Swiss coach Yakin credits perfect timing on subs for win over Colombia

[p]The shootout swung in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/switzerland/rHJ2vy1B/"]Switzerland[/a]'s favour ‌when their goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kobel-gregor/xlBg2ttC/"]Gregor Kobel[/a] saved [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cucho-hernandez/65KF7LTO/"]Cucho ‌Hernandez[/a]'s penalty after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sanchez-davinson/dbPhv0VQ/"]Davinson Sanchez[/a] had earlier hit the crossbar ‌for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/colombia/G02s4PCS/"]Colombia[/a].[/p][p]Substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vargas-ruben/U7XUxOei/"]Ruben Vargas[/a] then converted the winning ‌spot kick for Switzerland to beat the South Americans 4-3 following a game that finished [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/colombia-G02s4PCS/switzerland-rHJ2vy1B/?mid=EmgOlMbT"]0-0[/a] after 120 minutes.[/p][p]He ‌was one of several substitutions, including that ⁠of forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/itten-cedric/SC0MTrRg/"]Cedric ‌Itten[/a] a few minutes earlier and Zeki Amdouni a little ​later, that refreshed the Swiss frontline after the 87th minute.[/p][p][b]"It was difficult in the beginning, but ​we stayed in it and showed great mentality,"[/b] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/yakin-murat/AyuXqwIS/"]Yakin[/a] said. [b]"Then I brought on the right players at ⁠the right moment."[/b][/p][image alt="Switzerland-Colombia matchup stats" id="0be0984e-de73-43f2-b387-4a99ad5cd259" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="f0a5eaa1-3897-4863-9a4a-1cf27971c9d1" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Vargas, ​who came on in second-half stoppage time, kept his cool a little later to send his team through to their first World Cup quarter-final since 1954. Earlier, fellow ‌substitute Amdouni had calmly converted his penalty.[/p][p][b]"It was just amazing to see him smash that (Vargas penalty) in. I was so relieved and happy,"[/b] Yakin said.[/p][p][b]"We are getting into the flow and have to slowly process what has happened. It was an unbelievable victory. We had to stay very patient, but we put in a top performance today, so I am very ‌happy with my players."[/b][/p][image alt="Ruben Vargas scores against Camilo Vargas during PK's" id="58703df7-22a8-4a57-8b2b-ef577ba012bf" credit-line="Abbie Parr / CTK / AP" guid="39045b63-616e-4d25-803e-ff0f627ad6e2" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p]Vargas, whose team had lost ​their previous shootout at the Euro 2024 quarter-finals ‌to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a], felt no nerves, he said.[/p][p][b]"I had to believe in myself. I felt very safe and very secure," Vargas said. "It was amazing I could score the decisive penalty."[/b][/p][p]Switzerland will next face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]⁠Argentina[/a], who staged a ⁠thrilling comeback to beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/egypt/bejDn7NN/"]‌Egypt[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/argentina-f9OppQjp/egypt-bejDn7NN/?mid=bodsDyte"]3-2[/a] earlier on Tuesday.[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]