Goalkeeper turned goalscorer – who is Manzambi?published at 09:39 BST
09:39 BST
Switzerland 4-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Image source, Getty Images
Canada look almost certain to play in the knockout stages of a World Cup finals for the first time in their history, but who they play will be determined by their final group game against Switzerland.
Substitute Johan Manzambi scored twice as the Swiss beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-1 to edge towards a place in the World Cup round of 32.
But did you know he was once a goalkeeper for his youth team?
Now Manzambi is a creative midfielder who enjoys getting forward, and his goalscoring exploits against Bosnia-Herzegovina suggest he could be far more than just a “super-sub” at this World Cup.
He broke into the Freiburg first XI last season and helped the German club reach the Europa League final.
Manzambi started against Aston Villa in the final and although he could not help his side win – they were beaten 3-0 – he has been linked with moves to Napoli, Chelsea and Manchester United.
His performance on Thursday at the Los Angeles Stadium suggests there could be more competition for his services this summer.
It could have been even better had he been allowed to take his side’s 97th-minute penalty, with captain Granit Xhaka stepping up to convert instead,
If Manzambi had taken it and scored, he would have become the third-youngest player to hit a World Cup treble, after a 17-year-old Pele for Brazil against France in the semi-finals in 1958 and 19-year-old German Edmund Conen against Belgium in 1934.