BY KUNLE SOLAJA, VANCOUVER, CANADA

Switzerland will seek to continue their impressive record against fellow European opposition at the FIFA World Cup when they take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in a potentially decisive group-stage clash.

The Swiss have won four of their last six World Cup group matches against UEFA opponents, demonstrating an ability to rise to the occasion when facing familiar continental rivals on football’s biggest stage.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, however, arrive determined to make history as they prepare to face a European opponent for the first time in the FIFA World Cup competition.

The encounter pits Switzerland’s tournament experience against Bosnia’s ambition, with both sides aware that victory could provide a significant boost in the race for qualification.

Switzerland will rely on their traditional strengths of organisation, discipline and tactical efficiency, while Bosnia will hope to showcase the attacking flair that helped them earn a place at the expanded tournament.

With the group finely balanced, neither side can afford to drop points as the battle for a knockout-round place intensifies.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, VANCOUVER, CANADA..

South Africa will be desperate to keep their FIFA World Cup campaign on track when they face Czechia in a crucial Group-stage encounter on Thursday.

Bafana Bafana are seeking to avoid successive World Cup defeats for the first time in their history and know that a positive result could significantly boost their chances of progressing to the knockout rounds.

The match rekindles a rare international rivalry, with the only previous meeting between the two nations ending in a 2-2 draw during the group stage of the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup.

South Africa will take encouragement from their fighting spirit despite their opening setback and will be hoping to draw inspiration from the continent’s strong performances at the expanded 48-team tournament.

Czechia, meanwhile, enter the contest eager to strengthen their position in the group and maintain momentum in their quest for a place in the last 32.

For South Africa, the encounter represents more than just three points. It is an opportunity to revive their campaign and underline Africa’s growing influence on football’s biggest stage.

With qualification implications already looming large, Bafana Bafana know that another defeat would leave them facing an uphill task in the remaining group matches.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, VANCOUVER.

Canada and Qatar will both be seeking a historic breakthrough when they meet in Vancouver on Thursday, with neither nation having previously won a match at the FIFA World Cup.

The Group B encounter brings together two teams buoyed by dramatic comebacks in their opening fixtures, which earned each country its first-ever point at football’s biggest tournament.

Tournament co-hosts Canada showed resilience in their opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium. Jesse Marsch’s side fell behind in the 21st minute but salvaged a 1-1 draw thanks to substitute Cyle Larin, who struck in the 78th minute just two minutes after coming off the bench.

Qatar also made history in their opener against Switzerland at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. Having lost all three matches during their World Cup debut as hosts in 2022, the Gulf nation appeared destined for another defeat before a dramatic twist deep into stoppage time. A 94th-minute own goal by Swiss defender Miro Muheim secured a 1-1 draw and Qatar’s first-ever World Cup point.

The match will renew acquaintances between the two nations, who previously met in a friendly in Vienna in September 2022. On that occasion, Canada emerged 2-0 winners, with goals from Cyle Larin and Jonathan David inside the opening 15 minutes.

While history favours the Canadians, both teams enter the contest with confidence following their encouraging starts to the tournament.

Canada are making their eighth World Cup appearance and will face Asian opposition for the first time in the competition. Their previous World Cup encounters have largely come against European nations, with Morocco the only African side they have faced.

Les Rouges will also draw confidence from an impressive recent run of form. They have suffered only one defeat in their last 18 matches, recording eight victories and nine draws during that period.

Much of Canada’s attacking threat will once again revolve around Jonathan David, the country’s all-time leading scorer, who is just one goal away from reaching the 40-goal milestone for the national team.

For Qatar, the match represents another opportunity to continue rewriting their World Cup history. The Maroons are facing Concacaf opposition for the first time at the tournament, having previously played against teams from South America, Africa and Europe.

Head coach Julen Lopetegui could also hand a landmark appearance to midfielder Tahsin Jamshid. At 20 years and two days old, he would become the youngest player ever to represent Qatar at the FIFA World Cup, eclipsing the record set by Ayoub Aloui earlier in the tournament.

With both nations having already secured their first World Cup points, attention now turns to an even greater prize. Victory in Vancouver would deliver a maiden World Cup win and provide a significant boost to their hopes of reaching the knockout phase of the expanded 48-team tournament.

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