NIZHNY NOVGOROD: Switzerland, as Group E runners-up at the 2018 World Cup, will meet Sweden in the last 16 after securing safe passage with a 2-2 draw against already-eliminated Costa Rica in Nizhny Novgorod.

Yet the Ticos, despite having lost their opening two matches, were the better side.

Blerim Dzemaili opened the scoring for Switzerland after they had been largely on the back-foot with Kendall Watson marking his introduction into the Costa Rica side by levelling with a second-half header.

Josip Drmic came off the bench to seemingly win it for the Swiss late on, only for a late Costa Rica equaliser coming courtesy of a Yann Sommer own goal as Bryan Ruiz’s penalty went in off the Switzerland goalkeeper.

Switzerland have now progressed from the group stage in four of the last five World Cups in which they have appeared (also 1994, 2006 and 2014), only failing to do so at the 2010 tournament. They also avoided defeat in each of their three group stage matches at the World Cup for the first time since 2006.

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