One Hundred and Twenty Minutes of Nothing. Seven Kicks That Decided Everything.
For two full hours of football in Vancouver, Switzerland and Colombia produced a match that was long on organisation and short on goals.
Colombia had the better of it — 15 shots to Switzerland’s 7, an expected goals advantage of 1.03 to 0.35, and the dominant share of the attacking territory throughout 120 minutes at BC Place.
But in a World Cup penalty shootout, none of that matters.
Ruben Vargas tucked the fifth Swiss kick into the bottom-left corner past Camilo Vargas. Cucho Hernandez had seen his attempt saved by Gregor Kobel moments earlier. Switzerland won 4-3 on penalties. Colombia were out.
The South Americans now suffer World Cup penalty shootout heartbreak for the second time in eight years — beaten on spot-kicks by England in 2018 and now by Switzerland in 2026.
Switzerland faces Argentina in the quarterfinals in Miami Gardens on Saturday, July 11.
The Match — Colombia Dominate, Neither Side Can Score
A Cautious Opening — Colombia the Better Side
From the opening whistle, Colombia was the more adventurous of the two sides.
The Colombian yellow packed the stands at BC Place — the tournament having felt like almost a home game for Nestor Lorenzo’s side throughout their Vancouver fixtures. Their energy was matched by their possession — Colombia moved the ball quickly, looked for Luis Díaz in behind, and created the better opportunities across the 90 minutes.
Switzerland, by contrast, was disciplined and structured. Murat Yakin set his side up with familiar compact organisation — the same defensive intelligence that had seen them hold five clean sheets in knockout football before this evening. They were difficult to break down. They were rarely threatening in front of goal.
Lucumi Hits the Crossbar — Colombia’s Closest Moment
The clearest chance of the match came from a Colombia corner in extra time.
Johan Lucumi, rising above the Swiss defence, powered a header goalwards with real conviction. The ball struck the crossbar. Colombia’s supporters inside BC Place groaned in unison.
It was the moment closest to a goal in 120 minutes of football — and it did not go in.
Kobel Denies Puerta
In the 20th minute of regular time, Gustavo Puerta’s shot from the left side of the box forced a diving save from Gregor Kobel — the Swiss goalkeeper, at full stretch to his right, pushed the ball around the post.
It was Kobel’s best moment of 120 minutes and the moment that perhaps defined Switzerland’s entire evening — holding firm when Colombia’s best chance arrived until the shootout decided everything.
Campaz Fires Over — Extra Time’s Final Moment of Agony
Colombia’s last realistic chance before the penalty shootout saw substitute Jaminton Campaz blaze over the bar in extra time — another moment that will haunt the South Americans.
The xG numbers at full time told a story of a match Colombia should have won. They did not.
Full-Time: Switzerland 0-0 Colombia (After Extra Time)
The Penalty Shootout — Every Kick
| Kick | Switzerland | Colombia |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Xhaka ✅ | Quintero ✅ |
| 2nd | Amdouni ✅ | Sanchez ❌ — Missed |
| 3rd | Akanji ❌ — Missed | Campaz ✅ |
| 4th | Itten ✅ | Hernandez ❌ — Saved by Kobel |
| 5th | Vargas ✅ | Diaz ✅ |
Switzerland win 4-3 on penalties
The Key Moments in the Shootout
Sanchez Misses — Switzerland Takes the Advantage
Colombia was the first to crack.
Daniel Sanchez stepped up for Colombia’s second kick and missed — his effort going wide of the post. Switzerland suddenly had the breathing room that penalty shootouts reward so dramatically.
Akanji’s Slip — Colombia Back in It
Switzerland almost gifted Colombia back the advantage when Manuel Akanji’s kick was also missed — keeping Colombia alive in the shootout and levelling the psychological pressure once more.
Kobel Saves Hernandez — the Turning Point
With the shootout delicately poised, Cucho Hernandez — Colombia’s most energetic attacker throughout the evening — stepped up needing to score.
He went for power to his left. Kobel sprang to his right and parried the ball away.
Switzerland 3-2 in the shootout. One kick remaining for each side. Switzerland needed only to score to win. Colombia needed to score and hope Switzerland missed their fifth.
Vargas Sends Switzerland Through
Ruben Vargas, who had produced one of the great moments of the group stage with his goal and assist against Bosnia and Herzegovina, walked up for Switzerland’s fifth kick with the match in his hands.
He placed it precisely into the bottom-left corner. Camilo Vargas guessed right but could not reach it.
Switzerland 4-3 on penalties. The Swiss players sprinted to celebrate with Kobel. Colombia’s players sank to the ground.
Match Stats — Colombia’s Dominance Without Reward
| Stat | Switzerland | Colombia |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 7 | 15 |
| Shots on Target | 2 | 3 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 0.35 | 1.03 |
| Possession | 48% | 44% |
| Crossbar | — | Lucumi |
| Key Save (open play) | Kobel vs Puerta (20′) | Vargas vs Rieder |
| Venue | BC Place, Vancouver | — |
A Word on Colombia — Brilliant But Beaten Again on Penalties
Colombia’s World Cup journey deserved a better ending than this.
They were the better team across 120 minutes by almost every statistical measure. Luis Diaz — who had been the standout player of Colombia’s campaign alongside Balogun in the group stage — scored his penalty and played with real quality throughout. The xG tells the story: Colombia should have scored. They did not.
And now they face the same fate they suffered in 2018 against England — a World Cup knockout defeat on penalties after dominating large portions of the match in normal time.
The Colombian supporters who filled BC Place in yellow deserve enormous credit for the atmosphere they created throughout this tournament. Their team matched that passion on the pitch.
It was simply not enough in the cruel mathematics of a shootout.
What Comes Next — Switzerland vs Argentina in Miami
Switzerland now faces Argentina in the quarterfinals on Saturday, July 11, in Miami Gardens, Florida.
The matchup is fascinating. Argentina — which came from 2-0 down to beat Egypt 3-2 in one of the greatest comebacks the tournament has ever seen — carries the momentum, the individual quality of Messi, and the belief of a defending champion. Switzerland carries the defensive organisation, the ability to absorb pressure, and the mental resilience of a team that has now won a penalty shootout at this World Cup while displaying none of the flair that might make them look like favourites.
Yakin’s Switzerland beat Argentina at the 2022 World Cup group stage, drawing 1-1 after leading — a result that remains deeply embedded in the Swiss football consciousness.
They will not fear the encounter.
The Quarterfinal Picture
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Thu July 9 | France vs Morocco | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| Fri July 10 | Belgium vs Spain | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| Sat July 11 | Argentina vs Switzerland | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens |
| Sun July 12 | England/Norway vs Sweden/USA winner | TBC |
Final Thoughts — Football’s Most Brutal Conclusion
Penalty shootouts are football’s most compelling and most unjust form of competition.
Colombia deserved to score in 120 minutes. They had 15 shots, a 1.03 expected goals figure, and the dominant share of the match across the entire evening. They created the Lucumi crossbar moment, the Puerta chance that Kobel saved, the Campaz opportunity over the bar in extra time.
None of it counted. Seven kicks decided the match. Colombia missed two of theirs. Switzerland missed one and saved one. Switzerland advances.
Football does not care about xG in a penalty shootout. It only cares about the ball hitting the back of the net.
For Colombia, it did not. And now their World Cup is over.
