If solely the offense was pretty much as good because the protection
Within the final check in opposition to Austria, the Swiss have one likelihood – the truth that a defensive participant, Silvan Widmer, scored the 1-1 says loads in regards to the high quality of the attacking sport.
Cannot be glad together with his workforce’s offensive efforts but: Captain Granit Xhaka (centre).
Picture: Gian Ehrenzeller (Keystone)
Just a few spectators in St. Gallen’s Kybunpark immediately change into agitated. “Berlin, Berlin, we’ll Berlin,” they sing as Switzerland’s match in opposition to Austria attracts to an in depth. Berlin serves as a reference for the place the European Championship last will happen on 14 July.
It is 1:1 with 1 / 4 of an hour to go and it stays at 1:1. The result’s the final check for the Swiss earlier than the European Championship, which begins subsequent Saturday in Cologne with the match in opposition to Hungary. Granite
Behind Switzerland is a sport of two halves. First it is higher and Austria is dangerous regardless of the early lead. Then they lastly disappear from the radar on offense, Austria is now dominant and has one likelihood to attain the successful purpose, which Gregoritsch misses in entrance of the Swiss purpose.
Afterwards, Xhaka and his teammates keep the positives they recognized simply earlier than the break. All of them level out that the protection is secure “We’re very organized,” says the captain, “he has loads to do.” Per week earlier than the European Championships, there is no such thing as a doubt about this. Within the 4 assessments this 12 months, the workforce has solely allowed one purpose. Yann Sommer is similar goalkeeper as Manuel Akanji and Ricardo Rodriguez within the again three, with Nico Elvedi and Fabian Schär finishing them.
In entrance of them, Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler are the midfield. Whereas Freuler performs the function of the inconspicuous adjutant, Xhaka is the ruler of the scene. Within the 76 minutes earlier than his substitution, he recorded 98 ball touches, greater than anybody else on the pitch. He’s match and in good spirits, even after a season with 50 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen and now 10 for the nationwide workforce.
Dan Ndoye for example of the weaknesses within the assault
Silvan Widmer’s place on the correct is unbroken. This time he’s given a selected problem on the way in which ahead as a result of Ruben Vargas, his accomplice in entrance of him, is attaining little or no. And with Vargas begins the issue that the Swiss proceed to battle with: that’s their offensive sport.
Xhaka studies weaknesses “within the last third” of the pitch, lack of focus, receiving the ball and last passes that had been “not nice”. He explains this with the youth of the gamers, who would wish time to mature at this stage. He politely dribbles across the conclusion that additionally it is a category concern.
Let’s take Dan Ndoye for instance, with the unfold he performs the balls, how little revenue he will get from his tempo on the left facet of midfield. After eight minutes he had already recorded three dangerous passes, together with this one, which led to the deficit after 5 minutes. Christoph Baumgartner begins to tear from his personal half of the sphere, overtakes Elvedi, makes Freuler look dangerous and eventually beats Sommer with none downside.
There isn’t a scene from Zeki Amdouni in the course of the assault that will likely be remembered ceaselessly, aside from his many poor ball receptions. When Akanji hits a ball 50 meters ahead, it’s not Amdouni who’s standing there, however Widmer, the correct wing.
It’s no coincidence that this identical Widmer excels as a goalscorer. Vargas has his finest second when he swings down the left, his shot from shut vary permits Heinz Lindner, the long-time Swiss goalkeeper, to bounce cheerfully ahead, and Widmer is able to pounce on the ball. to be taken out of three within the heart fashion. meters ahead into the purpose.
A tough persona named Xherdan Shaqiri
Regardless of all his efforts, Steven Zuber is now not the impact he had on Tuesday in opposition to Estonia, however he has additionally been an inferior check accomplice. Kwadwo Duah sits on the bench for 90 minutes, Noah Okafor is ineffective after changing him. And there’s additionally the persona of Xherdan Shaqiri.
As he introduced himself in St. Gallen within the final twenty minutes or so, he’s removed from being able to fulfill calls for on the highest stage. The query now’s whether or not the few days till subsequent Saturday will likely be sufficient to make up for the shortcomings in his day-to-day work in distant Chicago. Skepticism is suitable.
Breel Embolo can be sitting within the stadium, however solely within the stands. He missed a lot of the season with Monaco resulting from a torn cruciate ligament, and barely performed at the least 5 extra video games when he suffered a muscular downside in mid-Might. Since then he has been remodeling right into a striker, with many hopes that he might clear up the workforce’s large downside together with his energy and dynamism.
“We’ve got quite a lot of high quality,” says Xhaka, regardless of all the things, expressing hope and reminding us that the midfielders might additionally rating a purpose someday. His final sentence is: “We’ll do it collectively.”
Switzerland
1 : 1
Austria
Taking part in
Over, over, the sport is over! Not less than Switzerland will not lose their last check match earlier than the European Championships. But it surely would not set off aggressive fireworks both. Murat Yakin and his assistant Giorgio Contini nonetheless have quite a lot of work to do.
The Swiss fell behind early in opposition to Austria as they allowed themselves to be taken unexpectedly by one of many Austrians’ much-vaunted counter-attacks. They reply to this by making it 1-1, which Silvan Widmer manages to attain, who scores a comeback.
The one Swiss territory that even comes near making a purpose menace. Within the second half, the Swiss didn’t shoot heading in the right direction as soon as.
With that I say goodbye. The detailed report from my colleague Thomas Schifferle will seem right here quickly.
91. Minute
Wimmer is warned.
90. Minute
That the sport suits a bit: Shaqiri’s free-kick from the facet, nice expectations – after which the ball merely sends its good friend and foe close to the purpose and out of bounds.
81. Minute
So the second half of the Swiss assault was so unsexy that I hope Murat Yakin’s workforce saved all the great concepts, nice passes, sharp pictures and stylish dribbling for the video games on the European Championships in Germany.
That was already very missing in concepts and energy. However simply: it’s Hungary.
82. Minute
Seiwald is booked for trespassing.
82. Minute
Gregoritsch prevailed in opposition to Zesiger. It’s going to end itself earlier than the summer time. However the Swiss goalkeeper is fast on the bottom and confidently saves the shot.
81. Minute
He was straight on the ball However Xherdan Shaqiri hasn’t had a big effect on the sport since he got here on the scene. Identical for Noah Okafor.
74. Minute
The primary motion from Stergiou – and the primary card.
77. Minute
Zesiger, Stergiou and Sierro come to Switzerland. Rodriguez, Akanji and Xhaka go away the sphere.
In Xhaka’s case, it appears to me that the knock he obtained earlier was not the explanation for the substitution.
In Austria, Lainer goes and Seidl comes.
74. Minute
However that may not be good in any respect. Wimmer beats Xhaka in shut. Shortly afterwards the Swiss captain went to floor. This time it is not pretend ache prefer it was throughout his purpose celebration with Leverkusen.
Xhaka is operating once more. But it surely ought to go down now. Switzerland can’t afford injured Xhaka on the European Championships. Particularly since Denis Zakaria just isn’t positive in regards to the competitors.
69. Minute
18,731 viewers had been reported. Which means that the stadium in St. Gallen is bought out.
67. Minute
Xherdan Shaqiri and Noah Okafor exchange Ruben Vargas and Zeki Amdouni.
Trauner and Lienhart leaving for the Austrians, Danso and Wöber coming.
66. Minute
It has not change into actually harmful but. However Austria have been right here for a very long time, and issues are occurring across the Swiss penalty space. Sommer is allowed to put two crosses within the field.
59. Minute
Sturdy, as Xhaka Ndoye sends out on the left wing. However Ndoye’s cross once more finds no Swiss receiver.
57. Minute
Yellow for Xhaka, who entered the duel together with his leg outstretched.
56. Minute
As soon as once more Ndoye loses the ball and as soon as once more there’s a counter assault. However Gregoritsch could be prevented from ending.
55. Minute
That may be a sensible choice. If Michel Aebischer’s go to Ruben Vargas hadn’t gone proper out of bounds. A missed alternative to offer us some pleasure.
53. Minute
This header from Widmer from a free kick someway goes 35 meters over the purpose. Maybe the truth that we’re nonetheless mentioning it right here says one thing in regards to the depth of the second half.
52. Minute
Everybody remains to be there. The gamers, the viewers, me in entrance of the keyboard. However someway everybody appears to have determined to take it slightly simpler now. Not that this sport was a feast of alternatives earlier than the break. However now issues are occurring very quietly right here.
46. Minute
Baumgartner, Kainz and Daniliuc go away Austria, Wimmer, Posch and Grillitsch arrive. The Swiss come out of the break the identical manner they went in.
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