Key events
Team news
Switzerland (poss 4-3-1-2) Kobel; Jaquez, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Sow, Xhaka, Freuler; Manzambi; Vargas, Embolo.
Subs: Mvogo, Keller, Widmer, Coemert, Amenda, Zakaria, Jashari, Aebischer, Ndoye, Fassnacht, Okafor, Amdouni, Itten.
Canada (4-4-2) Crepeau; Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea; Buchanan, Choiniere, Saliba, Ali Ahmed; Larin, J David.
Subs: St Clair, Goodman, Waterman, Bombito, Davies, Sigur, Eustaquio, Millar, Shaffelburg, Osorio, Oluwaseyi, P David, Nelson.
Referee Ramon Abatti (Brazil)
We’re already into last-group-game territory, which means simultaneous matches. Will Unwin is covering Bosnia and Herzegovina v Qatar – so you don’t have to!
Joe Callaghan
Some corners of the internet were determined that Canada’s totemic and traumatic 6-0 World Cup victory on Thursday would be remembered mostly through Jesse Marsch memes.
The American’s handsy sideline shuffle after Jonathan David rifled the first goal of a hat-trick past Qatar duly racked up social media views by the million. Shots of Marsch holding up six fingers to Canada fans at the end of the match were chopped and put side by side with Michael Jordan in identical pose after winning his sixth NBA title with the Chicago Bulls.
The man himself was adamant it would be remembered for what it was: a moment in time and a moment for all times, including the dark ones after Ismaël Koné’s World Cup was ended with a broken leg. Koné’s horrifying injury came almost halfway through an afternoon that saw records fall like confetti through the Vancouver air.
“To create an identity for what Canadian soccer could be, you can say and do all the right things, but you need moments like today, where everybody remembers what happened,” Marsch said after the victory, the Canada men’s first in this tournament, the biggest ever by a Concacaf nation and the joint-largest by any World Cup host.
“No Canadian will forget this day. There’ll be 40 million people that said they were here. It’s an incredibly seminal moment for everyone to understand that there’s talent in this country, that there’s mentality, desire, a lot of things that make this country special, even though it’s a hockey country. I’m very proud that we’ve accomplished a moment everybody can remember.”
David Pleat couldn’t have an unoriginal thought about football if he tried, so it’s a pleasure to see him back in the Guardian. Here he is discussing five young stars of the World Cup, one of whom should be in action tonight.
Johan Manzambi (Switzerland, 20)
The introduction of the forward in the last minutes of the game against Bosnia and Herzegovina was quite dramatic. Within minutes this powerful, speedy, right-footed player destroyed his opponents’ hopes of surviving with a draw. They had just lost Muharemovic and Manzambi exploited the extra space with perfect timing to get two goals. When he scored the first, a well taken volley, it was clear he would be the centre of attention and it reminded me of the impact on Michael Owen’s life when he brushed past Argentina defenders to score for England in Saint-Étienne. Manzambi spent his early days with Servette before moving to Freiburg and has shown he has the pace and power, combined with adequate control, to trouble defenders in the Bundesliga. He seems well respected by his colleagues there but after contributing a combined 16 goals and assists for his club this season, he may soon have new teammates.
Preamble
There’s life in this here dead rubber. Switzerland and Canada have already qualified for the last 32 of the World Cup, and not even a 32-0 defeat tonight will change that. But both teams will be keen to top Group B. for reasons of self-esteem, a theoretically easier draw and, in Canada’s case, hosting rights.
The group winners will stay in Vancouver to play one of the best third-place teams, with a potential last 16 game to follow at the same stadium. The runners-up are off to Los Angeles, California, to play the runner-up in Group A; at this stage, South Korea are the likeliest opponents.
After starting their World Cup with a draw, Switzerland and Canada went on a netbusting journey in their second game. Switzerland came alive in the last quarter to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-1. Canada thrashed Qatar 6-0, their first victory at a men’s World Cup, though it was a bittersweet experience because of Ismael Kone’s horrible injury.
Canada’s superior goal difference means they have the draw in this game. But they don’t have supremacy in the Fifa rankings, a sometimes useful way of judging such contests. Canada are 29th, Switzerland 17th. May the best team stay in Vancouver.
Kick off 12pm local time/4pm ET/8pm BST
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