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Manuel Akanji gives up penalties after another attempt

By OnzeActu · · 6 min read

Manuel Akanji gives up penalties after another attempt

Manuel Akanji, Swiss international defender, missed a third penalty in official competition at the 2026 World Cup against Colombia. He promises never to take penalties again after this new failure, despite the Swiss qualification.

According to Vi.

Context

Manuel Akanji, Internazionale defender and Swiss international, has accumulated 86 caps. Despite his struggles with penalties, he remains a key part of the Swiss defense, which managed to qualify for the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, strengthening its chances of success against top teams like Colombia and Argentina.

Why it matters

Manuel Akanji's decision to no longer take penalties in the national team could have significant repercussions for the Swiss team, especially with qualification for the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup. His failure in the match against Colombia, although not decisive for qualification, highlights a weakness in the management of penalties, a crucial aspect in knockout competitions.

Key points

  • Manuel Akanji waives penalties after another attempt.
  • Manuel Akanji, Swiss international defender, missed a third penalty in official competition at the 2026 World Cup against Colombia.
  • Manuel Akanji remains central to Zwitserland's plans.

Swiss defender Manuel Akanji once again missed a penalty during the decisive match against Colombia, on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, counting for the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For the third time in a major final phase, Akanji failed to convert an attempt from the penalty spot. However, the Inter Milan player's new blunder did not prevent Switzerland from qualifying for the quarter-finals, thanks to a decisive save by their goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and the success of Ruben Vargas who scored the last Swiss attempt.

Aged 30 and with 86 caps for the national team, Akanji saw his attempt fly over the cage of Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas. It was not the first time that the Swiss defender missed a penalty shootout in a major tournament: he had already missed crucial penalties in the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 against Spain and at the 2022 European Championships against England.

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Visibly affected after his failure, Akanji collapsed on the field but was able to express his relief after his team qualified. In an interview with Swiss media, he announced that he would never take penalties again for the national team: “It was truly a catastrophic penalty. I told the coach that it was the last time I took a penalty. I changed my mind at the last second about where I wanted to shoot, which is a fundamental mistake. I also slipped a little. »

Swiss coach Murat Yakin commented on this statement during the post-match press conference: “Yes, he actually told me that he didn't want to take any more penalties. I hope he changes his mind one day,” he smiled. Despite this moment of doubt, Akanji is proud of his teammates and their composure: “My partners remained focused and reacted well to my failure. It wasn't our best game offensively, but organizationally, we held up well. We will now prepare for the quarter-finals. I am very proud of what we have accomplished. »

Switzerland will face the defending champion, Argentina, in the quarter-finals, in an already highly anticipated duel. This match promises to be crucial and could once again be decided on penalties, which will invite Akanji to respect his decision to give up this exercise under pressure.

The rest

Switzerland will face reigning champions Argentina in the quarter-final. If the match ends in a penalty shootout, Akanji will not be available to shoot, which could force the team to review its penalty strategy. Akanji's teammates will also need to make sure to convert their attempts to avoid similar situations in the future.

Frequently asked questions

What happened with Manuel Akanji in the Colombia match?

Manuel Akanji missed a penalty in the decisive match against Colombia in the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Who confirmed that Manuel Akanji will no longer take penalties?

Manuel Akanji himself confirmed that he would never take penalties again for the national team during an interview after the match.

Why did Manuel Akanji decide to stop taking penalties?

Akanji said he made a fundamental mistake when he changed his mind about where he wanted to shoot and slipped, which led to his failure.

What are the consequences of Akanji's missed penalty for Switzerland?

Despite the missed penalty

by Akanji, Switzerland qualified for the quarter-finals thanks to a decisive save by their goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

What changes were mentioned by the Swiss coach after the match?

Swiss coach Murat Yakin commented on Akanji's decision to no longer take penalties, but the details of his comments are not specified in the article.

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