- The Swiss national team lost 1:4 to European champions Spain in the Nations League in Geneva.
- The national team fell behind 0-2 in front of a sold-out crowd and was unable to correct this deficit despite being in the majority for a long time.
- In the other match of Group A4, Denmark beat Serbia 2-0 for the second time in three days.
Just as national team coach Murat Yakin was putting everything on the line by substituting Kwadwo Duah and Joel Monteiro, Spain struck with icy coldness. Twice, the European champions’ recipe was a simple one: long ball, goal. First, Fabian Ruiz scored in the 77th minute after a clearance from goalkeeper David Raya and a cross from Ferran Torres to make it 3-1. Three minutes later, the assist provider from Becir Omeragic ran away and left Gregor Kobel no chance in a 1-on-1.
It was the Swiss’s price for having been unimaginative in attack for long stretches in the heavy rain – and that against only 10 Spaniards. Robin Le Normand was sent off after 20 minutes for an emergency tackle on Breel Embolo. The subsequent free kick by Zeki Amdouni only hit the crossbar.
The absence of the suspended captain Granit Xhaka was noticeable everywhere. The national team had more of the game and more possession (66:34%), but especially after the break they only had chances from corner kicks. In the 48th minute Amdouni celebrated, but Ruben Vargas’ corner had already left the touchline. In the 67th minute, starting debutant Gregory Wüthrich was free to head the ball, but his shot went over the Spanish goal.
Early goals decisive
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The defeat against the European champions was not only due to offensive inoffensiveness, but also to defensive vulnerability. Particularly in the opening phase, when the team was still at full strength, the Swiss defense was repeatedly faced with problems.
- 4th minute: Kobel parries a header from Joselu. A few seconds later, the BVB keeper is on the spot again against Joselu. However, the header from the striker, who had sneaked away behind Wüthrich, was already behind the line.
- 13th minute: Lamine Yamal sends Nico Williams on his way. The winger outwits Wüthrich and scores. Fabian Ruiz puts Kobel’s rebound in the net to make it 2-0.
In between, Switzerland also had something to celebrate. However, according to referee Irfan Peljto, the supposed 1:1 against Omeragic was due to a rule violation in the build-up because the ball hit Remo Freuler’s hand. So the only Swiss success was Amdouni’s goal to make it 1:2 (41′). The Benfica striker was in the right place at a corner and pushed the ball over the line for his 8th goal for the national team.
Shortly before half-time, Yakin’s team was unlucky again with a referee’s decision when Yamal touched the ball with his hand in his own penalty area. This time, however, the contact was not enough in Peljto’s eyes to award a penalty. However, blaming the referee for the defeat would be too easy – unlike the unfortunate 0-2 defeat in Denmark. This time, there was simply a lack of quality, and Yakin will have to go over the books for the next games.
Denmark with 2nd victory
Four days after the 2-0 win against Switzerland, Denmark also won their home match against Serbia with the same result. What the spectators in Copenhagen saw in the 61st minute was worth the price of admission alone. Defender Victor Kristiansen crossed into the penalty area, where Yussuf Poulsen put the ball in the goal with an overhead kick. The striker from Bundesliga club Leipzig had already brilliantly set up Albert Grönbaek’s 1-0 in the 36th minute. The hosts scored with the first two shots on goal from the harmless Eastern Europeans, who had forced a 0-0 draw at home against Spain on Thursday.
This is how it continues
The second Nations League tranche is scheduled for October. The national team will first play away against Serbia in Leskovac on October 12th, and three days later they will host Denmark in St. Gallen for the return match.
Spain dominates Switzerland 4-1 in Nations League match
In a thrilling match played in front of a sold-out crowd in Geneva, the Swiss national team fell to European champions Spain 4-1 in the Nations League. The defeat marked a disappointing outing for the Swiss team, who struggled to contain the Spanish attack despite having more possession and playing with a numerical advantage for a significant portion of the match.
Early goals set the tone
The Spanish team got off to a flying start, scoring two goals in the opening 15 minutes. In the 4th minute, Joselu’s header was parried by goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, but the rebound fell to the striker, who had sneaked behind Gregory Wüthrich and scored. Nine minutes later, Lamine Yamal’s pass found Nico Williams, who outwitted Wüthrich and scored. Fabian Ruiz then put the rebound into the net to make it 2-0.
Swiss struggles in attack
Despite having more possession, the Swiss team struggled to create meaningful chances in attack. The absence of suspended captain Granit Xhaka was noticeable, and the team’s lack of imagination in attack was punished by the Spanish defense. Zeki Amdouni’s goal in the 41st minute, which made it 1-2, was the only bright spot for the Swiss team in an otherwise disappointing outing.
Spain’s clinical finishing
The Spanish team, meanwhile, were clinical in their finishing. Fabian Ruiz scored in the 77th minute, and three minutes later, Becir Omeragic ran away from the Swiss defense to score and seal the win for Spain.
Denmark wins again
In the other match of Group A4, Denmark continued their impressive form, defeating Serbia 2-0 for the second time in three days. The Danish team’s victory was marked by a stunning overhead kick by Yussuf Poulsen in the 61st minute.
Watch the highlights
If you missed the match, you can catch the highlights on UEFA.tv [3]. Alternatively, you can watch the extended highlights on YouTube [1] or [2].
Next matches
The loss will be a wake-up call for the Swiss team, who will need to regroup and refocus for their next matches. Coach Murat Yakin will need to go back to the drawing board and find a way to address the team’s defensive vulnerabilities and lack of creativity in attack.
it was a disappointing outing for the Swiss team, who fell short against a clinical and dominant Spanish side.
Denmark vs Czech Republic Euro 2020
Spain Dominates Switzerland 4-1 in Nations League Match
The Swiss national team suffered a disappointing 1-4 defeat against European champions Spain in the Nations League match held in Geneva. Despite having more possession and chances, the Swiss team was unable to correct the 0-2 deficit they faced early on in the game.
Early Goals Decisive
The Spanish team struck twice in the opening phase, with Nico Williams and Fabian Ruiz scoring in the 4th and 13th minutes respectively. The Swiss defense was repeatedly faced with problems, with goalkeeper Gregor Kobel making several saves to keep the scoreline from getting worse.
Red Card Compounds Swiss Woes
To make matters worse, Robin Le Normand was sent off in the 20th minute for an emergency tackle on Breel Embolo, leaving the Swiss team with 10 men for most of the game. The subsequent free kick by Zeki Amdouni hit the crossbar, but the Swiss team was unable to capitalize on their chances.
Amdouni’s Goal Provides Little Consolation
Amdouni’s goal in the 41st minute, scored from a corner kick, provided little consolation for the Swiss team. They continued to struggle in attack, with captain Granit Xhaka’s absence noticeable throughout the game.
Spain’s Icy Cold Finishing
Just as the Swiss team thought they were getting back into the game, Spain struck twice in quick succession to seal the win. Fabian Ruiz scored in the 77th minute, and Ferran Torres’ assist for Becir Omeragic made it 4-1 three minutes later.
Denmark Secures 2nd Victory
In the other match of Group A4, Denmark beat Serbia 2-0 for the second time in three days, solidifying their position in the group.
What’s Next for Switzerland?
The defeat against Spain highlights the defensive vulnerabilities of the Swiss team, particularly in the opening phase of the game. They will need to work on their attack and defense if they hope to recover from this loss and make a strong push in the Nations League.
Watch the Highlights
If you missed the match, you can catch the highlights on [Supersport][2] or [UEFA.com][1].
Get the Latest Scores and Updates
Stay up to date with the latest scores and updates from the Nations League on [Sofascore][3].
References:
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