Switzerland vs Algeria Predictions

• Both teams have scored in eight of Switzerland’s last nine games
• Both teams have scored in Algeria’s last two matches
• Ruben Vargas has scored in back-to-back World Cup matches for the Swiss

Surprise scoreline in mutually beneficial draw

Switzerland and Algeria do battle for the right to play Colombia or Ghana in the last 16 when they meet at BC Place in Vancouver in the early hours of Friday morning. Any night owls who stayed up to see the Fennecs face Austria at the conclusion of Group J last weekend were rewarded with a six-goal thriller in a 3-3 draw that saw both sides go through.

To the surprise of many, Algeria even looked like they were going to win it when Riyad Mahrez grabbed his second in stoppage-time, only for one more late twist to see the points shared.

Vladimir Petrovic’s side thus avoided the trickier task of facing European champions Spain next and instead land in arguably the easiest quarter of the knockout bracket. Algeria deserve to be in the round of 32 based on their last two performances, which included a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Jordan.

Zidane’s replacement looks to be no better

They operate a solid 4-2-3-1 structure with enough composure and technical ability in midfield, but Petkovic got a major goalkeeping issue to solve.  Luca Zidane, who came into the tournament as Algeria’s most-capped keeper with seven, has suffered a crisis of confidence on the biggest stage of all.

He was awful in the 3-0 defeat to Argentina and culpable for Jordan’s goal in game two, so the coach dropped him to the bench and brought Oussama Benbot in to face Austria. The 31-year-old’s jittery display in the 3-3 draw hardly inspires much confidence ahead of sterner tests to come.

And make no mistake, the Swiss are significantly better than Austria. Their goalkeeper and one centre-back have started in Champions League finals and almost all the other starters also play at a high level in Europe’s top five leagues.

Swiss strikeforce should have a say

Breel Embolo has a respectable scoring record for his country and leads the line well, while there is balance in midfield and plenty of skill in attacking areas too. They stumbled at the start of the tournament against Qatar, but have quickly gone through the gears against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Canada.

Ruben Vargas, who has scored in back-to-back games, has the potential to make it three in three against Algeria. But the Fennecs will also fancy their chances of scoring against a team that has kept only one clean sheet in nine. Back both teams to score as the main bet in this game, which could see fortunes fluctuate and end 1-1.