"VAN" (Sports Desk - 13.07.2026) :: The dream of reaching their first FIFA World Cup™ semi-finals may have come to an end, but Switzerland can leave this edition with their heads held high. In the quarter-finals, the Nati pushed reigning world champions Argentina to the limit with the Swiss fighting on valiantly after Breel Embolo was shown two yellow cards. They succumbed after two late goals from La Albiceleste, ending in a bitter 3-1 defeat after extra time.
Understandably, the disappointment after the final whistle hung heavy in the air. Coach Murat Yakin, however, preferred to focus on his team’s performance. “I would like to praise the entire team for the way we played against the reigning champions in a quarter-final, because we came back from a goal down against the world champions and we had the momentum. For me, the team played heroically. They played with passion and we can be incredibly proud.”
Captain Granit Xhaka also highlighted how close Switzerland had come to creating a historic upset. “We felt there was more in it for us. We had more energy and more focus. That’s football, but after the sending-off, the game completely changed.” The crushing silence in the dressing room after the match was a reflection of the team’s mood, but also the team’s ambition and the high standards that they had set for themselves, according to Xhaka.
The Swiss team stayed the course even after they conceded an early goal and their patience kept the Argentinians at bay, preventing them from getting close to the goal for long stretches of time. The Nati increased the intensity after half-time: their equaliser a deserved reward for a courageous performance. But Embolo's sending off completely shifted the dynamics of the match. Despite being reduced to ten men, Switzerland defended heroically and kept the game alive deep into extra time.
That Swiss resilience has been on display throughout their campaign. After a difficult opening match against Qatar, the team found its rhythm, convincingly defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina and securing top spot in their group after a victory over co-hosts Canada. In the knockout stages, they continued their impressive run with a convincing 2-0 defeat over Algeria in the Round of 32 and a nail-biting penalty shoot-out victory over Colombia in the last 16.
Despite their elimination, Yakin preferred to focus on the positive aspects of Switzerland’s World Cup campaign: “We can be proud of how we played in the Round of 32 and the Round of 16. Today, we also dominated and controlled the match at various points.”
It was therefore all the more meaningful to the Switzerland coach that his Argentinian counterpart Lionel Scaloni came to him after the final whistle. “He congratulated me because they had to fight hard for the win. That shows you that Argentina took us very seriously and that we were able to trouble them.”
Setting aside the initial disappointment, Xhaka also focused on Switzerland’s achievement: “we can be proud of ourselves. We played great football, and showed character and mettle.”
The captain was not yet ready however to look to the future. First, he said, it was time to return home to family, take a break and clear their heads. After that, the team would regroup and focus on their next goal.
By reaching the quarter-finals, Switzerland has equalled their best-ever World Cup finish. The last time they reached the final eight was in 1954, when they hosted the tournament. Seventy-two years later, the Nati once again proved that it can compete with the very best on football’s biggest stage. The journey may have ended for them in Kansas City, but they and the Swiss fans will be able to look back on what they have achieved with great pride for many years to come.
Cr-FIFA2026
Responses
Leave your comment