Akanji rules himself out

Switzerland are through to the World Cup quarter-finals, but Manuel Akanji has already made one personal decision before the next round.

The Inter Milan defender says he does not want to take another penalty again.

According to Watson’s report on Switzerland’s shootout win over Colombia, Akanji admitted after the match that his missed penalty had been bad enough to end his duties from the spot.

“I have already told Muri: That was the last penalty I have taken. It was catastrophic,” Akanji said.

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The comment came after Switzerland had beaten Colombia on penalties following a goalless draw, securing a place in the last eight.

A last-second change went wrong

Akanji’s miss briefly brought back painful memories for Switzerland.

Two years ago, he was also the Swiss player who failed from the spot when England knocked them out of the European Championship quarter-final.

This time, however, Switzerland survived.

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Akanji explained that he had originally planned to shoot high to the left. But after seeing Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas dive that way for the first two penalties, he changed his mind at the last moment.

“And then I also slipped a little, and that is how it flew four metres over the goal,” Akanji said.

It was a brutally honest explanation from a player who otherwise delivered a strong defensive performance across 120 minutes.

Yakin accepts the decision

Switzerland coach Murat Yakin did not try to talk him out of it.

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Instead, he accepted Akanji’s request to step away from future penalties.

“That is now definitely buried,” Yakin said.

The coach also made clear that the miss should not overshadow Akanji’s contribution to the win.

“Manu does so much right on the pitch, he probably calculated too much in the penalty shootout,” Yakin said. “But the fact that we even got to the penalty shootout was also thanks to him.”

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Kobel saves the moment

Akanji was spared a far darker ending by his teammates.

After his miss, Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel immediately restored control by saving Colombia’s next penalty. Cedric Itten then converted, before Ruben Vargas scored the decisive kick to send Switzerland through.

According to Aftonbladet’s report on the match, Switzerland won the shootout 4-3 after the match had finished 0-0 following extra time.

It was a historic result. Switzerland are now in a World Cup quarter-final for the first time in 72 years.

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Xhaka wants more history

Captain Granit Xhaka set the tone for Switzerland by taking the first penalty.

He later said the team’s mentality had carried them through a difficult match.

“The will won,” Xhaka said. “We did not create much, but we defended very well. It was a typical knockout match, in which both teams had their phases, and we made history. It is an incredible feeling.”

For Xhaka, though, reaching the quarter-finals is not the end of the story.

“The hunger is bigger than ever,” he said. “We have achieved our number one goal, but when you are in the quarter-finals, you want more.”

That next challenge will be Argentina and Lionel Messi.

For Akanji, it will also be a chance to move the conversation away from penalties and back to defending.