A penalty shoot-out was nigh in Vancouver, and while Nestor Lorenzo jumped in amongst Colombia’s players immediately, Murat Yakin held back from Switzerland’s huddle, allowing those in it to take a moment mentally.What came next would send Switzerland into the World Cup quarter-finals, breaking a barrier they had not cleared for 72 years. But before the kicks, Yakin appeared and slipped into the crowd of Swiss bodies by the touchline, checking one by one. “You’re good to go?” Yes. “And you?” Nods all round. There were no dramas or histrionics until, as the group broke up, the entire contingent generated a huge surge of energy: shouts and clenched fists, akin to a celebration. The shoot-out hadn’t started, but they believed they had it. More than that, they knew they had it.Their penalties weren’t flawless when it came to it — Manuel Akanji swept Switzerland’s third over the crossbar and admitted later that what was said beforehand slipped from his mind completely, so lost was he in the moment — but Swiss confidence was well-founded once goalkeeper Gregor Kobel tipped the balance with a save from Cucho Hernandez.“You have to be perfect to beat Gregor,” said winger Dan Ndoye, and Kobel’s anticipation left Ruben Vargas to tuck away the decisive effort. Colombia and Lorenzo exit stage left, with regrets aplenty. They’ll wish yesterday’s tie could start over. A curse-breaking shoot-out win was Switzerland’s ticket to Lionel Messi, Argentina and the last eight.Did Yakin aim for that eventuality? Possibly. It was put to both coaches, he and Lorenzo, before kick-off that it would be European discipline against South American emotion at BC Place, but either Switzerland dragged Colombia into their type of scrap or Colombia’s flair dried up in their round of 16 win over Ghana.