Switzerland booked their place in the Round of 16 after a five-goal thriller with Serbia.
Dragan Stojkovic’s Serbia were unsurprisingly the team on the front foot, given they needed nothing less than a win to possibly qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup.
The game started with a frenetic pace, with both sides creating good chances. Serbia were on top in terms of chances but it was Switzerland who struck first; Xherdan Shaqiri fired home first time to put his side 1-0 up on 20 minutes.
As Serbia continued to pour men forward in attack, Switzerland had bags of space to run into on the counter-attack, Breel Embolo in particular was able to get his side up the pitch with his energy.
Serbia however continued to push on and after 26 minutes they got their goal. Talisman Dusan Tadic was given far too much space for a player of his quality and as a result he was able to whip in a fantastic ball for Aleksandar Mitrovic to head home and equalise. It was a trademark finish for his 52nd goal in Serbia colours.
The Eagles didn’t relent and just nine minutes after scoring the equaliser, they had their second of the night. Dusan Vlahovic pounced after poor defending to lash home past Gregor Kobel.
Stojkovic’s side then changed their approach, opting to sit back in an effort to preserve their lead, which only invited Switzerland further and further forward. It didn’t take long for Murat Yakin’s side to equalise, scoring just before half time. Silvan Widmer whipped in a perfect ball across the face of the goal and Breel Embolo was on hand to tap in the equaliser for his side.
The second half started with the same frantic pace of the first period and after just four minutes Switzerland were back ahead. Ruben Vargas intelligently flicked on the ball to Remo Freuler who smashed it home past Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.
Serbia desperately pushed forward in search of two goals but ultimately came up short, failing to have a single attempt on target and were eliminated from the World Cup. Switzerland qualify in second place and will face Portugal on Tuesday.
TALKING POINT – THE IMPORTANCE OF SUBSTITUTIONS
Huge credit has to go to Murat Yakin and his substitutions as Switzerland progressed to the knockout stages. Switzerland were already 3-2 up when Yakin made his first change but the impact his substitutions had in terms of game management deserves recognition.
With a slender one goal lead and basically a whole half of football still to play, Yakin knew Serbia were going to up the intensity and push forward in search of goals for the next 40 minutes and Switzerland needed to change it up tactically or risk conceding once more.
The introduction of Denis Zakaria meant the back four had an extra layer of protection in front of it; Zakaria made three interceptions, one clearance and won two of his duels but most importantly his mere presence meant that the likes of Filip Kostic and Dusan Tadic (for the remainder of his time on the pitch) struggled to get on the ball and dictate in as much space as they did in the first half.
Edmilson Fernandes brought energy to Switzerland, acting almost as a second right-back at times but also gave his side legs to get up the pitch and relieve pressure, he created one big chance, made one tackle and one interception.
MAN OF THE MATCH – GRANIT XHAKA
The Switzerland captain was superb in all areas of the pitch. Defensively he was energetic, making timely interceptions and tackles to stop Serbia attacks and on the ball he was terrific. He played a whopping six long passes and completed all six, switching the play up at times and catching Serbia completely off guard. A real captain’s performance from the Arsenal man.
PLAYER RATINGS
Serbia: Vanja Milinkovic-Savic 6, Milenkovic 6, Veljkovic 6, Pavlovic 6, Zivkovic 6, Lukic 6, Milinkovic-Savic 6, Kostic 7, Tadic 7, Vlahovic 7, Mitrovic 7
Subs: Radonjic 6, Gudelj 6, Duricic 6, Maksimovic 6, Jovic 6
Switzerland: Kobel 6, Rodriguez 6, Akanji 7, Schar 7, Widmer 7, Xhaka 8, Frueler 7, Vargas 6, Sow 6, Shaqiri 7, Embolo 7
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
20′ GOAL – SWITZERLAND It had to be him didn’t it! Xherdan Shaqiri fires in first time! It takes a slight deflection but was heading in anyway.
26′ GOAL – SERBIA Aleksandar Mitrovic equalises for Serbia with a fantastic header! Do not take your eyes off this match. Dusan Tadic sweeps in a cross and Mitrovic does the rest. A great goal.
35′ GOAL – SERBIA They’ve turned it around and it’s the lead they need! Dusan Vlahovic with the goal! Dusan Tadic slips him in and Vlahovic places it in the bottom corner with a first time finish!
44′ GOAL – SWITZERLAND – Switzerland are level! What a match this is! Shaqiri picks the ball up, slips in Sow who plays it out to Widmer who crosses in for Embolo to tap in!
49′ GOAL – SWITZERLAND! Vargas flicks the ball beautifully into the path of Freuler who lashes it home! Switzerland are now ahead!
