Switzerland has advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 72 years after defeating Colombia 4-3 on penalties following a goalless draw. The match, which was not particularly eventful through 90 minutes, saw Colombia come closest to scoring in extra time when Jhon Lucumi's header struck the crossbar from a corner.
The penalty shootout also had its share of drama, with Davinson Sanchez missing the first kick for Colombia. Switzerland's Manuel Akanji blazed his effort over the bar, but goalkeeper Gregor Kobel's save from Cucho Hernandez gave the Swiss the advantage. Ruben Vargas then converted the decisive penalty to secure their place in the last eight.
Switzerland's last appearance in the World Cup quarter-finals was in 1954 when they hosted the tournament. They are now set to face reigning champions Argentina in Kansas City on Sunday.
In another dramatic match, Argentina staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Egypt, coming from two goals down to win. At the 78th minute, Argentina had only a 0.6 percent chance of winning in normal time, trailing 2-0. The victory marked the latest stage in a World Cup game where a team has overturned a two-goal deficit without extra time.
The match also featured notable celebrity attendees. NBA star Anthony Edwards and popular streamer IShowSpeed were present, with IShowSpeed notably wearing an Egypt jersey.
A viral clip captured the emotional rollercoaster of Argentina's comeback. An Egyptian fan, attempting to film the despair of Argentine supporters when his team was leading, inadvertently recorded the team's dramatic turnaround and the subsequent jubilant celebrations. The one-minute video garnered over a million views.
Lionel Messi was seen crying tears of joy and relief after Argentina's hard-fought victory, ensuring their World Cup campaign would continue.
Looking ahead, potential refereeing controversies loom, with Egypt's manager Hossam Hassan having accused FIFA of rigging the tournament. Additionally, questions surround the suspension of two senior USA World Cup staff members, Sam Zapatka and Frank Pannell, with pressure mounting on FIFA and the US team for clarification. France's appeal to have Michael Olise's yellow card rescinded before their quarter-final match against Morocco is also set to be decided.