Switzerland has defeated Algeria 2-0 at B.C. Place, in Vancouver’s sixth of seven FIFA World Cup games. The Swiss squad controlled the match from early in the first half, giving few opportunities for the lower-ranked Algerians to catch up. This marks Switzerland’s third win in a row—a first for the team in its World Cup history. The team will remain in Vancouver for the round 16 next week, against either Colombia or Ghana. Here’s a recap of the night. 9:58 p.m. PT: Win for Switzerland The game has ended, with the Swiss missing one last attempt at goal with seconds left in stoppage time. Switzerland advances to the round of 16, to be played July 7 at B.C. Place for the team’s third game in a row in Vancouver. Andrew Weichel, CTVNewsVancouver.ca 9:05 p.m. PT: Switzerland doubles lead Less than a minute into the second half, Switzerland has scored again—with attacker Dan Ndoye striking the ball into the corner, just past the keeper’s glove. Algeria has a tough road ahead to stay in the tournament. Andrew Weichel, CTVNewsVancouver.ca 8:45 p.m.: Switzerland leads at halftime The pressure is on the Algerian squad, who are trailing 0-1 at halftime after four minutes of stoppage. Algeria had possession 59 per cent of the time in the first half, and led Switzerland in shot attempts. The Algerians had an early chance to take the lead when midfielder Houssem Aouar accepted a centring pass, but flubbed his shot in the sixth minute. Andrew Weichel, CTVNewsVancouver.ca, with files from The Canadian Press 8:36 p.m. PT: Actors watching live Zach Galifianakis and Billy Magnussen are among the celebrities watching the match at B.C. Place Thursday. Galifianakis has a home on B.C.’s Denman Island, and filmed his new series “This is a Gardening Show” in the province. Andrew Weichel, CTVNewsVancouver.ca 8:25 p.m. PT: Algerian coach faces former team Vladimir Petkovic—who spent seven years coaching Switzerland—is at the helm for Algeria Thursday night. In 2020, he took the Swiss to the quarterfinals for the first time. “It’s a match between two teams that certainly play good football,” Petkovic told reporters this week. “I’m very keen to be involved in this match, but I’m also very keen to win the game and keep progressing.” The Canadian Press 8:11 p.m. PT: Swiss strike first Switzerland has scored the first goal of the game! Johan Manzambi sent the ball across the net to Breel Embolo, who tapped it into the back of the net in the 11th minute. Andrew Weichel, CTVNewsVancouver.ca 8:02 p.m. PT: Kickoff at B.C. Place Energy is high at the stadium as the match gets underway. This marks the fourth time in a row Switzerland has reached the knockout stage of the World Cup. Algeria hasn’t since 2014, when the team advanced to the round of 16. Andrew Weichel, CTVNewsVancouver.ca 7:30 p.m. PT: Starting lineups Kickoff is 30 minutes away. Here’s are the starting lineups for Switzerland and Algeria. Andrew Weichel, CTVNewsVancouver.ca 7:15 p.m. PT: Less than an hour to kickoff The Round of 32 match between Switzerland and Algeria at B.C. Place will soon get underway. Switzerland, which entered the World Cup ranked No. 19, advanced with two wins and a draw in group play, including a 2-1 victory over Canada in Vancouver. Algeria, which entered ranked No. 28, reached the knockout stage with a win, a draw and a loss. Tonight’s winner will return to B.C. Place on July 7 to face the winner of Friday’s Round of 32 match between Colombia and Ghana. The Canadian Press 6:15 p.m. PT: High hopes among fans Bars were buzzing in the hours before kickoff, with fans both excited and nervous. “I’ve very worried,” one Switzerland fan told CTV News at the Blarney Stone. “The Swiss made it the last couple of times to the final, to the knockout phase, and they always got knocked out in the first round—this year it will be different!” Isabella Zavarise, CTV News Vancouver 5:30 p.m. Supporters brave the rain Algeria fans gathered in Olympic Village, many wearing plastic ponchos to protect themselves from the soggy weather on their march to B.C. Place. Some attached Algerian flags to their umbrellas. One local supporter told CTV News he’s met fellow fans from Europe and the U.S. who flew in to cheer on the team. “It’s something that you can’t even describe,” he said. “We’re so happy to be here, we’re so happy to be able to support.” There were drums, dancing, chanting and fireworks as anticipation built for the match against Switzerland. Demetra Maragos, CTV News Vancouver 4:50 p.m. PT: FIFA by the numbers With two Vancouver games left in the tournament, officials have shared some statistics on the city’s FIFA World Cup events so far. An average of 23,899 people have visited the FIFA Fan Festival per day, with a total attendance of 334,581 up to July 1. Canada made history multiple times over—winning its first-ever men’s World Cup game, advancing to the knockout round, and scoring a record six goals in a single World Cup match. According to the local organizers, 21 of the 223 goals scored so far in the tournament were at B.C. Place, averaging 4.2 goals per match—the highest of any venue up to now. Andrew Weichel, CTVNewsVancouver.ca 3 p.m. PT: Granville Street to remain pedestrian-only after World Cup Granville Street, which has become city’s main celebration hub, will remain a pedestrian-only zone through the Labour Day long weekend. Vancouver city council voted to extend the street closure and keep eligible World Cup-related temporary patios open after tens of thousands of fans packed the area throughout the tournament. The city says the extension will support businesses through the summer while officials study the long-term future of the pedestrian zone. The Canadian Press 2:30 p.m. PT: Umbrella policy at the game Environment Canada is forecasting rain right until kickoff—but fans marching to B.C. Place can keep themselves dry with an umbrella, as long as it’s not too big. The stadium has confirmed that small personal umbrellas are allowed in the venue, but larger ones such as beach umbrellas and golf umbrellas are not. That’s a more lenient policy than was in place during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, where umbrellas were banned altogether. Soccer fans heading to the FIFA Fan Festival in East Vancouver should know umbrellas are prohibited there, along with blankets, lawn chairs and coolers. Andrew Weichel, CTVNewsVancouver.ca 12:30 p.m. PT: ‘Dream come true’ for Algeria fans Algeria native Nawel Allam says it’s “a dream come true” to see her home country play a World Cup match in British Columbia, where she has lived for 35 years. Allam is a founder of the Algerian Community of BC Association, which has planned a fan rally that is set to take place around 4:30 p.m. She says the group is expecting a couple hundred people to join them at the CBC Plaza in downtown Vancouver before they march to the stadium. Allam says she and her family have secured tickets to attend the match, which she calls a “once-in-a-lifetime” event. “We’re ecstatic,” Allam says. “I’m going to be 60 years old this month and I feel like I’m a five-year-old waiting on Christmas morning.” The Canadian Press 9 a.m. PT: Fan meet-ups, march planned Fans of both Switzerland and Algeria will be gathering hours before the match, then marching the last mile to B.C. Place. Swiss fans are meeting at the Blarney Stone pub around 2 p.m., then marching toward the stadium at 6 p.m. Fans of the Fennecs—who marched in downtown Vancouver Wednesday as well—are expected to join as well. Andrew Weichel, CTVNewsVancouver.ca 8:30 a.m. PT: Road closures return As with previous FIFA World Cup games in Vancouver, there will be road closures in effect as a result of Thursday’s match between Switzerland and Algeria. The stretch of Granville Street between Davie and Georgia streets—which was transformed into a pedestrian zone for the entirety of the tournament—remains closed to traffic as well. TransLink service changes have been implemented to make it easier for people to get around on transit in the meantime. Andrew Weichel, CTVNewsVancouver.ca The Fennecs land in Vancouver The Algerian team arrived at Vancouver International Airport Tuesday, and a crowd of supporters were waiting to welcome them downtown. The Fennecs last played Saturday, drawing against Austria in a dramatic 3-3 game in Kansas. Andrew Weichel, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
