skip to content

  • Fernandes (52)
  • Date:2010-06-16
  • Kick-off:15:00
  • Venue:Durban Stadium
  • Attendance:62453
  • Referee:Webb, H

Live Commentary

90mins

Full Time: SPAIN 0-1 SWITZERLAND.

90mins

The corner is terrible and, when the ball eventually finds its way to Xavi, he lashes it way over the bar.

90mins

We're into the sixth minute of stoppage time and Spain have a corner.

90mins

Another booking. Hakan Yakin this time for handball.

90mins

The heroic Switzerland defenders head yet another cross away from danger.

90mins

The Swiss make their final change as Barnetta makes way for Mario Eggimann.

90mins

Benaglio is booked for time-wasting.

90mins

It's last-chance saloon time for Spain now although there's five minutes of stoppage time.

88mins

Torres' first touch is awful. Villa played him in but the Liverpool man wasted what appeared to be a good chance to run towards goal.

86mins

Navas, who has been lively since coming on, lifts in a cross that Villa is unable to divert goalwards.

85mins

Torres leads a Spanish counter-attack but over-runs the ball and Switzerland can get back in numbers as the danger peters out.

83mins

The Swiss fancy a second goal. Tranquillo Barnetta is allowed to move towards the area and unleashes a shot that is only just over Casillas' goal.

81mins

A defeat wouldn't end Spain's hopes but, with Chile looking so good in their victory against Honduras, it would certainly make it difficult for them to progress.

79mins

Now it's Switzerland's turn to make a change as Derdiyok is replaced by the experienced Hakan Yakin.

77mins

Iniesta requires lengthy treatment and is unable to continue, hobbling away from the action as Pedro replaces him.

76mins

That really would have been one of the great World Cup goals. Switzerland could easily have had this match sewn up.

74mins

Unbelievable run by Eren Derdiyok who skips past several Spain players before clipping a shot past Casillas only to see it come back off the post. No one can force the ball home in the ensuing scramble.

73mins

Ziegler is booked for a foul on Navas who is beating him at will.

73mins

Navas races past Ziegler and, despite the odds being against him, manages to get a shot away that Benaglio stops.

72mins

The corner finds its way to Alonso who blasts a thunderbolt against the crossbar, the ball bouncing well clear of danger. Maybe it's going to be one of those afternoons for Spain.

71mins

Torres' finish again is weak, although at least this time he wins a corner from a tight angle.

70mins

The game is opening up as Switzerland tire, although they have also been doing their fair share of attacking in the last few minutes.

69mins

Spain find a rare piece of space as Torres wastes a presentable opportunity firing high and wide when well-placed.

68mins

The Swiss are growing in confidence as they enjoy their best spell of possession of the game.

66mins

For all their possession, Spain haven't really cut Switzerland to shreds and we're now about to enter the final quarter of the match.

64mins

The changes almost pay immediate dividends as Iniesta clips a shot inches wide of the goal with Benaglio rooted to his spot.

62mins

In fact del Bosque has decided to make a double substitution with Silva making way for Jesus Navas.

61mins

Torres does indeed come on for Sergio Busquets.

61mins

Benaglio, who has been outstanding, races off his line to claim the ball off Villa's toes.

61mins

Del Bosque may have to bring Torres on soon.

60mins

Switzerland have everyone back defending and, at the moment, there doesn't seem to be any way through for Spain.

58mins

Iniesta sets up Villa whose curling effort is easily gathered by Benaglio.

56mins

As it stands in this group, Chile and Switzerland have three points, Spain and Honduras none!

54mins

Spain look stunned. This could be the result the World Cup needs. The favourites for the tournament behind and already in danger of failing to progress from their group.

52mins

SPAIN 0-1 SWITZERLAND. Out of nothing, a long ball causes panic in the Spain defence and, after Casillas and Pique fail to deal with it, GELSON FERNANDES lashes the loose ball home.

50mins

Alonso's shot comes off Grichting's head and loops away and out for yet another Spain corner.

49mins

Silva is bundled off the ball as Switzerland continue to defend solidly.

47mins

The ball is laid back to Alonso who lashes a shot way over the crossbar. Surely the ball can't be to blame for all this terrible long-range shooting?

46mins

Spain win an early corner and already seem to have quickened the pace from there at times laboured first-half play.

46mins

We're underway again, no changes by either coach at the interval.

45mins

Half Time: SPAIN 0-0 SWITZERLAND.

45mins

Like so many of the games in the last week it's not been a classic so far.

45mins

Villa races down the left, checks back and seems certain to score but then chips the ball across goal and away from danger. Spain are ending the half well though.

44mins

Villa plays the ball wide to Iniesta who lofts another shot high into the stands behind the goal.

42mins

Alonso mis-hits a shot way over the bar. Spain aren't playing like world-beaters just yet.

40mins

Switzerland are working hard but have no real flair. They'll struggle against both Honduras and Chile if they replicate this type of form against them. Still it's job done as far as they're concerned as it's still 0-0.

38mins

Iniesta and Silva combine well down the left but a corner is the only outcome. From it Sergio Ramos sends a weak header straight at Benaglio.

36mins

The unfortunate Philippe Senderos limps out of the action and is replaced by Steve von Bergen.

35mins

Villa leaps for a header but can't direct the ball on target.

34mins

Switzerland made a rare foray into Spain's half but not for long.

32mins

It may not be pretty but Switzerland have defended well so far and there are signs that Spain are starting to grow frustrated.

31mins

Villa's free-kick comes off the wall and goes out for a corner.

30mins

Grichting is booked for the challenge.

29mins

Iniesta appears to be through but then cuts inside and is felled by Stephane Grichting on the edge of the area.

27mins

Reto Ziegler's effort is saved at the second attempt by Iker Casillas.

26mins

Xavi's foot is deemed to be too high so Switzerland have a free-kick in a dangerous position.

25mins

First clear chance falls to Gerard Pique who drags the ball back only to then see his shot superbly kept out by Benaglio.

24mins

Some urgency by Spain but Silva's quick ball into the area isn't what David Villa was expecting and the chance is lost.

22mins

Iniesta's deflected long-range shot is easily gathered by Diego Benaglio.

21mins

Spain must have had 80 per cent of the possession so far.

19mins

The game has been slowed down to walking pace but Spain are showing no signs of changing their style of play.

17mins

Nothing to get you out of your seat so far. Spain are playing some lovely stuff but Switzerland are holding firm.

15mins

Still no change in the pattern of play. It's all Spain but no clear-cut chances.

13mins

Xavi is caught offside as Spain try to create a clear opening.

11mins

Spain are happy to continue with their patient build-up play, Switzerland content to soak up all the pressure.

9mins

It's almost like a training session as Spain probe for an opening. Switzerland are just sitting back and waiting for their opponents to make all the running.

7mins

Andres Iniesta runs at the Swiss defence and is only just stopped by a last-ditch challenge as he tries to race into the area.

6mins

Switzerland can't get hold of the ball as Spain keep possession beautifully.

5mins

Xabi Alonso and David Silva combine well as Spain start the game in their customary tidy fashion.

4mins

Howard Webb is refereeing the game and awards Spain an early free-kick that Xavi takes. It's easily cleared by the Swiss defenders though.

2mins

Steady start in this all-European clash.

1mins

Switzerland, in white shirts, get the match underway.

0mins

With the Chile v Honduras match being arguably the most entertaining game of the World Cup so far, hopefully Spain can keep the upbeat feeling going this afternoon.

0mins

Switzerland will be without their injury-prone top scorer Alexander Frei while Spain boss Vicente del Bosque has decided to omit Cesc Fabregas from his starting line-up.

0mins

Spain will be without Fernando Torres but have a wealth of expertise and experience in their ranks and will surely be too strong for a Switzerland side that usually reaches the big tournaments only to then add little to the party.

0mins

The final game of what has been a largely sterile opening round of fixtures at the World Cup sees Euro 2008 winners and favourites for this summer's tournament, Spain, come up against Switzerland.


advertisement

advertisment

Match Report

Switzerland caused the first major upset of this summer's World Cup with a shock 1-0 victory against a Spain side that had been installed as the favourites to win the tournament.

Former Bayern Munich manager Ottmar Hitzfeld organised the Swiss side superbly and, after a backs-to-the-wall first-half display, they grabbed the vital goal at the start of the second period when Gelson Fernandes capitalised on some poor Spanish defending to lash the ball home.

Both teams then went on to hit the woodwork as Switzerland held on to a victory that causes real doubt as to whether Spain will qualify from the group following Chile's impressive showing in their win against Honduras earlier in the day.

As expected Spain dominated possession from the outset, with Switzerland happy to soak up all the pressure and keep as many players behind the ball as possible.

Hitzfeld's tactics worked as Spain struggled to create many clear-cut chances with their first opportunity not arriving until the 25th minute when Gerard Pique made some space for himself before seeing his shot superbly kept out by Diego Benaglio.

In first-half stoppage time, Spain finally increased the tempo and, after David Villa played the ball wide to Andres Iniesta, the Barcelona man lofted a shot high into the stands behind the goal.

Villa then raced down the left, checked back and chipped the ball across goal and away from danger.

The second period began in a similar fashion, with Spain dominating possession but failing to break through a determined Switzerland defence.

However, in the 52nd minute, Hitzfeld's side suddenly broke forward. A long ball caused panic in the Spain defence and, after Iker Casillas and Pique had failed to deal with the danger, Fernandes lashed the loose ball home.

Spain looked stunned and struggled to respond for a while until Iniesta set up Villa whose curling effort was easily gathered by Benaglio.

Vicente del Bosque brought on Fernando Torres for the final third of the match and the change almost paid immediate dividends when Iniesta clipped a shot inches wide of the goal with Benaglio rooted to his spot.

The closest the Spaniards came to restoring parity came with 18 minutes left when a corner found its way to Xabi Alonso who blasted a thunderbolt from just outside the penalty area against the crossbar.

Just two minutes later though, Switzerland almost did the unthinkable and scored again. Eren Derdiyok embarked on an amazing run that saw him skip past several Spain defenders before clipping a shot past Casillas only to see it come back off the post and no one could force the ball home in the ensuing scramble.

Despite more than five minutes of stoppage time, Spain failed to grab an equaliser and now go into next Monday's game against Honduras desperate for a win to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Spain

Switzerland

Corners

123

Fouls

919

Goal attempts

Shots off target

163

Offsides

21

facebook twitter rss