Bologna man Blerim Dzemaili was on target as Switzerland drew 2-2 with Costa Rica and will face Sweden in the Round of 16.
The Swiss knew a draw could be enough to qualify, as Serbia and Brazil were going head-to-head in the other game, while Los Ticos could still steal the runner-up spot ahead of Serbia on goal difference.
Costa Rica had a bright start and forced Yann Sommer into a series of tough saves, then Daniel Colindres won back possession, spotted Sommer off his line and a ferocious dipping strike from 25 yards thumped the crossbar.
Bologna man Blerim Dzemaili was on target as Switzerland drew 2-2 with Costa Rica and will face Sweden in the Round of 16.
The Swiss knew a draw could be enough to qualify, as Serbia and Brazil were going head-to-head in the other game, while Los Ticos could still steal the runner-up spot ahead of Serbia on goal difference.
Costa Rica had a bright start and forced Yann Sommer into a series of tough saves, then Daniel Colindres won back possession, spotted Sommer off his line and a ferocious dipping strike from 25 yards thumped the crossbar.
Instead, Switzerland broke through with Bologna midfielder Blerim Dzemaili, as Breel Embolo knocked down the Stephan Lichtsteiner cross and Dzemaili smashed in the volley from six yards.
Costa Rica got their deserved equaliser and first goal of the tournament when defender Kendall Waston climbed above the crowd to nod in a corner.
Josip Drmic nearly restored Switzerland’s lead, his header deflected on to the upright. Drmic did get his goal eventually, firing in low from 12 yards as a cross came in from the right.
Bryan earned a penalty when clumsily brought down in a sandwich between two Swiss defenders, but the decision was overturned after VAR spotted an offside position.
Moments later, the referee pointed to the spot again and this time it stood after Denis Zakaria pushed Joel Campbell. Bryan Ruiz fired his penalty off the underside of the bar, it ricocheted off Sommer’s back and went in for an own goal.
They make it through to the Round of 16 where they will face Sweden, but ex-Juventus full-back Stephan Lichtsteiner will be suspended.
Switzerland 2-2 Costa Rica
Dzemaili 31 (S), Waston 56 (C), Drmic 87 (S), Sommer og 92 (C)
Switzerland: Sommer; Lichtsteiner, Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez; Behrami (Zakaria 60), Xhaka; Shaqiri, Dzemaili, Embolo; Gavranovic (Drmic 69)
Costa Rica: Navas; Gamboa, Acosta, Gonzalez, Waston, Oviedo; Colindres, Borges, Guzman, Bryan; J Campbell
Ref: Turpin (FRA)