This World Cup knockout match has seen an astonishing swing in the Asian handicap, and Algeria on the unbeaten side is worth close attention. Let’s break down the handicap movement first. In the opening stage, several bookmakers installed Switzerland as a one-goal favorite, with some even opening at one goal/one-and-a-half goals, while the home side’s water levels ranged widely from 0.90 to 1.62. But as kickoff approached, the market saw a shocking collective retreat. Nearly all bookmakers dropped straight from a one-goal line to a half-goal line, and some moved from half-ball/one-ball to half-ball. From one goal to half a goal, that is a two-step downgrade, which is extremely rare in the knockout stage of a World Cup. More importantly, after the line dropped, the home side’s price did not fall; instead, it was collectively pushed up from the low initial level to an ultra-high range of 0.96 to 1.09. One bookmaker dropped from one goal/one-and-a-half goals to level balls, with the home side’s price plunging from 1.62 to 0.74 — an astonishing adjustment. Another moved from half-ball/one-ball to level balls, with the home side’s price shifting from 0.90 to 0.69. A line drop combined with a rise in the home side’s price clearly shows that bookmakers’ confidence in Switzerland covering the handicap is weakening sharply. Some bookmakers even dropped to level balls, lowering the threshold further, yet the home side’s price remained pinned at a very low level, making it highly unfavorable for Switzerland to deliver. The fundamentals also offer support for Algeria. Switzerland went unbeaten in the group stage with two wins and one draw, scoring seven and conceding only three. On the surface, the numbers look excellent, but a closer look shows the quality of opposition was uneven. They were held to a 1-1 draw by Qatar, and their ability to break down stubborn defenses remains questionable. Defenders Widmer and Muheim are both out injured, weakening the integrity of the back line. Algeria finished the group stage with two wins and one loss. Although they suffered a heavy 0-3 defeat to Argentina in the opener, they then beat Jordan and drew with Austria, showing strong adjustment ability and resilience. Mahrez delivered a perfect performance in the previous match, and the team’s core is in hot form. Algeria’s handicap cover rate over their last 10 matches has reached 50 percent, and they often manage to hold their ground against stronger opponents. Center forward Aouar’s injury absence does have some impact on the attack, but Gouiri, Chaibi, and others also have the ability to score. Taking into account the sharp handicap retreat and Algeria’s ability to adapt, Algeria’s performance is well worth expecting.