📰 Table Of Contents
Match report
A chaotic 90 minutes in World Cup Group G on Friday ultimately culminated in Switzerland edging out Serbia, to keep the country’s Qatar adventure very much alive.
The final round of fixtures in Group G were played to completion just moments ago.
Whilst table-topping Brazil faced off with Cameroon, the aforementioned Switzerland locked horns with Serbia would see them guaranteed of spot in the Last-16, as runners-up.
And, when all was said and done, clinch a vital three points is precisely what Murat Yakin’s troops went on to do.
The Swiss opened the game’s scoring inside 20 minutes, upon attacking talisman Xherdan Shaqiri driving home at the near post with his trusty left foot:
Xherdan Shaqiri!!! 💪
Switzerland take the lead against Serbia 🇨🇭#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/vMRQzOWO9y
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 2, 2022
Serbia, though, soon turned the clash firmly on its head, owing to Aleksandar Mitrovic’s deft header, and strike partner Dusan Vlahovic’s clever rolled finish into the far bottom corner:
Dušan Vlahović turns things around for Serbia! 🇷🇸
As it stands, they’ll be going through to the last 16 👀#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/11lIDlYM9o
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 2, 2022
This came as Silvan Widmer was afforded far too much room down the right, to roll across for Breel Embolo’s simple finish from close range.
WHAT A GAME WE HAVE HERE 🤩
Breel Embolo has levelled it for Switzerland, and as it stands, they’ll be the ones going through! 🇨🇭#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/xBwyhDqo0r
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 2, 2022
From here, Switzerland swiftly retook the lead on the far side of the interval, when a gorgeously-constructed team move culminated in Remo Freuler slotting low into the net of Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.
And this is how things remained through the full-time whistle in Doha, as a Swiss outfit keen to reiterate their reputation as giant killers sent a Serbian side brimming with talent packing from international football’s most high-profile competition.
Player ratings
Serbia
- Vanja Milinkovic-Savic – 5.5
- Nikola Milenkovic – 5.5
- Milos Veljkovic – 5
- Strahinja Pavlovic – 5.5
- Andrija Zivkovic – 6.5
- Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – 5.5
- Sasa Lukic – 5
- Filip Kostic – 6.5
- Dusan Tadic – 7.5
- Dusan Vlahovic – 7
- Aleksandar Mitrovic – 6.5
Substitutes – Luka Jovic – 6, Nemanja Gudelj – 5.5, Nemanja Maksimovic – 6, Nemanja Radonjic – N/A, Filip Djuricic – N/A
Switzerland
- Gregor Kobel – 5.5
- Silvan Widmer – 6.5
- Manuel Akanji – 7
- Fabian Schar – 6.5
- Ricardo Rodriguez – 6
- Granit Xhaka – 7
- Remo Freuler – 6.5
- Djibril Sow – 6
- Ruben Vargas – 6.5
- Xherdan Shaqiri – 7
- Breel Embolo – 7
Substitutes: Edimilson Fernandes – 6, Denis Zakaria – 6.5, Christian Fassnacht – N/A, Noah Okafor – N/A
Key stats
3 – For the first time since their 4-1 win over Romania in 1994, three different players have scored for Switzerland in a #FIFAWorldCup match. Switzerland have never had more different goal scores in a World Cup match (excl. OGs). Teamwork. pic.twitter.com/tRzN92sit0
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) December 2, 2022
Aleksandar Mitrović’s first-half by numbers vs Switzerland:
100% aerial duels won
20 touches
5 final third entries
3 touches in opp. box
2 ball recoveries
2 shots
1 goalHe’s now scored 17 goals in his last 20 games for club and country. 🔥#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/Y1Egh5Ktpo
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 2, 2022
3 – Xherdan Shaqiri is one of three players to score at each of the last three World Cup tournaments – the others are Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Podium. pic.twitter.com/YUA8SCbown
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 2, 2022
Only Cristiano Ronaldo & Xherdan Shaqiri have scored in all of the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups and Euro 2016 and 2020.
— Richard Jolly 🇺🇦 (@RichJolly) December 2, 2022
Dusan Vlahovic has scored 10 goals for Serbia. It is his first World Cup goal.
Gives his country the lead. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/CQufZdBNTv
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) December 2, 2022
⚠️ | QUICK STAT
With his goal against Serbia, Breel Embolo has just become the first Switzerland player to score in multiple matches at the same #FIFAWorldCup tournament since Alexander Frei in 2006.
Important equalizer just before the break!#SRBSUI #Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/nswnInl6VV
— Sofascore (@SofascoreINT) December 2, 2022
64% of the goals scored during the Group Stage at the 2022 World Cup were scored in the second half:
First Half – 43 ⚽
Second Half – 77 ⚽
Game of two halves. 💫 pic.twitter.com/4ZvHKrkvkC
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) December 2, 2022
Serbia (1.27) 2-3 (2.91) Switzerland
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) December 2, 2022
Tadic
Kostic
Mitrovic
Vlahaovic
Milinkovic-SavicAll great players so good attacking but #serbia at the back are hopeless. Already conceded 8 in 2.5 games at #WorldCup2022 #SERSWI pic.twitter.com/EBRTmTdZVY
— Dom (@dommodernist) December 2, 2022
Last time he scored against Serbia, Kosovo-born Xherdan Shaqiri politely pointed out to Serbian fans that Kosovo is a sovereign and internationally recognized nation. He was fined $10,000. This time he just pointed at his surname. https://t.co/t94zpXH12J
— John Green (@sportswithjohn) December 2, 2022
Kostic is superb.
— Chelsea Extra 🏆 (@CFCExtra) December 2, 2022
Another #WorldCup, and another wasted opportunity for Serbia.
Given the talent at their disposal, should be doing far better at international level. But exposed once more – tactically, physically and most importantly, mentally.
Back to the drawing board.
— Sacha Pisani (@Sachk0) December 2, 2022
Dusan Vlahović reaction after scoring… and after so many fake rumours about his private life. 🇷🇸 #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/N2od2me4vT
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 2, 2022
Xhaka with a “Diego Simeone” to the Serbian players..He has them fuming 🤣🤣😭https://t.co/z8JkZh72Jd
— Doc (@karthikadhaigal) December 2, 2022
No, it’s OK, *you* can separate Xhaka and Mitrovic, I’ll be right here if you need help
— Michael Baumann (@MichaelBaumann) December 2, 2022
Manuel Akanji taking free-kicks for Switzerland, while Rodri has become a centre-back for Spain.
Will Pep Guardiola be adopting either of these tactics for #ManCity?
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) December 2, 2022
Manuel Akanji waving goodbye to the Serbians is a vibe 👋 💀 pic.twitter.com/Kux2Y5nl9V
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) December 2, 2022
Disappointing from Serbia. Two games in a row where they’ve had it in their hands but let it slip. Defence always weaker than attack but again, they lost momentum after the subs. For all the talent, 4th in group is a poor showing.
Switzerland, meanwhile, managed that expertly.
— Peter Rutzler (@peterrutzler) December 2, 2022
#NED #USA#ARG #AUS#ENG #SEN#FRA #POL#JPN #HRV#BRA #KOR#MAR #ESP#POR #SUI
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 2, 2022
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