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Itten holds his nerve from the spot as Switzerland reach World Cup quarter-finals
SWITZERLAND EDGE PAST COLOMBIA IN LAST 16
08/07/26 | 3 Min
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Cedric Itten’s World Cup run is not over yet. Werder’s summer signing helped Switzerland reach the quarter-finals of the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the USA in the early hours of Wednesday morning, as the Nati beat Colombia 4-3 on penalties in the last 16. Itten was one of the players to step up in the decisive shootout.
Neither side gave an inch from the start, with both teams battling for every yard. Clear chances were hard to come by, but the tension never dipped – and from a Green-White perspective, it rose further when Cedric Itten came on for Breel Embolo in the 87th minute to lead the line. With no breakthrough before the end of normal time, the tie went to extra time.
That was when the game really opened up. Jhon Lucumí struck the crossbar from a corner (99’), before Gregor Kobel saved from Jaminton Campaz moments later (101’). At the other end, Itten teed up Zeki Amdouni, whose close-range effort was kept out by Camilo Vargas (104’). Colombia had the better chances in extra time, though, with Campaz dragging wide when through on goal after a lapse from Granit Xhaka (115’).
The shootout then delivered the final drama. Davinson Sánchez was the first to miss, hitting the underside of the bar, before Manuel Akanji’s effort way off target brought Colombia back into it. Kobel then denied Cucho Hernández, and Itten made no mistake from the spot to put Switzerland on the brink. Ruben Vargas converted the next penalty to send his side into the quarter-finals. Itten and Switzerland’s World Cup journey will continue on Sunday, 12th July (03:00 CEST), when the Nati face world champions Argentina in Kansas City.
The dream of reaching a European Championship final is also still alive for Werder’s youth internationals. Patrice Čović, Karlo Simić (both Croatia) and Mick Schmetgens (Germany) are all in U19 EURO semi-final action in Wales on Wednesday evening.
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