The Swiss national football team have suffered a major setback ahead of their FIFA World Cup Round of 16 encounter against Colombia on Tuesday, as midfielder Johan Manzambi has been ruled out through injury.

According to a report by Swiss outlet Blick, Manzambi sustained a knee injury during the final training session before the match. The incident occurred without any contact from another player, indicating a non-collision injury.

As confirmed by the report, the SC Freiburg midfielder will “definitely” miss the crucial fixture against Colombia. This comes as a significant blow to Switzerland’s preparations, given Manzambi’s strong form throughout the tournament.

In addition to Manzambi’s confirmed absence, Switzerland are facing further concerns, with Rubén Vargas and Djibril Sow both considered doubtful. The duo were forced to leave the same training session prematurely after picking up minor injuries, putting their availability in question.

Manzambi has been among Switzerland’s standout performers at this World Cup, contributing three goals and two assists across four appearances. His absence is expected to be felt deeply in the Swiss midfield, where his creativity and attacking drive have been central to the team’s campaign so far.

Switzerland will now look to adjust their tactical setup ahead of the match in an attempt to compensate for the loss of one of their most influential players as they aim to reach the quarter-finals.