Another dramatic FIFA World Cup matchday saw two European giants advance in contrasting manners. Here's how the round of 32 knockout ties unfolded (with one game left to go):
Spain beat Austria 3-0; they advance to meet Portugal in the round of 16
Portugal beat Croatia 2-1. They advance to face Spain in the round of 16
Switzerland beat Algeria 2-0. They progress to the round of 16, where they face the winner of Colombia vs Ghana.
Here's how the games played out:
Switzerland 2 - 0 Algeria
(Embolo 10, Ndoye 46')
Switzerland cruised to the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Algeria. They face either Colombia or Ghana in the Ro16.
Breel Embolo opened the scoring for Switzerland in the tenth minute, but he owed it all to Johan Manzambi. The Swiss winger produced a mazy run to burst down the left channel into the box, before getting to the byline and sending in an inch-perfect cross for Embolo to turn in from close range.
Having led 1-0 going into the break, Switzerland wasted no time doubling their lead in the second half, with Dan Ndoye finding the net in the 46th minute with a low drive from the edge of the box, after Rafik Belghali's clearance fell straight to him.
While Riyad Mahrez and Algeria tried gamely, they could not find a breakthrough, even as Switzerland's Fabian Rieder missed an empty net late on. It mattered not, as the Swiss ended up winning 2-0, earning their first knockout victory at the World Cup since 1938.
Portugal 0 - 0 Croatia
(Ronaldo (P) 68', Ramos 90+4'; Perisic 53')
A dramatic match that exploded to life in the second half saw Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal survive a big scare to make it to the round of 16 and set a date with neighbours Spain.
After a goalless first half of few chances, Ivan Perisic gave Croatia the lead with a splendid run-and-cut-in. Portugal, who'd made no headway with their incessant sideways passing, made four changes and immediately after that won a corner off which Renato Veiga was pulled down by Nikola Vlasic for a Portugal penalty.
Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up and made no mistake to notch up his first ever knockout goal in his sixth World Cup, before he was dramatically subbed off as Roberto Martinez sought control in midfield. He found it, as Rúben Neves replaced his captain. In the 94th minute, Rafael Leão curled in a delicious cross into the far post where Gonçalo Ramos rose highest to thunder Portugal ahead.
The drama was not over, though, and it appeared Josko Gvardiol had scored in the 103rd minute, but a VAR-confirmed offside call ruled it out. After 18 minutes of added on time, Portugal were through to the round of 16.
Spain 3 - 0 Austria
(Oyarzabal 36', 89'; Porro 66')
Spain underlined their World Cup title-challenging credentials with a thumping 3-0 win over Austria in which they completely in control from minute one.
Mikel Oyarzabal gave that dominance meaning with a fine goal in the 36th minute, holding his run to sweep in Marc Cucurella's low cross from the left. That left wing was Spain's source of goals - even if Lamine Yamal created plenty of problems down the right. In the second half, more good work from Cucurella and Baena saw the latter clip a cross into the box where the enterprising Pedro Porro met with a clever run into the centre-forward position from his station at right back.
Oyarzabal then made it three when his clever run was found by a sensational Cucurella cross and he finished with the minimum of fuss to further decorate the scoreline.