Euro-2021: Switzerland and Wales neutralize each other for their first match

Published on : 06/12/2021 – 4:55 PM

In front of 30,000 spectators, half the capacity of the Olympic stadium in Baku, the Helvetians and the Welsh did not do better, Saturday, June 12, than a draw (1-1) for their first meeting of Euro-2021. Despite a good performance, the Swiss were not rewarded for their efforts. The Welsh on the other hand carried out a nice hold-up.

In the first half, Vladimir Petkovic’s players step on the ball and show more commitment. Even if the first clearest opportunity is to be credited to the Welsh in the 15th minute thanks to a cross header from Kieffer Moore released by a superb save from Yann Sommer, the Swiss very quickly take matters into their own hands.

In the 26th minute, Haris Seferovic tried his luck with a powerful shot, but it went right past Darren Ward’s cage. In legs, he does it again five minutes later, but his shot is once again off target. Just before returning to the locker room, the Benfica Lisbon striker once again tries to find the right net, but still unsuccessfully.

Moore saves the Welsh

It was not until the start of the second half that the Swiss finally broke through the Welsh wall. In the 50th minute, Bleed Embolo opened the scoring for the Nati with a header on a corner from Xherdan Shakiri. Very prominent during this match, the Borussia Mönchengladbach striker then caused some scares in the defense of the Dragons. He is notably the author of a beautiful rolled shot 15 minutes later, but without succeeding in finding the frame.

Stung, Robert Page’s players then try to equalize. Without complex, the Swiss respond defensively, but Kieffer Moore, injured in the forehead during the first period, equalizes with an angry head, red band around the head, in the 74th minute on a center from Joe Morrell.

The Helvetians expect to hold the victory in the 85th minute thanks to a volley in the penalty area of ​​Mario Gavranovic, who had just entered the game. But the Dinamo Zagreb striker was finally flagged offside after viewing the assistance video. The Nati pushes in the final minutes, but the Welsh goalkeeper is decisive with two high class saves.

The Welsh, uninspired during this meeting, can say a big thank you to their doorman. In attack, Gareth Bale, hardly physically sharp, remained silent. The Real Madrid star, loaned to Tottenham this season, has not shaken the nets in the selection since October 2019 against Croatia. Like their captain, five years after their epic until the semi-finals of the Euro, the dragons timidly start the competition and already seem in difficulty to reach the knockout stages.

This draw, on the other hand, is the business of Italy which prances at the top of Group A with three points after its great success Friday against Turkey (3-0). Squadra Azzurra will face Switzerland on Wednesday, while Wales will face Turkey.