Switzerland are through to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in more than 70 years, having beaten Colombia in a penalty shootout after a tense, goalless round-of-16 tie in Vancouver. For a country long haunted by its record from the spot, it was a breakthrough as much psychological as sporting.
Decided from 12 yards
Neither side could break through across 90 minutes and extra time, sending the match to penalties, ESPN reported. There the goalkeeper Gregor Kobel became the hero, making the crucial save, while Colombia were undone by a miss off the crossbar. Switzerland held their nerve at the end, with Ruben Vargas converting the decisive kick to win the shootout and send his team through.
Breaking a curse
The win carried extra weight because Switzerland had never before won a penalty shootout at a World Cup, their only previous attempt ending in defeat to Ukraine in 2006. The manager, Murat Yakin, said afterward that the team had "finally broke the curse," a nod to years of near misses in these moments. For Colombia, it was a cruel way to go out, unbeaten in normal time yet eliminated on the finest of margins.
Argentina next
The reward is daunting: a quarterfinal against Argentina, the holders, who came from two goals down to beat Egypt on the same day. Switzerland will go into that match as underdogs against a side built around Lionel Messi, but a team that has just exorcised its shootout demons, and reached its first quarterfinal in generations, will fancy its chances of causing a scare. Whatever happens next, this Swiss side has already given its supporters a night they will not soon forget.
