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World Cup: Embolo, Ndoye on target as Switzerland cruise

In Vancouver, Switzerland continued their strong form, sealing a place in the Round of 16 with a 2-0 win thanks to goals by Stade Rennais' Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye.
E. DEVIN
Published on 07/03/2026 at 05:30
2-minute read
Dan Ndoye celebrates scoring Switzerland's second goal against Algeria

In Vancouver, Switzerland continued their strong form, sealing a place in the Round of 16 with a 2-0 win thanks to goals by Stade Rennais' Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye. Get the latest with the Ligue 1 McDonald's team.

Embolo on target again

In Vancouver, a city in which the Swiss had beaten hosts Canada to secure their spot atop Group B in their previous match to cap an unbeaten group stage, La Nati faced down an Algeria side who had emerged from a rollicking match with Austria to finish as one of the best third place teams, and there were plenty of familiar faces to fans of Ligue 1 McDonald's for both sides. Stade Rennais forward Breel Embolo led the line with his usual bustling style, while Denis Zakaria of AS Monaco was imperious at right back. 

For Algeria, the LOSC duo of Nabil Bentaleb and Aissa Mandi were both in the eleven, while Hichem Boudaoui (OGC Nice) and Amine Gouiri (Olympique de Marseille) both came off the bench. The match started with plenty of verve, and Algeria's best early chance came from a penalty shout on seven minutes, but it was waved off. Less than three minutes later, Switzerland were head, with Embolo prodding home at the near post for his second goal of the tournament. Impressively, he has had a goal involvement in every match the Swiss have played so far. 

A historic result for the swiss

The rest of the half was more lacking in chances, with Switzerland looking to spring the pacy Johan Manzambi on the counter, but having no luck in finding the net. A goal to the good at the break, the Swiss wasted no time in doubling their lead on their first attack of the second half, as former OGC Nice winger Dan Ndoye netted as Algeria struggled to clear the ball. 

From there, the Swiss throttled down as they moved to slow the pace of the game, and neither side was able to create many chances of note save a chance at the back post for Fabian Rieder on 80 minutes. Algeria pushed hard to get back into the match, but to no avail, and Les Fennecs would be eliminated come full time. For the Swiss, who progress to face the winner of Colombia and Ghana on Tuesday night back in Vancouver, the win marks their first knockout win in the competition since 1954, and their fourth successive tournament having progressed to the knockout rounds.

Read more:

>> World Cup: Ramos helps Portugal earn Spain showdown

>> World Cup: Spain cruise past Austria to reach Round of 16

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