Switzerland winger Christian Fassnacht is looking forward to locking horns with former national team boss Vladimir Petkovic in the World Cup round of 32 tomorrow.
Petkovic is now coach of Algeria, having given the Young Boys attacker his first taste of a major competition when he brought him on in Switzerland’s penalty shoot-out win over France in the round of 16 at Euro 2020.
They meet again in Vancouver with both teams looking to secure progression through to a last-16 clash with either Colombia or Ghana.
“It’ll be nice to see him again. This will definitely be a special game. Somewhere there is a circle that closes,” said Fassnacht in Blick. “He was a special coach for me in my career. From him I received my first call-up to the national team.”
Although Fassnacht owes plenty to Petkovic, he believes Switzerland’s style of play has evolved under current boss Murat Yakin.
“Vlado had a simpler and more direct style of football,” he added. “Muri, on the other hand, is more of a tactical fox who is a bit more detail-oriented.”
Switzerland finished top of Group B that also contained co-hosts Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar while Algeria were one of the best third-placed finishers having taken four points from games with Argentina, Austria and Jordan.
Having described Algeria as a team full of “street footballers,” Fassnacht said: “They are risk takers who are all very technically good on the ball. But maybe we have the advantage that they neglect the defensive side a bit.”
World Cup 2026: Switzerland v Algeria team news
Silvan Widmer is a doubt for Switzerland with Luca Jaquez poised to deputise at right-back.
Algeria could be without forward Mohamed El Amine Amoura.
Switzerland v Algeria World Cup 2026 predicted line-ups
Switzerland: Kobel; Jaquez, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Sow, Manzambi, Vargas; Embolo
Algeria: Zidane; Belghali, Mandi, Bensebaini, Ait-Nouri; Boudaoui, Bentaleb; Mahrez, Maza, Chaibi; Gouiri
Where to watch Switzerland v Algeria: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Friday is at 04:00 BST (23:00 ET / 20:00 PT, both Thursday). In the UK, live TV coverage is on BBC One.
Streaming on a vast range of devices is available through the BBC iPlayer app and BBC Sport website.
World Cup 2026: Switzerland v Algeria stats
- Switzerland have qualified from the group stage for a fourth straight World Cup tournament but finished top of their group for just the second time, previously doing so in 2006
- Johan Manzambi and Ruben Vargas are the first Switzerland teammates to both score in back-to-back World Cup games since 1954, when Robert Ballamann and Josef Hugi both did so (vs Italy and Austria)
- Before the start of Wednesday’s action, only Norway (0.19), Argentina (0.17) and Brazil (0.16) had a higher expected goals average per attempt than Switzerland (0.14)
- Argentina (also 2) are the only side apart from Switzerland to have been awarded more than one penalties at the 2026 finals
- Senegal (4) are the only team to have scored more goals through substitutes than Switzerland (3, alongside Germany and Canada)
- Algeria have advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup for the second time, also going through with four points in 2014
- They became the ninth African team to advance to the knockout round of this World Cup of the 10 entrants from the continent (90%)
- Before 2026, Africa had never had more than half of its teams at a World Cup advance from the group stage
- Against Austria, Rafik Belghali (24 years, 20 days of age) became the youngest player to score for Algeria at the World Cup since their first such match in 1982, when Rabah Madjer (23y 183d) and Lakdhar Belloumi (23y 169d) netted against West Germany.
- Riyad Mahrez scored his first and second World Cup goals at 35 years old against Austria, making the winger the first Algeria player to score a goal at the finals aged over 31
World Cup 2026: Switzerland v Algeria prediction
Switzerland have yet to hit top form but we think the experience in their squad will come to the fore in this one.
Prediction: Switzerland 2-1 Algeria
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