Switzerland through to World Cup last 16

INA FASSBENDER/AFP

Switzerland reached the World Cup knockout phase for the third straight time after prevailing 3-2 over Serbia on Friday.

They finish runners-up in Group G and set up a last 16 showdown with Portugal. 

In a contest that ebbed and flowed at breakneck speed in the first half at Stadium 974, Xherdan Shaqiri put Switzerland ahead but Serbia swiftly scored twice within 10 minutes through Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic to flip the game on its head.

The Round of 16 will see Netherlands pitted against the USA, and Argentina against Australia on Saturday; France against Poland, and England against Senegal on Sunday; Japan against Croatia, and Brazil against South Korea on Monday; with Morocco to play against Spain, and Portugal to face Switzerland on Tuesday, the last day of the Round of 16.