26th Match FIFA World Cup 2018
26th Match FIFA World Cup
2018
SWITZERLAND Beat the SERBIA
2-1 in World Cup 2018
v Switzerland move second in Group E after
beating Serbia
v A win
would have taken the Serbians through to the Round of 16
v RELIVE: As it happened, stats, more
Knowing
that victory over Switzerland would have taken them into the last 16, Serbia
made a fast start to the match. After causing Yann Sommer problems with his
first header of the night, Aleksandar Mitrovic made no mistake with his second
to put his side ahead with five minutes gone.
Having
done the hardest part, the Serbians wanted more. Driven on by Dusan Tadic, who
was in inspired form down the right flank, they strove to extend their lead.
The Swiss hung in, patiently putting moves together but without genuinely
threatening. Blerim Dzemaili had their best chance half an hour in, forcing
Serbia keeper Vladimir Stojkovic to push the ball clear.
Rejuvenated
after the break, the Swiss took just seven minutes to pull level, thanks to
Granit Xhaka’s sublime drive from outside the box. The angle of post and bar
then denied Xherdan Shaqiri, though the diminutive Swiss forward would have the
last laugh. Sprinting clear of the Serbian defence as injury time approached,
Shaqiri planted the ball beneath the advancing Stojkovic to move his side into
second place in the pool.
Sonja
Nikcevic, with Serbia [Follow on Twitter | Facebook]
It was
an assignment that was every bit as tough as Serbia expected. While Mladen
Krstajic’s side are unlikely ever to be outmuscled, they are not one of the
quicker sides in the competition, a shortcoming that ultimately cost them the
match. The Swiss exploited their lack of pace to perfection, not least the
darting Shaqiri. There was, nevertheless, plenty for Serbia to be pleased
about, with Mitrovic particularly impressive in the air. His performance will
be just one of the reasons why they will go into their final group match
against Brazil with hope.
Alan Schweingruber, with Switzerland [Follow
on Twitter | Facebook]
The 2-1
win took a long time to materialise and was only secured in the closing stages,
when Shaqiri pounced. The Serbians struggled all night long to contain the
effervescent No23, whose goal was a just reward for his efforts. Up next for
the Swiss are Costa Rica. It remains to be seen if coach Vladimir Petkovic will
stick with the same 11 that has started both their matches so far, with Haris
Seferovic having struggled in the first half here.
Budweiser Man of the Match
Sharp, fast, tireless and elusive, *Xherdan Shaqiri *proved more than a handful for the Serbia defence. After almost putting his side ahead with a curling strike that clipped the woodwork, the Swiss livewire scored the goal his performance deserved in the final minute of normal time.
Sharp, fast, tireless and elusive, *Xherdan Shaqiri *proved more than a handful for the Serbia defence. After almost putting his side ahead with a curling strike that clipped the woodwork, the Swiss livewire scored the goal his performance deserved in the final minute of normal time.
The stat
9 - the number of World Cup matches Nati captain Stefan Lichtsteiner has now played for Switzerland, breaking the national record held by Charles Antenen since Chile 1962.
9 - the number of World Cup matches Nati captain Stefan Lichtsteiner has now played for Switzerland, breaking the national record held by Charles Antenen since Chile 1962.
Serbia-Brazil, 27 June, Moscow (Spartak Stadium)
Switzerland-Costa Rica, 27 June, Nizhny Novgorod
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