Canada And Switzerland Coaches: We're Not Playing For Convenient Draw

VANCOUVER, June 24 (Bernama-dpa) -- Canada coach Jesse Marsch and Switzerland’s Murat Yakin have dismissed the idea that their teams might agree to play out a draw in their final World Cup group-stage match, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

Both teams are level on four points, and the winner of Wednesday’s clash will qualify to the knockout stage as group winners. However, a draw would guarantee both sides a place in the next round.

“The worst way to get a draw is to play for one. You have to play to win. We'll go into the game with the mindset and tactics to play to win,” Marsch said.

“We have enormous respect for Switzerland. I know how talented they are. I've also followed Murat Yakin's career. He's a great coach,” he added. A draw would also be enough for co-hosts Canada to finish first in the group.

Yakin wants to build on the 4-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina and is aiming for first place in the group.

“If we finish first, we'll have three or four more days to rest. That's always a big advantage,” he said.

As the winner of Group B, either Canada or Switzerland would face one of the eight best third-place teams.

The group winner will play their first knock-out match on July 2, which would give the players a break of more than a week between games.

Whoever finishes second, meanwhile, already returns to action on Sunday.

“I want to finish first in the group, but I'd prefer to have fewer days off,” Swiss defender Manuel Akanji said.

-- BERNAMA-dpa