DHAKA: A hat-trick from Bayern Munich's Xherdan Shaqiri saw Switzerland beat Honduras to set up a tie with Argentina in the last 16 of the 2014 World Cup.

The Europeans took an early lead as Shaqiri scored with a fine 25-yard strike, before he twice converted Josip Drmic passes to make it 3-0.

Jerry Bengtson had the best chance for Honduras but his shot was cleared off the line by defender Ricardo Rodriguez.

Honduras finished bottom of Group E with three defeats from three matches.

The result saw their 54-year-old coach Luis Fernando Suarez resign immediately after the game, saying that "a change was necessary for the benefit of the Honduran team".

Shaqiri, who can play on the left wing or through the middle, was the difference between the sides with his first World Cup goals.

He has been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Liverpool and Manchester United reported to be interested in signing him, and he impressed with his clinical finishing.

Switzerland, ranked sixth in the world and the top-seeded team in the group, began the day in third, but needed to win and hope Ecuador failed to beat France.

With the South Americans only managing to draw 0-0 in Rio, that left an opportunity for Ottmar Hitzfeld's Swiss team to move into the last 16 for the third time in six tournaments.

After losing 5-2 to France in their last match, Switzerland produced a better performance in Manaus and went ahead with Shaqiri's sixth-minute opener.

Source: BBC

BDST: 0846 HRS, JUN 26, 2014