His team, who have now reached the knockout stages in their last five tournaments, including at the Euros, had to dig deep to come back from 2-1 down to snatch second place in their group.

“The players had the goal to make history and this is still not finished,” Yakin said.

“The team has moved closer together today. It is more experienced. Now we will enjoy the moment. In football, we live for these moments.”

The Swiss, who next face Portugal in the last 16, scored twice either side of the break with Breel Embolo and Remo Freuler to go back in front after Aleksandar Mitrovic’s glancing header had cancelled out Xherdan Shaqiri’s lead – and Dusan Vlahovic’s low shot had put them briefly ahead.

The game became bad-tempered towards the end as the Serbs needed to win and with the referee showing 11 yellow cards.

Man-of-the match Granit Xhaka, born to ethnic Albanian parents from Kosovo who in the previous World Cup had enraged the Serbs by making a nationalist gesture when the two sides met, was often in the middle of these spats with Serbian opponents.

“I saw Granit focus on football. It was a fair game. It was a normal exchange with a bit of emotions. It cost us a lot of power and a lot of emotions. We started well, took the lead, but then we lost possession twice and fell behind,” said Yakin.

“But my players deserve a huge compliment for the way they came back.”

Switzerland finished with six points, level with Group G winners Brazil but behind on goal difference, and will now turn their focus to their game against Portugal.

“We deserved this win,” Yakin said. “Portugal do not like to play against us. They are the favourites, but in a knockout stage game, anything can happen.

“I think the team is ready for this match and the battle.”