SHOCK OF THE TOURNAMENT SPAIN HUMILIATED BY SWITZERLAND FIFA 2010
First it was the reigning world champions Brazil drawing, then the Ex-African champions losing and now the biggest shock of them all when the total football of Del Bosque’s Spain flopped miserably and they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Switzerland.
Spain came into the tournament having won 45 of their last 48 matches and their opponents on the night had never beaten them in 18 previous attempts but the Swiss came into the game determined to change that stat and change they did. For all the quality, trickery, skill, pace and ability Spain had on the pitch, the Swiss countered with one and just one thing and that was the sheer will to come away from the match with a win.
Switzerland were knocked out of last year’s world cup in the second round without ever conceding a goal and with another clean sheet today, it’s now 5 matches at the world cup that have not conceded in, a commendable record indeed. Spain started the match with a 4-5-1 formation as Torres was not rushed into the match as he is making a fast but swift return from injury and in his absence El Guaje took the responsibility of leading the La Roja’s attack with David Silva and Andres Iniesta playing on the wings as a support cast. Sergio Busquests was preferred for the role of the central defensive midfielder in place of Cesc Fabregas, while Xavi and Alonso completed the midfield trio.
On the other hand the Swiss employed a traditional 4-4-2 and with their talismanic forward Sabestian Frei absent due to injury the responsibility was handed on to Derdiyok and Nkufo and they did not disappoint. The reigning European Champions from the sunny Spain had total control of the game but their profligacy in front of the goal let them down, despite having an embarrassment of riches in attack. Spain fell behind in the 52nd minute when a Hollywood style long ball found its way to Gelson Fernandes and the play maker made no mistake bundling the ball into the net. While the Spanish pass masters Xavi, Iniesta, Silva and failed miserably to conjure a breakthrough the two time Champions League winning coach threw on Torres Pedro and Jesus Navas but to no avail as Spain suffered a shock defeat, only their 2nd in 49 matches after the shock loss to USA in the confederations Cup last year.
Spain now find themselves in hot waters and severely under pressure but they still have enough quality to qualify from a group that features Honduras and Chile and with Chile beating Honduras in the earlier game, Spain are more than likely to finish second in their group and face the prospect of playing against Brazil in the next round if they do so. Spain came into the tournament as hot favourites and widely tipped to end decades of under achievement at the biggest stage in football but now face a daunting task to achieve their dream and although a mouth watering clash it will be but the pity is that it will be only in the second round of the tournament. For the Swiss, it was a historic maiden victory over Spain and another feather in the cap of their talismanic German coach Ottmar Hitzfield. The Swiss were forced to switch to plan B early on in the game when Arsenal defender Phillip Sanderos suffered an injury during the game and limped off the field.
However, the sheer grit and determination of the Swiss was much greater than that of their Spanish counterparts and was rewarded with a sweet victory that puts them in pole position to emerge from a difficult group as group winners. At the final whistle, Fernandes fell to his knees and raised both arms to the sky. The entire team then went to the small section of Swiss fans at the Moses Mabhida Stadium and saluted them as they cheered and rang cow bells.
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