-up, with a game against Sweden up next. Serbia and Costa Rica, meanwhile, will be on the next planes home!
That's all we have time for but don't go anywhere because Sports Mole is on hand to bring you match reports, reaction and the latest news from the World Cup! Thank you for following and, until next time, goodbye!
Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte
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