Argentina Come Back From Brink to Beat Egypt 3-2 in World Cup Classic

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Switzerland vs Colombia

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Here are the players

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By Simon Smale

Time for the national anthems.

Fun fact about the Swiss Psalm, it has versions in four different languages, German, French, Italian, and Romansh.

Typically sitting on the fence there by the Swiss.

Now it's the National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia, and it's a belter, the trumpet fanfare gets everyone going before any of the singing actually starts.

And when the singing does start, it's roared out by everyone.

Yellow, yellow, everywhere

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By Simon Smale

There s a huge contingent of Colombia fans in Vancouver.

Switzerland excited for 'immense' match

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By Simon Smale

Switzerland coach Murat Yakin noted that although Switzerland were without three key players, he is still excited a out that his team can to in today's match.

"I am thrilled, not only me personally, but I think that all of my players are excited and thrilled, as well as the fans in Switzerland and worldwide, we really feel their support," he said.

"Tomorrow's match is going to be an immense match, and big matches are decided by big players.

"We are excited, this is going to be an open match.

"I think that, if we can hold our ground and play our style of football, we can put a lot of stress on the opponent, [but] we will see what is going to happen tomorrow."

Colombia expects 'tough match'

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By Simon Smale

The ability of Colombia's players to adapt to different situations will be key when they take on Switzerland, coach Néstor Lorenzo said.

Colombia have only conceded a single goal so far at the tournament, with Lorenzo making plenty of in-game tactical and positional shifts that have kept his charges on their toes.

"I believe it is key for us to have those types of players, players who interpret the game with simplicity, and that they know how to behave. They grasp the game, they understand the game," Lorenzo told a press conference on Monday.

"On top of the fact that they have the physical and technical capacity that allows for improved versatility, they understand the game. They understand the different moments, and it enables the team to grow. I think we have many players of this sort who are highly versatile."

The unbeaten Colombians have crisscrossed the continent, playing their opening two games in Mexico, then heading to Miami and Kansas before ending up over the border in Canada for their last-16 showdown with the Swiss.

"It's not a good thing to travel so much. The whole time changes, weather changes, because we play at high altitudes and humidity, and in dry weather too. We're pretty much exposed to all sorts of changes. We knew it would be this way," Lorenzo said.

"The World Cup is being held in three countries in such a big continent. It could have happened to anybody, and it has happened to us. We just need to accept the situation, to try to work it out on a day-by-day basis, and give our best performance."

The 60-year-old coach said he expected a tough challenge from Murat Yakin's side.

"[It will require] plenty of tactical discipline, because they're quite organised, they're good in attack, they're good in defence, they have lots of actions fully systematised because their head coach has been with them for four or five years, I believe," he explained.

"They've been in two World Cups, some of them went to Qatar [in 2022]. They are highly experienced, they play in their [English] Premier League and in Italy, so it is going to be a tough match against a pretty good team."

Reuters

Switzerland vs Colombia team news

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By Simon Smale

Let's turn our attention to our second game of the day shall we?

Here's the team news.

Switzerland

Striker Johan Manzambi is a late out due to an injury he suffered in training.

The Freiburg flier suffered a knee contusion in training on Monday.

That has ruled him out, while Ruben Vargas is also missing.

They are going to be replaced by Ardon Jashari and Fabian Rieder.

Michel Aebischer and Luca Jaquez are not available due to muscle injuries.

Colombia

Only one change for Colombia, Luis Suárez replaces Jhon Córdoba in the lead attacking position.

Egypt 'were close, very close'

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By Simon Smale

Egyptian keeper Mostafa Shobeir was immense today.

He saved a penalty from Lionel Messi and, not long after, pulled off one of the saves of the tournament to keep Argentina out.

He is gutted.

"The win was within our reach," he said.

"We were only missing a few small details.

"As everyone saw, we were close, very close, to winning.

"But it just wasn't meant to be."

Enzo Fernández hails 'phenomenal' group

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By Simon Smale

Enzo Fernández has been speaking post match. These quotes from Reuters.

"I'd been longing for this goal for three years," Fernández said.

"We have a phenomenal group, one that never gives up

"We had to take advantage of the spaces they gave us, and we did.

"We came here to enjoy another World Cup and to represent our country.

"And that's what we're doing."

Palestinans watch on amidst Gaza devastation

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By Simon Smale

Need a healthy dose of perspective?

Away from the shiny, modern and sanitised surrounds of the US$1.6 billion Mercedes Benz stadium in Atlanta, fans from Palestine were watching this game from the rubble of their shattered Gaza homes.

It is a world away from the glitz and glamour of the World Cup.

Harrowing, yet brilliant photos from Abdalhkem Abu Riash of Anadolu agency via Getty Images.

Egyptian fans are gutted

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By Simon Smale

Amanda Shalala has told us that she is partying with Egyptian fans in Little Egypt in Astoria, Queens, New York.

The fans in (big) Egypt don't seem quite as thrilled, to be honest.

And they shouldn't be happy with it.

Opta reckons that in the 78th minute of the match, Argentina had a 0.6 per cent chance of winning in normal time.

It's one of the great opportunities of the World Cup thrown away by Egypt.

And these fans in Egypt look absolutely gutted.

Egypt have always flattered to deceive at World Cups, their dominance at continental level not even close to being matched at the global showpiece.

At least, at this tournament, they managed to get their first ever win at a World Cup and their first ever knock out win soon after.

Extraordinary scenes in Atlanta

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By Simon Smale

The scenes in Atlanta at Mercedes Benz stadium are quite extraordinary.

Argentina were out.

But they came back from the dead.

Blow for Switzerland as ' very precious and important player' ruled out

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By Simon Smale

We don't have full team news for our next match between Switzerland and Colombia yet, but we have heard that Switzerland will be without attacking midfielder Johan Manzambi due to a knee contusion, the team announced.

The 20-year-old, who has three goals and two assists at the tournament, sustained the injury in training on Monday.

"He is a very precious and important player for us," Switzerland coach Murat Yakin said.

"He has been constantly improving his performance, he is a team player.

"He's not only a player that you like to watch ... he is an all-rounder.

"He has many qualities and there is still so much potential in him."

Big blow for the Swiss, that.

But at least he's got some lego to play with.

Messi continues to rewrite history books

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By Simon Smale

And another...

Tears for Messi

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By Simon Smale

Argentina had lost all 13 of their previous World Cup games when trailing by at least two goals.

History was weighing down on the defending champions.

And then Lionel Messi took charge.

He now has the most assists in World Cup history with nine, and extended his record goal total to 21.

A magician.

The tears at the end may well have been relief.

But it was a magical performance from Messi, even if he did miss a penalty (surely he has to have them taken off him now).

Winners are grinners

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By Simon Smale

GOATs can fly!

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By Simon Smale

BE CAREFUL WITH HIM!

He may be the GOAT, but he's an old man now.

What a game

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By Simon Smale

It's rare you get that much excitement at 4am but, wow, what a way to start the day.

FT: ARGENTINA COME BACK FROM THE BRINK!

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By Simon Smale

Argentina trailed Egypt 2-0 with 11 minutes remaining, before roaring back to win a World Cup classic 3-2 in Atlanta and move into the quarterfinals.

Yasser Ibrahim opened the scoring for Egypt in the first half, with Lionel Messi missing a penalty soon after to give the Pharaohs a 1-0 lead at the break.

Mostafa Zico doubled Egypt's lead in the second half with a brilliant counter attacking move to put the defending champions on the brink.

But Cristian Romero's fine header got Argentina back into the contest, with Messi scoring less than five minutes later to level the scores.

As extra time loomed, Enzo Fernández finished a spectacular move in stoppage time to give Argentina a stunning win.

The scenes in the closing stages were marred by Egypt's bench and players collectively losing the plot, with several yellow cards shown and one of the Egyptian coaching staff sent off.

90+11' Marwan Attia has lost it

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By Simon Smale

He has tried to start a fight with Lautaro Martínez after conceding a throw in.

Again, it's pretty pathetic and a poor look.

90+8' Marwan Attia is booked

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By Simon Smale

He hauls down for a foul on Lautaro Martínez.

And now another card is shown to the Egyptian bench.

This is a bit pathetic from Egypt. Yes, it's OK to be upset, having thrown away a winning position.

But acting like this is childish.