Switzerland under 21 versus Iceland under 21 – Second half review: European U-21 Championships
The second half of Under 21 European Championship group A encounter between Switzerland and Iceland resumed at Energi Nord Arena under the watchful eye of referee M. Strahonja with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fabian-Frei-c13103 and Emeghara. Switzerland continued their dominance in the second half especially in the midfield area where Iceland U-21’s found it really difficult to maintain a foothold on the ball.
Switzerland were ruthless in their pressing and their manager encouraged them to push up field immediately after losing the ball in order to force some mistakes out of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Iceland-c2921’s back line. Iceland gave a better account of themselves in the second half as they were ushered onwards by their midfielder Eyjólfur Sverrisson. The young Icelandic playmaker tried his best to influence the proceedings but Iceland’s lack of movement up front especially when they had the ball at their feet meant that Eyjólfur found it hard to create anything given the lack of options given to him by his strikers.
Iceland did have their first chance of the encounter in the 55th minute after breaking Switzerland’s spell of domination when Kolbeinn Sigthorsson connected emphatically with Gylfi Sigurdsson's cross. The young striker did well to direct the ball towards Switzerland’s goal but once again Fabian Frei was the star of the show for the men in red as he cleared the ball away on the goal line with a crucial interception.
Switzerland soon descended into a counter attacking mode later on in the match but they almost found their third goal thanks to some brilliant work by Emeghara. The young striker found himself in space inside the Iceland penalty area but Haraldur Björnsson, Iceland’s goalkeeper produced a wonder save to deny the Swiss U-21 contingent their third goal of the match. Thus the second half came to an end with no change in the score line as Switzerland eventually ended up as 2-0 winners against Iceland. It was an authoritative display of force by the Swiss who by no means were neutrals in this match.
They maintained a comprehensive aura of superiority over their opponents for the better part of the match which means that they are now almost through to the knockout stages of the tournament. For Iceland, the defeat to Switzerland after their shambolic display against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Denmark-c2884. Iceland will play their next match against Denmark on 18th of June, 2011 whereas Switzerland will play their next group A encounter against Belarus on the same date.
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