Spain vs Switzerland
FanHouse has a Spain vs. Switzerland live blog for a World Cup 2010 Group H first-round match in Durban, South Africa on Tuesday. Spain considered a tournament favorite -- is led by led by David Villa, Fernando Torres, and Iker Casillas. La Furia Roja is expected take care of Switzerland.
In the whiplash upset thus far in the World Cup, Switzerland spent an evening in Durban withstanding Spain’s celebrated attack, plucked a goal of its own in the 52nd minute and jolted the co-favorites 1-0 to send fresh reverberations through the entire draw.
Not only did the hardy Swiss go atop Group H with three points alongside Chile, and not only did they deal the reigning European champions and uphill challenge, but they called to mind Spain’s legacy of unusual difficulty in World Cups that renders a fourth-place finish in 1950 its best outcome yet.
Through a tepid first half and into a more frantic second, Spain dominated possession, keeping the ball in Switzerland’s end as expected with seasoned, measured passing along the ground, but repeatedly shooting inaccurately. Then, suddenly, just as Spain’s expectant fans might have begun to wonder whether a team that won all 10 of its qualifying matches would even score, Switzerland did.
Goalkeeper Diego Benaglio sent a long ball into the Spanish end, leading to Eren Derdiyok’s march through the Spanish defense and mayhem in front of the Spanish goal. With goalkeeper Iker Casillas toppled after a brief save and the goal mouth open for tantalizing seconds, Gelson Fernandes cleaned up the mess and banged in the goal, changing the dynamic.
From there, Spain made repeated thrusts especially with the renowned Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, back after knee surgery, and younger charges Jesus Navas and Pedro, but could get no closer than Xabi Alonso’s 70th-minute strike that banged the crossbar. Oddly, Switzerland got even closer than that, when Derdiyok’s counterattack from the right side of the box in the 75th minute hit the right post as Spain’s desperation mounted.
As surprise gave way to disbelief once the Swiss held up through five minutes of added time, Spain’s players exited quickly after only their second loss in 50 games, and the Swiss players exulted toward their fans after the first-ever win over Spain in 18 tries for a country that, in qualifying, recovered from a loss to tiny Luxembourg.
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