The dream was abruptly shattered for the Swiss team at the World Cup. The Nati was humiliated by Portugal in the round of 16 (6-1) and will therefore not reach the quarter-finals of a World Cup after which it has been chasing since 1954.
This defeat is without appeal. It punishes both the unfortunate tactical choices of Murat Yakin and individual failures that were not expected, especially those of the defenders.
Murat Yakin and Fernando Santos had managed two superb counterattacks before kick-off. The Swiss coach has, in fact, chosen to play with a three-man defense. The absence of Silvan Widmer, who was ill, may have led to the use of such an option which gave Edimilson Fernandes and Ruben Vargas the essential role of pistons on the sides. In the opposing camp, the non-establishment of Cristiano Ronaldo was, of course, “the” strong measure taken by Fernando Santos.
A first goal almost out of nowhere
In the 17th minute, the Portuguese coach could breathe. Gonçalo Ramos, CR7’s replacement, escaped a Fabian Schär who was a little too static to find Yann Sommer’s skylight. This goal came almost out of nowhere since it was a simple throw-in on Joao Felix that was the trigger for an action that seemed so innocuous.
The situation became even more complicated for Switzerland with Pepe’s 2-0 in the 33rd minute. The Portuguese captain scored with a header from a corner kicked by Bruno Fernandes. Unable to oppose Pepe, Schär and Manuel Akanji take their share of responsibility for this goal which placed Switzerland in front of a real Everest. By what magic could a team that hadn’t managed to score a single goal in the four round of 16 of the World Cup that it had played to date come back to score?
A hat-trick for the replacement for CR7
On the restart, Murat Yakin changed his tune with the return to 4-3-3 with Eray Cömert in place of Schär in central defense. The Valencia player did not really have the time to make his mark. He was, in fact, a time behind Gonçalo Ramos in the 51st minute for the 3-0. The Benfica striker had cut off a cross from his side Diogo Dalot to place the ball between Sommer’s legs. He had to score a hat-trick in the 67th minute to establish himself as the big man of the match. At 21, he can believe in a magnificent future.
At 3-0, Murat Yakin launched Haris Seferovic and Denis Zakaria for Remo Freuler and Djibril Sow. The Swiss then went into 4-4-2. The concern was that Guerreiro’s 4-0 fell right on the heels. This round of 16 turned into a game of massacre. Akanji’s goal of honor in the 58th minute did not make the evening less painful for a Swiss team overwhelmed on the evening when they could have written the most beautiful page in their history.
In the 73rd minute, Cristiano Ronaldo made his appearance on the lawn to the cheers of a delirious public. He put on the armband worn by Pepe without however being able to score a goal which could have consoled him for his new status, the 6th goal being the work of Rafael Leão.
The disarray of Xherdan Shaqiri, ball under his arm. [Laurent Gillieron – Keystone]
A truth that hurts
Sixteen months after its feat against France at the Euro, Switzerland has remained very far from the mark. Undoubtedly penalized by this choice to start in 3-5-2, the team gave up too quickly. She was no longer inhabited by this faith which had allowed her to thwart all the predictions against the World Champions in Bucharest.
The Swiss intended in the first place not to have any regrets at the end of their journey. This one-sided round of 16 cannot generate real ones. However, he points out a painful truth. In a World Cup, the supreme deadline, Switzerland is still not invited to the table of the big teams.
ats/tzing
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