Goalkeeper Kobel hails 'huge achievement' as Swiss set up Argentina showdown

VANCOUVER, July 8 : Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel praised his side's "incredible, incredible achievement" after their 4-3 penalty shoot-out win over Colombia in Vancouver on Tuesday took them into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 72 years.

The Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper, playing at his first World Cup, kept out Cucho Hernandez's spot-kick with a stunning save to his right to take the Swiss into a meeting with defending champions Argentina after three straight exits in the last 16.

"I don't think you can overstate what a huge achievement this is for us, for this team, for Switzerland," said Kobel. "For such a small country to be among the top eight teams in the world in the biggest sport on the planet is unbelievable.

"I'm incredibly happy for every individual, for the supporters, for everyone who gets to experience a moment like this.

"And when I think about all the lads who've been part of this team for years, and all the people who are here today, it's impossible to put into words.

"You can't praise it highly enough. It's an amazing feeling and an incredible, incredible achievement."

PENALTY SAVE WAS "MASSIVE MOMENT"

Colombia defender Davison Sanchez had hit the crossbar to give the Swiss an early advantage in the shoot-out before their defender Manuel Akanji sent his attempt over the bar but Kobel's heroics set up Ruben Vargas to hit the winning penalty for his side.

"I have to say, I was pretty focused in the moment," said Kobel. "I didn't really have huge emotional highs and lows during it. But saving that penalty was a massive moment.

"Seeing the lads, seeing everyone urging each other on, seeing how much they were behind each other, the emotions that came out – you can't get that anywhere else.