Switzerland is dealing with a late injury concern before its World Cup round of 16 match against Colombia, with Manzambi, Ruben Vargas and Djibril Sow all unable to finish Monday morning training.
According to Adrian Arnold, the three players were forced to stop early, and they were due to undergo additional examinations Monday afternoon. That leaves Murat Yakin waiting on three important options at a time when the knockout stage gives little margin for error.
Manzambi is a key concern
Manzambi has been Switzerland's best attacking player since coming on against Bosnia, so his status is the one likely to draw the most attention. If he cannot go, Switzerland would lose one of the few players who has recently provided a real spark in the final third.
Yakin did not hide the concern. As he put it, when a player has to cut training short the day before a match, it is never a good sign. He added that losing those players would be a considerable blow, while also stressing that the team would wait to see what the examinations later in the day and evening show.
The coach also made clear that no one will be rushed back unless he is fully fit. He said the players would need to be at 100 percent to play, and if they are unavailable, that would open the door for others to show their talent.
Switzerland tries to avoid a repeat of 2022
The timing naturally brings back memories of Switzerland's 2022 round of 16, when the team was beaten by Portugal 6-1 after a flu outbreak affected the squad. Yakin said this situation is different, insisting that everyone who enters the field against Colombia will be healthy.
That is important because Switzerland already had two injured players, Luca Jaquez and Michel Aebischer, before this latest setback. The list of available options is already thinner than the team would like heading into a knockout match.
Colombia also has its own lineup news. Before the round of 16, Nestor Lorenzo said Jhon Cordoba's World Cup was over, removing a 33-year-old, 6-1 forward from the picture. Even with that development, Switzerland still enters the day with more immediate uncertainty around its own squad.
For the Nati, the next few hours will matter. If Manzambi, Vargas or Sow cannot recover in time, Switzerland will have to adapt quickly against a Colombia side that already knows one of its attackers will not be involved.
