Spain 0-1 Switzerland

A scrambled Gelson Fernandes goal handed Switzerland a shock 1-0 victory against World Cup 2010 favourites Spain in Group H.

It was a grim defensive performance by the Swiss, who were magnificent around their own goal throughout and hit their opponents with a classic sucker-punch through Gelson Fernandes in the second half. La Furia Roja were not without a threat, but Xabi Alonso’s thumping shot off the bar was as close as they got.

There was plenty of style in the Spanish play in the early stages, with the ball pinged first time from boot to boot and flank to flank, though they were definitely lacking any significant penetration in the early stages of the game. Indeed, a positive David Villa break into the box following a swift counterattack was the only real point of interest from a Roja point of view in the opening 15 minutes.

The Swiss defence was standing impressively resolute but offered nothing from an offensive point of view aside from a promising break into the box in the opening seconds of the match.

Spain, meanwhile, continued to show patience. David Silva and Andres Iniesta both had fairly tame shots saved by Diego Benaglio, while Sergio Ramos, who bombed forward regularly down the right in his characteristic style, dodged away from Reto Ziegler but sliced into the side-netting from a tight angle when there were better options open in the centre.

When a set play quickly broke down, an incisive pass from Iniesta found Gerard Pique in room 12 yards from goal. Having taken a neat first touch, the big centre-back, who displayed proficiency in such situations in the Champions League against Inter, found Benaglio too great an obstacle to beat.

On a rare Swiss foray forward, Ziegler had an opportunity to strike at goal from a free kick. Iker Casillas dived comfortably to his left to make the block, holding the ball at the second attempt.



Iniesta wriggled clear of the defence to latch onto a clever pass from Silva, but he was controversially adjudged to have been fouled by Stephane Grichting, who was unfortunate to be booked for his part in the affair. Villa’s free kick was fierce but never threatened to beat the wall and won only a corner.

More Spanish pressure was forthcoming, but aside from an Iniesta shot off target and a wasted effort from Villa when he got free down the left, la Furia Roja were kept at an arm’s length prior to half-time.

After the interval there was additional intent from Spain. Alonso was the most prominent of those in red shirts who had efforts in the opening ten minutes of the second period, which was characterised by a series of short corners that created intense pressure on the Swiss goal.

Something had to give, but incredibly it gave in front of the Spanish goal. Eren Derdiyok showed great tenacity when chasing a hopeful ball forward, gained a fortuitous bounce and touched the ball round the advancing Casillas. What followed was a brief but mad scramble six yards from the line that left Pique bloodied, but the goal stood as Fernandes push the ball into the empty net.

In the minutes following the goal, Jesus Navas and Fernando Torres were introduced, giving La Furia Roja an even more attacking dynamic. Benaglio was quickly from his line to thwart Xavi, Iniesta bent a shot tantalisingly wide of the post and Torres also went close as the European champions sought a quick leveller.

With 20 minutes remaining, a Spanish short corner was rolled out to Alonso, who unleashed a stunning shot that cracked off the face of the crossbar.

Navas had looked exceptionally lively down the right since his introduction, and drew and error from Ziegler as he burst purposefully into the box. The diminutive winger prodded towards goal but his shot lacked venom.

Switzerland nearly nicked a second goal on the break when Blaise Nkufo combined with Derdiyok. The forward neatly stepped inside one challenge as he broke into the box, but his clever outside of the foot finish hit the post after leaving Casillas flat-footed.

Otherwise the pressure on the Swiss goal in the closing stages of the match was intense, yet the defence, which was brilliantly marshalled by Stephane Grichting throughout, held firm for a famous victory.

This was the most unlikely of successes for the Schweizer Nati, who had been in miserable form prior to this encounter. Spain, who were by no means poor, suffered just their second defeat in 49 matches and will doubtless have to field questions once again about their ‘World Cup bottle’.