Switzerland nicked top spot from Canada, and that changes the whole fantasy picture. Both teams are through, but Switzerland get the cleaner round-of-32 route while Canada lose the home-path advantage they wanted.
Ruben Vargas scored 39 seconds after half-time, Johan Manzambi added another, and Promise David made it nervy late on. Canada actually created more by full-time, but Switzerland were colder in the key moments.
Here are the Demon Notes from Switzerland 2-1 Canada: Manzambi keeps exploding, Vargas is red-hot, Canada still qualify, and what both teams mean for the round-of-32 qualification booster.
Switzerland 2-1 Canada
- Goals: Ruben Vargas, Johan Manzambi; Promise David for Canada
- Assists: Johan Manzambi and Nathan Saliba among the key creators
- Key story: Switzerland won Group B; Canada finished second
- Round of 32: Canada now go to Los Angeles to face Group A runners-up, while Switzerland face a third-placed side
- Fantasy story: Manzambi and Vargas have both become real tournament names, not just punts
Team Stats
Player Stats
| Player | Pos | Price | Output | Match stats | Fantasy verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johan Manzambi | MID | £5.6m | Goal + assist | Now on 2 goals and 2 assists at the tournament | Buy if Switzerland get a soft R32 draw |
| Rubén Vargas | MID | £6.8m | Goal | Scored in back-to-back games | Strong mid-price route into Swiss attack |
| Breel Embolo | FWD | £7.5m | Assist/involvement | Early big chance saved, linked play for the second | Good but less explosive than Manzambi/Vargas |
| Gregor Kobel | GK | £4.7m | Conceded one | Canada created 1.34 xG and 13 shots | Better draw-dependent than automatic |
| Promise David | FWD | £5.4m | Goal off bench | Scored 70 seconds after coming on | Interesting if he wins a start |
| Jonathan David | FWD | £7.0m | Blank | Canada pushed late but he did not get the big return | Still viable, but South Africa/R32 matchup must be checked |
Demon Notes
- Manzambi (£5.6m) is becoming impossible to ignore. Four goal involvements at his price is exactly the kind of thing that breaks fantasy rounds.
- Vargas (£6.8m) is the more established route, and back-to-back goals make him a serious midfield option if Switzerland's R32 draw is friendly.
- Canada created more xG and more shots by full-time, so this was not a Swiss battering. It was a Swiss efficiency win.
- Promise David (£5.4m) is the fun Canada punt. The problem is role. If he starts in the round of 32, he becomes much more interesting.
- Jonathan David (£7.0m) and Cyle Larin (£6.2m) are still Canada's main fantasy names, but the route is harder now they finished second.
Qualification And Round Of 32 Angle
Switzerland winning Group B matters. They are now the better qualification-booster side of the two because they should face a third-placed team, while Canada have to deal with the Group A runner-up.
Canada are still alive and still dangerous, but losing top spot hurts the fantasy case. They are more of a one-or-two-player team than a triple-up now.
Verdict: Switzerland are a proper booster watchlist team. Manzambi and Vargas are the priority attackers. Canada are matchup-dependent, with Jonathan David or Promise David as the more interesting routes.