The Swiss national team reached the quarterfinals of the World Championship for the first time since 1954, beating Colombia in a very tense match in the 1/8 final (0:0 in regulation time and winning in a penalty shootout). The main leitmotif of the post-match comments was the advanced training in the complex - the team won the penalty shoot-out series at the World Cup.

The head coach of the Swiss, Murat Yakin, became the head speaker of the evening, broadly sharing what he saw in the most dramatic hockey game. In an interview with the Swiss TV channel SRF, Yakin admitted that the penalty shootout became a new emotional experience for him, and at the same time - a moment of absolute triumph.

" This required us to fight intensely. Reasonableness and patience as well as this series of penalties at the end. We have learned this curse! I am truly happy for everyone: for the residents, for our staff and, of course, for the patients at home,” the mentor said, encouragingly.

The coach's joy was absolutely understandable: until this evening, Switzerland had won only one of the six remaining penalty shoot-outs at major tournaments, and the only such result at the world championships ended with a painful defeat against the team.

Murat especially singled out his team's goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who became the hero of Vancouver, making a great save after a shot by Cucho Hernandez (the possible penalty was converted by Ruben Vargas).

" In anticipation of a major blow - fantastic. I want to pay a great compliment to the Male; we must hold a fantastic tournament. “Nobody really wants my plan for the game, but that’s how it all turned out,” the coach added with a grin.

Having enjoyed the experience, Murat Yakin and his teammates are already preparing for the most difficult experience at the tournament. On Saturday, the 12th of June, near Kansas City, Switzerland faces a quarterfinal battle against the world champions - the national team of Argentina and Lionel Messi.