World Cup 2018: Switzerland reach last 16 after Costa Rica draw
Switzerland have lost just once in their past 25 matches - drawing two of their Group E matches
Switzerland set up a World Cup last-16 tie with Sweden after a draw with Costa Rica that featured a bizarre late penalty drama.
Vladimir Petkovic's side kicked off needing just a point from their final Group E game to reach the knockout stages for the third time in four tournaments - but Serbia's 2-0 defeat by Brazil meant they would have gone through even with a defeat.
The Swiss, though, had to settle for second place in their group and just a point - despite substitute Josip Drmic putting them 2-1 ahead in the 88th minute.
Costa Rica, already eliminated, equalised in injury time, as Bryan Ruiz's penalty hit the bar and then bounced in off Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer's head for an own goal.
Switzerland had taken a first-half lead through Blerim Dzemaili, despite a bright start from Costa Rica, but Kendall Waston headed Los Ticos level 10 minutes into the second half.
Shortly after Drmic scored, Costa Rica were awarded a penalty - only for the decision to be overturned by the video assistant referee system for an offside.
Then Joel Campbell was then brought down in the box, with the penalty decision standing this time, allowing Costa Rica to equalise.
Group E winners Brazil will now face Mexico, after 2014 champions Germany failed to progress from the group stage for the first time since 1938.
Switzerland do enough
Despite the controversy surrounding the 'double-headed eagle' gestures made in their victory over Serbia last time out, key figures Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri and captain Stephan Lichtsteiner were all available for Switzerland.
The trio avoided bans from Fifa this week, instead receiving fines for unsporting behaviour after making the gesture, which symbolises the Albanian flag.
It was Lichtsteiner's cross into the box after 31 minutes that allowed Dzemaili to provide the Swiss with the breakthrough they needed - striking powerfully beyond Keylor Navas in the Costa Rican goal.
Shaqiri too looked lively from the start as he tested the Costa Rican defence but the Swiss largely rode their luck early on as Daniel Colindres struck the underside of the crossbar.
Costa Rica offered warning signs that, despite having nothing to play for, they would not roll over, and their leveller made Petkovic's side nervy.
Nonetheless, Switzerland, who reached the quarter final stage in Brazil four years ago, have now lost just once in their past 25 matches and finished a World Cup group unbeaten for the first time since the 2006.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Switzerland
1Sommer
2LichtsteinerBooked at 37mins
22SchärBooked at 83mins
5Akanji
13Rodríguez
11BehramiSubstituted forZakariaat 60'minutesBooked at 75mins
10Xhaka
23ShaqiriSubstituted forLangat 81'minutes
15Dzemaili
7Embolo
18GavranovicSubstituted forDrmicat 69'minutes
Substitutes
3Moubandje
4Elvedi
6Lang
8Freuler
9Seferovic
12Mvogo
16Fernandes
17Zakaria
19Drmic
20Djourou
21Bürki
Costa Rica
1Navas
2Acosta
3González
19WastonBooked at 89mins
16GamboaBooked at 11minsSubstituted forSmithat 90+3'minutes
5Borges
20GuzmánSubstituted forAzofeifaat 90+1'minutes
8Oviedo
10Ruiz
9ColindresSubstituted forWallaceat 81'minutes
12CampbellBooked at 29mins
Substitutes
4Smith
6Duarte
7Bolaños
11Venegas
13Wallace
14Azofeifa
15Calvo
17Tejeda
18Pemberton
21Ureña
22Gutiérrez
23Moreira
Referee:
Clément Turpin
Attendance:
43,319
Match Stats
Home TeamSwitzerlandAway TeamCosta Rica
Possession
Home62%
Away38%
Shots
Home13
Away14
Shots on Target
Home3
Away6
Corners
Home6
Away5
Fouls
Home9
Away14
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Switzerland 2, Costa Rica 2.
Full TimePosted at 90'+6'
Second Half ends, Switzerland 2, Costa Rica 2.
Goal!Posted at 90'+3'
Own Goal by Yann Sommer, Switzerland. Switzerland 2, Costa Rica 2.
Posted at 90'+3'
Penalty missed! Still Switzerland 2, Costa Rica 1. Bryan Ruiz (Costa Rica) hits the bar with a left footed shot.
SubstitutionPosted at 90'+3'
Substitution, Costa Rica. Ian Smith replaces Cristian Gamboa.
Posted at 90'+2'
Penalty conceded by Denis Zakaria (Switzerland) after a foul in the penalty area.
Posted at 90'+2'
Penalty Costa Rica. Joel Campbell draws a foul in the penalty area.
SubstitutionPosted at 90'+1'
Substitution, Costa Rica. Rándall Azofeifa replaces David Guzmán.
BookingPosted at 89'
Kendall Waston (Costa Rica) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 89'
Offside, Costa Rica. Kendall Waston tries a through ball, but Bryan Ruiz is caught offside.
Goal!Posted at 88'
Goal! Switzerland 2, Costa Rica 1. Josip Drmic (Switzerland) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Denis Zakaria with a cross.
Posted at 84'
Stephan Lichtsteiner (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 84'
Foul by Rodney Wallace (Costa Rica).
BookingPosted at 83'
Fabian Schär (Switzerland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 83'
Foul by Fabian Schär (Switzerland).
Posted at 83'
Joel Campbell (Costa Rica) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 83'
Foul by Ricardo Rodríguez (Switzerland).
Posted at 83'
Johnny Acosta (Costa Rica) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
SubstitutionPosted at 81'
Substitution, Costa Rica. Rodney Wallace replaces Daniel Colindres.
SubstitutionPosted at 81'
Substitution, Switzerland. Michael Lang replaces Xherdan Shaqiri.
Posted at 79'
Denis Zakaria (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Daniel Colindres (Costa Rica).
Posted at 79'
Attempt saved. Celso Borges (Costa Rica) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Joel Campbell.
Posted at 78'
Corner, Switzerland. Conceded by David Guzmán.
Posted at 78'
Josip Drmic (Switzerland) hits the right post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Breel Embolo with a cross.
BookingPosted at 75'
Denis Zakaria (Switzerland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 75'
Foul by Denis Zakaria (Switzerland).
Posted at 75'
Cristian Gamboa (Costa Rica) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 74'
Xherdan Shaqiri (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 74'
Foul by Bryan Oviedo (Costa Rica).
Posted at 72'
Stephan Lichtsteiner (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 72'
Foul by Daniel Colindres (Costa Rica).
Posted at 71'
Attempt blocked. Josip Drmic (Switzerland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Granit Xhaka.
SubstitutionPosted at 69'
Substitution, Switzerland. Josip Drmic replaces Mario Gavranovic.
Posted at 69'
Corner, Costa Rica. Conceded by Ricardo Rodríguez.
Posted at 64'
Attempt missed. Celso Borges (Costa Rica) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by David Guzmán with a headed pass.
SubstitutionPosted at 60'
Substitution, Switzerland. Denis Zakaria replaces Valon Behrami.
Posted at 59'
Mario Gavranovic (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 59'
Foul by Bryan Ruiz (Costa Rica).
Posted at 59'
Stephan Lichtsteiner (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Source: bbc.com
Source: bbc.com
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