Manzambi delivers Switzerland's liberating win against Bosnia-Herzegovina

Situation ahead of the duel

Personnel-wise, one question loomed large for the Bosnians: Could captain Edin Dzeko, who scored 73 goals in 148 international appearances, play despite his shoulder problems? "Reasonably ready," was how coach Barbarez described the striker's condition. Unlike in the first game, an appearance by the attacker struggling with shoulder problems as a substitute was considered not unlikely.

On the Swiss side, the spotlight fell on a player who had not yet been able to convince in the preparation and in the opening game against Qatar: Johan Manzambi. The 20-year-old, promoted from the reserve team to the Freiburg first team in 2024, was seen as the embodiment of an entire generation of young Swiss players aiming to make the leap to Europe's elite. "When I play, I obviously always want to have an impact," he had announced before the game.

Manzambi in the role of figure of hope

The appearance at the Stade de Suisse indeed became a turning point for Manzambi. In 18 minutes plus stoppage time, the attacking midfielder showed just how good he really is, sparking fantasies about "how unbelievably good he can still become," as one analysis put it. "He's one of those professionals – Freiburg will have known well before the World Cup that it would be virtually impossible to hold on to the Swiss player; a performance like this makes it so you can strike the 'virtually,'" the tabloid outlet wrote.

The match was no walkover, though. The Bosnians, who had celebrated a 2:0 friendly win in Zurich as recently as March 2016, held their own for long stretches. Only after the break did Switzerland consistently find the way to goal. Manzambi, brought on by Yakin as a brief substitute, took his chance and with his goals was crowned "Player of the Match." The tabloid press raved about his performance in the highest terms: "Saint Johan" had fulfilled his dream, it said, and "now the gates of football heaven are opening for him."

Match flow and turning point

The coach was also pleased. "We simply wanted to win and knew we had to give everything. That worked today," Yakin said after the final whistle. The 52-year-old former Salzburg coach, who had called for better preparation for the tournament before the game, could at least feel temporarily vindicated by the 4:1. "This time we have to be better prepared to bring our strengths onto the pitch right away," he had set as the benchmark.

Manzambi himself remained factual despite all the euphoria: "We're aware that we didn't play well against Qatar. We showed that we always stick together." Looking ahead to the upcoming tasks, the youngster, who by his own admission would hardly find any sleep that night, said: "Tonight I definitely won't be able to sleep." He had already stressed before the game: "It's like a dream that I can play at a World Cup, score two goals, and become 'player of the match.'"

Reactions from players and fans

The reaction of the Swiss support was cautiously positive. "The fans weren't happy with us, but I think they are proud today," Manzambi summed up. After the Qatar game, numerous players had become targets of criticism from back home, including Manzambi as well as Granit Xhaka, who had been called on as the team's leader in the first two matches. The 4:1 gave the Nati breathing space in the media echo.

While Switzerland cemented their place at the top of Group B with a second win in two games, attention now turns to the remaining tasks. After two matches, the team has already collected more points than at the home tournament in 2022 in Qatar – a clear sign of increased ambition. The minimum objective remains the round of 16, but the hope at home goes further. Following his performance, Manzambi is regarded as a great hope for a successful World Cup that, for the first time since 1954, should not end in the group stage or the round of 16.

Outlook on the remaining group games

Beyond the sporting success, the 20-year-old's performance is also making headlines on the transfer market. According to transfermarkt.de, his market value already stands at 50 million euros; after his appearances for Switzerland, that figure is likely to have risen significantly. His contract with SC Freiburg runs until 2030 and contains no release clause, strengthening the Bundesliga club's negotiating position. Manzambi, who had moved from Servette Geneva to Freiburg's youth setup in 2022, had previously been promoted to the first-team squad in 2024.

For the Bosnians, Group B continues with one point after the 1:1 against Canada and the 1:4 defeat against Switzerland. Coach Barbarez remained combative nonetheless: "After the good result, we can go into the match with great mood and confidence." In Group B, all teams have at least one point after the first two matchdays, and the situation remains open. For Dzeko and his teammates, it is clear that the battle for the round of 16 now has a decisive final-phase character.

Transfer market and contract situation

Parallel to the match in Zurich, the other fixtures in Group B were also being played. Canada, who drew 1:1 against Bosnia in the opener, is hoping for a first win as the tournament progresses. "We need the crowd to push the team," team boss Jesse Marsch appealed to the fans. The upcoming schedule also features the first direct head-to-head meetings between the teams, where, according to Barbarez, doing the math should still play no role.

For the Swiss, the prevailing view after full-time is that the World Cup is "back on track" after the Qatar opener. The liberating win against Bosnia-Herzegovina not only lifted the sporting pressure but also provided new personal impetus. Manzambi, who after the Qatar game – like many others – had become a target of criticism, turned in goals and presence to become the embodiment of a new generation looking to take the next step in Switzerland. Whether that step ultimately carries through to the quarterfinals or even further will be shown by the upcoming games.

Alongside the sporting aspect, the 4:1 also brought another player into focus: Granit Xhaka, who was meant to lead the team against Qatar, also showed an improved display against the Bosnians. The tabloid press had spoken in its preview of a Swiss team "already under pressure"; after the clear win, the Nati can for now pass that pressure on to the competition.

With the clear victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, Switzerland has laid the foundation for a successful World Cup campaign. Coach Yakin's team has shown that they can be ready when it counts. The upcoming games will reveal whether the liberating win against Bosnia is the beginning of a genuine success story or whether the 4:1 remains a snapshot. After this evening, the fans in Switzerland can at least be proud of their team again.

The tabloid platform oe24 had warned in its preview of the match: "You can bet on a Swiss win," the Augsburg midfielder trumpeted. That assessment proved correct – albeit more narrowly than some had expected. It was only in the closing stages that Switzerland pulled away decisively, producing what was in the end a clear 4:1 final score.