Canada lose to Switzerland, face South Africa in LA with Koné out

Second-place finish sends Canada to LA

Switzerland 2–1 Canada on Wednesday, and the loss stings for more than the scoreline. Ruben Vargas and Johan Manzambi, who became the youngest player with a goal and assist at a World Cup since Memphis Depay, did the damage (5) (11). Promise David pulled one back in the 74th minute, but it was not enough (5).

Your team finished second in Group B. That means the round of 32 match goes to Los Angeles, not Vancouver. The home-stand advantage is gone.

Marsch: "We're exactly where we want to be"

Jesse Marsch kept it straight after the match. "I'm disappointed that we weren't able to get a win or a draw to keep us here," he told ITV (2). "But we're going to go to LA, we're going to go where it's probably going to be an away crowd, and it'll be a little bit tougher, but we still want to electrify our country and play really well down there."

The bottom line: "We're exactly where we want to be. We finished second in the group, we're in the knockout phase, and now let's go for it" (2).

South Africa await in the round of 32

South Africa 1–0 South Korea on Wednesday, a Thapelo Maseko strike sending Bafana Bafana into the knockout stage for the first time in their history (3) (4). They finished second in Group A.

That sets up Canada versus South Africa in Los Angeles on 28 June. It will be the first round of 32 match ever played at a World Cup.

Koné out with broken leg

Ismaël Koné suffered a broken leg in the group stage match against Qatar (8). The tackle came from Qatar's Assim Madibo, who received a five-match suspension (8). Koné is done for the tournament.

Fan reactions

Fans are pointing out the historical weight of the South Africa matchup, it will be the first round of 32 game in World Cup history. There is also some gallows humor about the Switzerland defeat, with Zurich celebration clips making the rounds and Promise David's late goal getting its own highlight thread.