In the end it was a test of individual wits for Gregor Kobel and his Switzerland teammates in their Round of 16 clash with Colombia.
A campaign that began almost a year ago, with their first qualifier in Basel, came down to penalty kicks on a cool Vancouver evening to determine which nation would advance for a quarter-final date with Argentina.
With both teams missing one of their first three, Cucho Hernandez stepped up to take Colombia’s fourth. By the time boot met ball, Kobel had made his move, leaping to his right and getting two firm hands on the shot to push it wide.
Ruben Vargas then converted Switzerland’s fifth to send them through to a first quarter-final since 1954.
Reflecting exclusively to FIFA after his shoot-out heroics, Kobel said what the team is doing in this tournament has the potential to change the way that Swiss football is viewed, both externally and internally.
“It's incredible to see what is possible as a small country in such a big sport, in such a big tournament. It's just incredible. I think it's a massive achievement for us as a team and for every single one who's on this team.
“To be there where we are right now, I think you can't be more proud of it. It's an amazing achievement for us, but it doesn’t end here, we have more games to play, so we keep going.”
While some keepers are meticulous in their planning for penalties, the easy-going Zurich native said it was just as much about feel as it is having background knowledge on takers and tendencies.
“Really, it’s little bit of a mix of both, to be honest. I think there are others who are more prepared than me. I think feeling is also a big part in this situation.
“I’ll watch the shape of the taker, their movements, their eyes, it’s a combination of everything. At the end though, it's just feeling and I go where it takes me.”
Where that has taken Switzerland is to the brink of a place they’ve never been before, the semi-finals of a World Cup. Swiss captain Granit Xhaka told FIFA that when the match went to penalties, they had no doubt that Kobel would help steer them to victory.
“Well, he makes our lives difficult as well in training when we practice penalties! We knew that if it came to the penalties that we have a keeper that he can save them, as well as good takers.”
The man who took that decisive final kick, Vargas, was also keen to deflect praise the way of his big No1.
“I think we all know what Gregor is capable of doing and today he just showed it on a big stage, when it was really important. It just feels good that we have a goalkeeper like this."
The next challenge for Kobel and Co? No less than that of the defending champions, where the Swiss custodian will again need to be alert for however long it takes to settle things.
Kobel though was keen to stress that the Nati enter that match as underdogs, while also offering his thoughts on the eternal debate around Messi and his possible place at the very top of the individual pantheon.
“I mean, with the body of work he has right now, I think you can't be mad if somebody says he's there at the very top. Now I have to stop him and the reality is they are expected to win.
“They are for sure the massive favourites, but at the end of the day, it's football. We have to play the game first and then we're going to see. We also have really good quality in our team and a lot of confidence too. Now we will play the game and see what happens."
Sources: FIFA Official
