Spain starts the World Cup on the wrong footing. Switzerland didn’t surprise at Durban with its ultradefensive approach, but it did it when defeating ‘La Roja’ for the second time in its 49 last matches. The national team dominated the game clearly from the beginning of the match, having all the initiative and the control of the ball. But the Swiss team surprised at the minute 52 with a counter attack full of rebounds and from that moment its defensive wall was reinforced till finishing with the Spanish defeat. Del Bosque’s players tried everything. On the touchlines, on the centre, with long shots and with combined moves. Nothing was enough to break Ottmar Hitzfeld’s spider web. With this result, ‘La Roja’ must win the six points against Honduras and Chile to look for a place at the last sixteen.
Fernando Torres, Pedro Rodríguez and Jesús Navas started the match at the bench, but they were the three pillars who Del Bosque turned to in order to look for a reaction. At the minute 61, Torres and Navas jumped to the field to underpin the team, a good bet to drain the fire line with the explosive game of the Andalusian and the goal power of the Anfield’s ‘9’. Their contribution changed the face of the team, which looked for a way to save the match with new moves but without any luck. Pedro Rodríguez was the last resort, jumping at the minute 76 substituting Andrés Iniesta. The strength and willingness of the player gave more push to the team.
- Quick game versus tackles
For the debut, Vicente del Bosque chose a starting eleven with Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Puyol, Pique, Capdevila, David Silva, Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Andrés Iniesta and David Villa. As it was foreseen, the initiative of the game was in the hands of the Spanish team from the first minute. ‘La Roja’ resorted to its best weapon, the passing game, as a hammer to demolish the Swiss defensive wall. As the minutes were passing by, the Swiss team shut themselves at their own area, pushed by the passes of Iniesta and Xavi and also by the incursions of Silva and Villa.
The control of the ball was clearly for Spain. Pass, pass and more passes. It was the only way to get to Benaglio’s goal. Silva was the first to test the goalkeeper with a flat shot from the left. Sergio Ramos also got up to his old tricks on the right touchline, doubling and arriving to the line. Iniesta came into the tries roulette with a long shot, looking to fin dan unexpected reaction of the Jabulani. And so it came a great move of Piqué at the minute 23 which could have meaned the first goal: pass of Iniesta, control, dribbling the defender and shot to the goal. Benaglio cleared the ball.
Switzerland commended their future to the luck at set pieces. Only this way Ottmar’s players could approach with some danger to Casillas. Besides, the midfielder Senderos was forced to leave the game due to an injury and was changed with Von Bergem, while Spain continued playing its game, with a passing game organized by Iniesta, but they needed the last push at the front part. Villa tried without any luck, with a pass to the centre of the area after an individual move which ended in nothing.
- Torres, Navas and Pedro were not enough
The half time didn’t bring any changes, neither in the teams nor in the match. Spain continued looking for the goal, trying to break the strong Swiss defensive line. Iniesta and Silva continued trying to get into the area from the touchlines, looking with dribbles and passes the shot of the death. All seemed under control when a counter attack surprised Spain. A jumble of rebounds inside the area ended with the goal of Fernandes. Casillas blocked, the ball rebounded in Derdjyok. After that, Piqué blocked. The rebound was for Fernandes who just pus hit into a empty goal in the middle of a mess.
Spain attacked to the death to get the tie, trying more than ever to break the Swiss line of six men who waited at the border of their area. Ramos tried to head the ball after a pass from Piqué, but the shot went high. Instants after, Villa tried again with a shot which was too short for only some centimetres. In view of the circumstances, Del Bosque decided to make some changes at the 61’, giving the team some fresh air forward with Fernando Torres substituting Busquets and Navas substituting Silva. The loud vuvuzelas stopped the time and space to celebrate the arrival of the ‘9’ to the World Cup.
Torres didn’t take much time in pulling a roar out of the stand with an individual move on the right touchline which ended in a shot of Iniesta. Fernando tried after to shot a counter ball, but the shot went high over the crossbar, the same crossbar which spat out a shot of Xabi Alonso denying the tie to Spain. And Jesús Navas added himself to the attack from the right arriving to the goal with strength. But Switzerland was waiting for it and could close the match with a new dangerous move of Derdjyok, which was saved by the goalpost. The last change brought Pedro as the last hope to correct the result in 15 minutes.
At the final minutes of the match, there were on the field the hurry of the Spanish and the counter attack tactic. Swuitzerland had the match were they wanted and, with the new holes, Barnetta surprised with shots which caused some problems at Casillas area. Even that, the national team continued looking for the tie putting their best efforts: Navas, Torres, Villa, Pedro… All tried without luck a shot to get the tie. Now we must win Honduras and Chile to get to the last sixteen.
- Match stats:
Spain: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Puyol, Pique, Capdevila, David Silva (Navas 61’), Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Sergio Busquets (Torres 61’), Andrés Iniesta (Pedro 76’) and David Villa.
Switzerland: Benaglio, Lichtsteiner, Senderos (Von Bergen 36’), Grichting, Ziegler, Inler, Gelson, Huggel, Barnetta (Eggiman 91’), Derdiyok (Yakin 78’), Nkufo.
Yellow cards: Grichting 30’, Ziegler 73’.
Goals:
0-1 (52’) Fernandes.
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