Serbia could not overcome a fearless Switzerland

Brazil and Switzerland qualify from Group G for the last 16. The 'Canarinha' sealed the group stage with an unexpected loss to Cameroon, while the European side beat and eliminated Serbia in a match that had everything from goals to several one-on-one battles.

Switzerland did what they had to do to reach the last 16 and thus deny Serbia their fate... and also Cameroon, who could have qualified if the result of the other match had gone in their favour. However, Murat Yakin's side were made to suffer at times by the first Serbian comeback in a huge first half.

The opening minutes already reflected what was to come. Embolo and Xhaka threatened to make it 0-1 after just 30 seconds. Zivkovic unleashed a left-footed strike that only the post prevented from becoming the first goal of the night at Stadium 974 in Doha. But when the floodgates opened, the goals came thick and fast.

In the 20th minute, after a cross from Ricardo Rodriguez, Sow feinted and set up Shaqiri, who made no mistake with his left foot. In the 26th minute, Tadic found space on a counter-attack down the left flank and put the ball into the box for Mitrovic, with a perfect turn, to make it a draw.

Serbia turned the tide in the 35th minute when Dusan Vlahovic took advantage of a poorly cleared ball in the box and beat Kobel with a low cross-shot. Shaqiri did the same with the score at 0-1. But in a neat move on the stroke of half-time, Switzerland were able to equalise and give the game more life going into the second half. Widmer got to the byline, was set up perfectly, and then masterfully set up Embolo for Embolo to make it 2-2. The best 45 minutes of football so far at the World Cup in Qatar.

Right at the start of the second half, Switzerland struck with the definitive goal, the 2-3 from Freuler, who scored beautifully after a magical assist from Vargas in the danger zone. Switzerland's extreme quality to put the balance back in their favour and put their qualification to the last 16 of the World Cup back on track.

With Switzerland dominating and Serbia giving in, the clashes began. Mitrovic got into it with some opponents and the referee himself, and called for a penalty for a grab for which he was pulled later than he should have been. Gudelj and Jovic came on to try to turn the match, which was very much on the Swiss side.

As Cameroon managed to pull off the upset against Brazil, Milinkovic-Savic kept out Switzerland's fourth goal. In stoppage time, there was a scuffle that resulted in yellow cards for Xhaka and Milenkovic. Only at the end did Serbia have a clear chance to find the equaliser, but it was not enough. Victory for Switzerland and a place in the last 16 sealed.

 

December 2, 2022