Switzerland dispatch Algeria; Portugal reach last-16 after win over Croatia | OneFootball

FULL-TIME, SWITZERLAND 2-0 ALGERIA

In the end it was a relatively simple evening for Murat Yakin's side. Algeria had little to say in terms of a comeback and the second goal killed them off immediately after half-time.

The Swiss will move onto the last-16 where they will square off with the winner of Colombia and Ghana, who will play on Friday.

Chance goes begging for Switzerland!

Somehow, some way, Switzerland did not extend their lead despite Fabian Rieder having a wide-open goal to aim at. But the Augsburg man scuffed his effort and missed!

We're into the final 10 minutes now as Switzerland have really nullified any chance of an Algeria comeback. In truth, it's been a very pedestrian half of football, very unfamiliar after the dramatic knockout matches we've seen so far.

Algeria have made a bundle of changes in the second half, but it hasn't done much to increase their attacking verve. They will need to drastically increase the number of chances they are creating if they are going to find any hopes of a turnaround.

Chance for Algeria!

The goal appeared to be gaping for Algeria talisman Riyad Mahrez, but the former Manchester City man saw his shot from near the penalty-spot blocked by a Swiss defender.

GOAL SWITZERLAND!

Almost immediately after the restart the Swiss have doubled their lead! Disaster for Algeria as they looked to find a foothold in this game, but Dan Ndoye has fired home from the edge of the box to put Switzerland firmly in the driver's seat.

The ball is rolling and we are underway in the second half from Vancouver!

We've reached half-time with Switzerland a goal to the good, and it has been deserved. Algeria have hardly had a sniff at goal in this opening 45 minutes.

Johan Manzambi has been an absolute handful for Algeria in this first half. The Freiburg forward created the opening goal and has continued to be elusive whenever the ball is at his feet.

Algeria is starting to see more of the ball now as the half creeps towards the intermission, but creating high-quality chances has been a tough task for the African side.

We've reached the first hydration break as Switzerland have grabbed a stranglehold on this match. Though with just one goal in it, there is plenty of time for Algeria to put the cat among the pigeons.

The Swiss goal appears to have really killed Algeria's momentum. Vladimir Petković's side were in the ascendency before being Embolo changed the flow of the game.

GOAL SWITZERLAND! AGAINST THE RUN OF PLAY!

With one of their first true attacks, Switzerland have bagged the lead and in some style. A tremendous solo run from Johan Manzambi is capped off with a ball across the box for Breel Embolo to tap home!

Switzerland 1-0 Algeria

Penalty shout for Algeria!

Ramiz Zerrouki darted in behind to get on the end of a chance but was seemingly cleared out by a Swiss defender. The referee says no penalty.

Algeria wide-man Rayan Aït-Nouri looked to be in behind after a sumptuous long-ball over the top, but Swiss keeper Gregor Kobel darted in at the last second to clear.

It's been a really intense start to this match, and both teams are rife with attacking. Should be an evenly matched 90 minutes, and maybe more!

The ball is rolling in Vancouver and we are underway!

The Swiss fans are out in good voice!

Time to turn our attention to what has turned out to be one of the more accessible games at this World Cup, as Switzerland take on Algeria in Vancouver to round out the night.

Thanks to their result tonight, it'll be an all-Iberian clash when Spain and Portugal meet in Dallas on 6 July.

FULL TIME: PORTUGAL 2-1 CROATIA

Portugal completes a comeback win against a valiant Croatia to reach the round of 16 after a 2-1 win in Toronto.

It wasn't without contentious moments, but Ronaldo's first-ever WC knockout stage goal set the tone for him and his compatriots to continue a hopeful deep run this summer.

Objects continue to be thrown onto the pitch, as play is temporarily paused to clean up debris.

Croatian players are livid at the decision, as Gvardiol's equaliser is ruled to be offside in the build-up.

Fans are loud in their displeasure, too, as boos ring out around the ground.

VAR CHECK!

Croatia's hopes are in the balance after their equaliser are now under VAR review for potential offside.

GOAL!!! PORTUGAL 2-1 CROATIA

We will have at least one goal in this extended period of added time!

Portugal have completed a possible comeback win against Croatia thanks to a lovely header from substitute Gonçalo Ramos!

There will be a whopping ten minutes of additional time in Toronto.

Will we have yet another late goal? It's been one of the defining features across all the action this summer.

CHANCE!

Petar Sučić does brilliantly to drive down the right, beat his man, and put in a brilliant cross on the head of Mario Pašalić, but his effort bounces wide of Costa's far post!

The Atalanta man really should have done better there.

Ronaldo comes off and is replaced by Rúben Neves for the final ten minutes of normal time.

Will this be decided by the end of 90 minutes, or will we need extra time, or penalties?

Ronaldo and Perišić are two of the oldest goalscorers in World Cup knockout history.

For more on that, here are good bits from our friends at Opta.

CHANCE!!

Croatia nearly strike back on two quickfire occasions through Kovačić, but Costa is equal to the task with a good reaction save in the wake of Kovačić's first hitting the post!

GOAL!! PORTUGAL 1-1 CROATIA

Portugal are back in this thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty!

That's his first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout clash!

PENALTY!

VAR CHECK

Portugal have a huge shout for a penalty here.

Will Ronaldo get his chance?

On Perišić's finish, he's now passed national hero Davor Šuker for total World Cup goals.

VAR DENIES CR7

Portugal nearly lands an equaliser through a lovely finish from Ronaldo, but he's judged to have been offside just before his finish.

GOAL!!! PORTUGAL 0-1 CROATIA

We have liftoff in Toronto, but it's not from Portugal!

A seemingly unlikely strike by Croatian elder statesman Ivan Perišić at the backpost has lifted them into a second-half advantage!

...which ultimately amounts to little.

CHANCE!

Croatia sally out of their defensive posture and are enjoying a small spell in Portugal's third of the pitch.

Mateo Kovačić drives into the box past Cancelo and unleashes a low drive at the near post, with Diogo Costa coming up with a strong kick save to deny an opener.

Croatia have a corner here...

And we're back underway for the second half, with Portugal already on the attack.

HALFTIME: PORTUGAL 0-0 CROATIA

We're all square at nil-nil after one half of play in Toronto.

Portugal have been the more threatening of the two sides here, but Ronaldo and Co. were still unable to find a breakthrough.

Portugal earns another corner as we reach the 40th minute, and it's been turning into something of a siege this evening.

Portugal earns another corner after some good work down the left side ended in a driven cross from Fernandes being parried away and out by Dominik Livaković.

Croatia clears it, though.

João Cancelo plays a lovely ball into the box from the right-side channel, but the ball couldn't pick out the pair of runs by Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes.

It was dangerous, though, and there were half-hearted appeals for a penalty, which came to nothing.

Seleção das Quinas have banked 0.85xG thus far, as well as nearly 70% of the ball.

It's hard to look past Portugal finding the back of the net here, but Croatia is on the charge just after the hydration break with a little attacking intent of their own.

A great back-post ball from Nuno Mendes' corner comes to nothing for Portugal, with us now hitting the first hydration break of the night.

Portugal have been the better of the two sides in the opening 10 minutes, but we know how strong Croatia can be on the break.

And with us now in action, Cristiano Ronaldo is officially the oldest outfield player to appear in a knockout clash in a World Cup.

We're closing on kick-off!

Walk-outs, anthems, and then we're underway!

And as always, some great pre-match reading from The Athletic.

Some other fun facts as we edge toward kick-off in Toronto.

For Ronaldo, a big performance for Portugal could not come at a better moment.

Despite his otherworldly career, CR7 has yet to show up when it matters in the knockout stages. Imagine what could happen tonight if he finally does?

Portugal fans are out in force ahead of kick-off

🚨 LINE UP ALERT

Our next clash of the Round of 32 pits Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal against Luka Modrić and Croatia in Toronto.

Here is how the two sides will line up in just over one hour, with the former Real Madrid duo both included from the off...

Ahead of Portugal's clash with Croatia, is this stat telling of what's to come as Spain navigate the knockout stages?

A solid foundation to work with.

A strong outing from the Atlético Madrid forward.

Spain are looking in good shape ahead of the last 16.

FULL TIME: Spain 3-0 Austria

A completely dominant performance from Spain as Oyarzabal and Porro strike to send La Roja into the last 16.

GOOOAL SPAIN

Spain carve open the Austrian defence with ease and Oyarzabal taps in from Cucurella's excellent low cross.

OFF THE LINE

So close for Yamal! The Barcelona attacker swivels in the area and strikes towards the bottom corner, but Alaba clears off the line.

Austria's Chukwuemeka lashes towards the top corner from a difficult angle and it sails harmlessly over the bar. Simon has been very quiet in this game.

A goal fest by previous standards for La Roja.

Hydration break over and the action resumes.

Porro made no mistake from there.

That goal arrives just before the second half hydration break. As it stands, Spain are heading through to the round of 16.

GOOOOAL SPAIN

That may well settle it! Pedro Porro arrives late in the box to land an unstoppable header past Schlager. The Spurs defender's first international goal.

CHANCE AUSTRIA

Substitute Kalajdžić almost makes an instant impact, rising highest to meet a lofted cross, but his header goes just over the crossbar.

Yamal is running riot down the right flank this evening.

CHANCE SPAIN

It's all Spain so far in the second half and Rodri's deflected long-range strike just squeezes past the post.

Oyarzabal drives forward again and his curling effort from the edge of the area is held comfortably by  Schlager.

SECOND HALF

Back to it in LA.

Advantage La Roja. Can Austria reply?

HALF TIME: Spain 1-0 Austria

Spain take a deserved lead into the second half.

OFF THE BAR

Baena's thumpung free-kick beats the keeper and crashes off the bar before Yamal misses from close-range on the follow-up.

An absolute menace in the box.

GOOOAL SPAIN

This one stands and it's Oyarzabal with the opener as he caps a flowing Spain move with a well-placed finish to convert from Cucurella's cross.

CHANCE SPAIN

Mikel Oyarzabal works the ball on to his left foot from a tight angle and forces a strong diving save from Schlager.

DSALLOWED GOAL SPAIN

Marc Cucurella gets the final touch on a Spain corner and lashes into the net. But the goal is chalked off for a foul on the Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.

And the action resumes in Los Angeles.

The first half hydration breaks arrive with few chances of note in the opening 23 minutes. Austria holding firm as Spain dominate possession.

Austria show their first threat of the game as Sabitzer's cross is inches away from the flying Gregoritsch, who can't quite connect.

Spain show patience in possession and the ball eventually goes into Dani Olmo, whose powerful first-time shot is blocked.

Spain fly forward in the opening minute and Lamine Yamal's low shot lacks the pace to beat Alexander Schlager.

KICK OFF

Spain vs Austria gets up and running.

15 minutes to go until kick off in Los Angeles. Who will come out on top between Spain and Austria?

Here's how the knockout bracket is shaping up. If Spain and Portugal navigate past Austria and Croatia this evening, they will set up a mouth-watering round of 16 tie.

Can you win anything with kids? Spain certainly seems to think so.

After Spain vs Austria, all eyes will be on Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo as the Seleção face Croatia. It's a big one for Ronaldo, personally, as he targets his first-ever World Cup knockout goal.

A bit of a quirky Spanish stat ahead of tonight's round of 32 game with Austria..

Spain vs Austria is first up on the agenda, and here's how those two sides line up in Los Angeles.

Hello and welcome to OneFootball's World Cup coverage for the next batch of knockout games today.