TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Switzerland will face Algeria in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, Canada, on Friday, July 3, Indonesian time. This match will be a tactical battle between coaches Murat Yakin and Vladimir Petkovic.
According to FIFA's website on Thursday, as quoted by ANTARA, Switzerland entered the knockout phase with high confidence, having gone through the group stage undefeated with two wins and one draw.
They are confident of relying on solid play, the experience of their senior players, and the effectiveness of their counter-attacks, which have been the hallmark of their game throughout the tournament.
On the other hand, Petkovic led Algeria through after a show of fighting spirit, including a dramatic draw that secured their place in the knockout stage. They recorded a win, a draw, and a loss in the group stage.
The match also features an emotional showdown, as Petkovic coached Switzerland from 2014 to 2021, helping lay the foundation of a squad that now includes players like Granit Xhaka and Breel Embolo.
Under his leadership, Switzerland made history. He led the team to the quarterfinals of Euro 2020. This achievement was Switzerland's best performance in a major tournament since the 1954 World Cup.
But Petkovic insists past relationships will not affect his approach in the do-or-die match to secure a ticket to the last 16.
They have historically had better achievements in the World Cup. The team nicknamed La Nati has reached the quarter-finals three times, namely in the 1934, 1938, and 1954 editions.
Meanwhile, Algeria's best achievement before the 2026 edition was reaching the round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The two countries are also familiar with each other. They have met several times in international friendlies, with a relatively even record, further strengthening the prediction that the match will be a tight affair.
In terms of individual quality, Switzerland is slightly favored thanks to its players' experience in elite European competition.
However, Algeria has Riyad Mahrez, who has pace on the wings, as well as the creativity and experience that could make the difference.
Switzerland will likely have more possession of the ball, while Algeria will wait for the opportunity to launch a quick counter-attack.
Estimated line-up:
Switzerland: Gregor Kobel, Silvan Widmer, Manuel Akanji, Nico Elvedi, Ricardo Rodriguez, Remo Freuler, Granit Xhaka, Dan Ndoye, Zeki Amdouni, Ruben Vargas, Breel Embolo.
Algeria: Oussama Benbot, Aissa Mandi, Jaouen Hadjam, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Ramy Bensebaini, Hicham Boudaoui, Nabil Bentaleb, Ibrahim Maza, Fares Chaibi, Riyad Mahrez, Amne Gouri.
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