For two hours this was hard, honest, cautious knockout football with the handbrake firmly on. Colombia carved the better openings as the game wore on, and the best of them fell to Jaminton Campaz, who pounced on a Granit Xhaka mistake, found himself clear and blazed high over the bar. Chances came and went, goals did not.

The shootout is where it finally came alive. Colombia missed twice, through Davinson Sanchez and Cucho Hernandez, Manuel Akanji missed for Switzerland to keep the tension unbearable, and Gregor Kobel produced the save that mattered before Ruben Vargas rolled in the winner. Four to three, and Switzerland were through.

Let us be honest, the football before the shootout was not winning any awards. But there is a specific theater in penalties that no open play can fake, and this one delivered nerves, misses and a goalkeeper hero. The two hours were a slog, the last ten minutes were gripping.