#2014FIFAWORLDCUP: Argentina 1 - 0 Switzerland

Angel di Maria struck the one and only goal for Argentina in the 118th minute as Switzerland were cruelly knocked out of the World Cup in Sao Paulo this afternoon.

There were very few chances in the early stages as Switzerland upset Argentina's tempo with a number of fouls.

The Swiss had the first clear-cut opening against the run of play in the 27th minute when Xherdan Shaqiri tricked his way down the byline and squared for Granit Xhaka, whose low shot was kept out by Sergio Romero.

Ottmar Hitzfeld's side finished the first half on top and had a golden opportunity to take a shock lead when Shaqiri floated into the path of Josip Drmic.

Romero hesitated and was out of position, but Drmic let him off with a half-hearted chip that was easy for the Argentine keeper to clutch.

Argentina's first decent effort came just after the hour mark when Marcos Rojo crossed for Gonzalo Higuain, whose header was tipped over the bar by Diego Benaglio.

Five minutes later Lionel Messi had his first shot of the game, dipping a volley inches over the crossbar.

The Barcelona superstar began to have more opportunities as the 90-minute mark approached and came close to breaking the deadlock with a low shot that Benaglio just about kept out.

In extra time there were few chances for either side, with Di Maria drawing an acrobatic save out of Benaglio before he won the match with two minutes remaining.

Messi drove forward and slid the ball into his path and the Real Madrid men swept home low across goal into the far corner.

Switzerland still had a great opening to send the match into a penalty shootout, but Blerim Dzemaili headed against the post from inside the six-yard box.

Next up for Argentina in the quarter-finals will be a match against either Belgium or the USA, who face off in Salvador later this evening.

Read More

#2014FIFAWORLDCUP PREVIEW: Argentina Vs Switzerland

Switzerland will have their work cut out when they take on Argentina for a place in the last eight of the World Cup, facing a side with a 100% record in this year's competition.

Alejandro Sabella's side qualified as Group F winners with maximum points, following victories over Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran and Nigeria.

However, the Swiss did well to beat Ecuador to second place in Group E, sealing their place in the last 16 with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Honduras in their final game.

The Argentines are expected to hand a start to Ezequiel Lavezzi out wide, with question marks over the fitness of Manchester City star Sergio Aguero.

Switzerland's biggest concern will be keeping the sublime Lionel Messi quiet, and that task is likely to fall to Fabian Schar, who was drafted into the Swiss defence in place of the disappointing Philippe Senderos against Honduras.

Recent form

Argentina: DWWWWW

Switzerland: DWWWLW

Possible starting lineups

Argentina: Romero, Zabaleta, Garay, Fernandez, Rojo, Gago, Mascherano, Di Maria, Lavezzi, Messi, Higuain

Switzerland: Benaglio, Lichtsteiner, Inler, Xhaka, Behrami, Rodriguez, Mehmedi, Drmic, Djourou, Schaer, Shaqiri

Read More

#2014FIFAWORLDCUP: Honduras 0 - 3 Switzerland

A milestone hat-trick from Xherdan Shaqiri has given Switzerland a 3-0 win against Honduras, with the European nation advancing to the knockout stages of the World Cup after Ecuador could only draw 0-0 with France.

After just two minutes played in Manaus, Josip Drmic split the Honduran defence and sent a low pass to Shaqiri, whose shot was smothered.

It didn't take long for the Nati to break the deadlock, however, and on the five-minute mark, Shaqiri was allowed space on the edge of the opposition box and unleashing a powerful drive into the top corner to put his side a goal up.

Both sides continued to trade chances throughout the first half, Shaqiri blasting another long-range effort wide, before Brayan Beckeles had a chance of his own on the turn, but also missed the target.

As Switzerland began sitting deeper as the game went on, a swift counter-attack helped Ottmar Hitzfeld's side double their lead.

Gokhan Inler sent a long pass to Drmic down the left flank on the half-hour mark, and he subsequently found Shaqiri, who rifled the ball home for his second goal of the match.

Early in the second half, Jerry Bengston came close to halving the deficit twice in the space of a few seconds, but Ricardo Rodriguez was at hand to clear off the line.

Controversy erupted on the hour mark as Jerry Palacios was sent tumbling in the Swiss box, but the referee waved away the penalty appeals.

The Nati went on to further extend their lead, once again courtesy of Shaqiri, who latched on to a Drmic ball before converting and scoring the 50th hat-trick in the history of the World Cup.

The final whistle was greeted with elation by the Swiss players, managers and fans, because had Ecuador so much as drawn against France, the South Americans would have gone through at the expense of Switzerland due to having scored more goals in the group stages.

Read More

#2014FIFAWORLDCUP PREVIEW: Honduras Vs Switzerland

Switzerland face a crucial game at the World Cup on Wednesday when they travel to Manaus to play Honduras in Group E.

The Swiss must win the match and hope that Ecuador fail to beat group leaders France if they want to reach the second round of the tournament.

However, Ottmar Hitzfeld's side are likely to be low on morale following their 5-2 thrashing by the French last week.

The Hondurans, who have lost their opening two matches, also have a chance of going through, though it will take something close to a miracle for them to progress.

Switzerland defender Steve von Bergen will miss the match after being sent home with a fractured eye socket, while Honduras have no fresh injury concerns.

Recent form

Honduras: WLLDLL

Switzerland: LDWWWL

Possible starting lineups

Honduras: Valladares; Beckeles, Izaguirre, Garrido, Bernardez, Figueroa; Garcia, Claros, Espinoza; Costly, Bengston

Switzerland: Benaglio; Lichsteiner, Rodriguez, Inler, Djourou, Von Bergen; Shaqiri, Behrami, Seferovic, Xhaka; Mehmedi

Read More

#2014FIFAWORLDCUP: Switzerland 2 - 5 France

France have all but secured their place in the last 16 at the World Cup after thrashing Switzerland 5-2 in Salvador this evening.

The French team looked the stronger of the two from the start as Karim Benzema narrowly missed the target with a curling effort inside the opening 10 minutes.

The deadlock was broken just 17 minutes in when Olivier Giroud found the back of the net with a powerful header from a corner.

The lead was doubled less than 20 seconds after the restart when the Swiss side gave the ball away on the edge of the box, allowing Blaise Matuidi to drill the ball in low.

Granit Xhaka thought that he had pulled one back for Switzerland in the first half when he slotted the ball past Hugo Lloris, but the midfielder was judged to have been offside.

France could have added a third when they were awarded a penalty shortly after the half-hour mark, but Benzema's effort from the spot was saved by Diego Benaglio, before Yohan Cabaye thumped the rebound onto the crossbar.

However, Mathieu Valbuena did make it three before the break when he tapped in from a Giroud cross from close range.

Switzerland fought hard to try to pull one back early in the second half, but Benzema extended the lead for Didier Deschamps's men.

France continued to press and made it five when Moussa Sissoko hit the ball from the edge of the area following a Benzema through ball, leaving Switzerland facing their heaviest ever defeat at the World Cup.

However, the Swiss side were able to make the scoreline more respectable in the closing stages, as Blerim Dzemaili guided the ball into the bottom corner from a 35-yard free kick, before Xhaka volleyed home from close range a few minutes later.

Benzema found the back of the net again deep into stoppage time, but the referee had already blown the full-time whistle when he took the shot.

Cabaye picked up a booking late on which rules him out of the final match of the group stages for France, having already received a yellow card earlier in the competition.

France will be assured of a place in the last 16 if the other sides in Group E play to a draw later tonight.

Read More

#2014FIFAWORLDCUP PREVIEW: Switzerland Vs France

A vital clash in Group E at the World Cup takes place on Friday as Switzerland face France in Salvador.

Both teams have a good chance of making it through to the second round of the tournament after winning their opening fixtures.

The Swiss earned a dramatic 2-1 victory over Ecuador, while the French saw off Honduras 3-0 thanks to a brace from Karim Benzema.

A win for either side on Friday would see them take a big step towards getting out of the group.

Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld and France counterpart Didier Deschamps have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the contest.

France have the better head-to-head record between the teams, winning 15 games compared to 12 for the Swiss. Meanwhile, there have been nine draws during their 36 previous encounters.

Recent form
Switzerland: WLDWWW

France: WWWDWW

Possible starting lineups

Switzerland: Benaglio; Lichtsteiner, Rodriguez, Djourou, Von Bergen; Inler, Shaqiri Behrami, Stocker, Xhaka; Drmic

France: Lloris; Debuchy, Varane, Sakho, Evra; Cabaye, Matuidi, Pogba; Valbuena, Benzema, Griezmann

Read More

#2014FIFAWORLDCUP: Switzerland 2 - 1 Ecuador

Switzerland have come from behind to earn a dramatic 2-1 win over Group E rivals Ecuador in this evening's encounter at the World Cup.

Despite starting the first half slowly, Switzerland created two decent openings as goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez kept out efforts from Xherdan Shaqiri andRicardo Rodriguez.

However, Ecuador, who posed a persistent threat on the counter-attack, opened the scoring on 22 minutes when Enner Valencia arrived in the box to head home Walter Ayovi's dangerous free kick.

The Swiss refused to be too downhearted after conceding, but they failed to trouble the Ecuadorians for the remainder of the half.

Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld brought on Admir Mehmedi at half time, and the substitute made an instant impact when he headed in an equaliser with 48 minutes on the clock.

As both teams pushed forward in search of more goals, Ecuador almost turned the game on its head with an hour played as Valencia's fierce drive flashed narrowly wide of the post.

The Ecuadorians went close again minutes later through Jefferson Montero, but the winger saw his effort pushed behind byDiego Benaglio following a quick break.

While Ecuador looked the more likely to score, Switzerland had a goal controversially disallowed on 70 minutes when Josip Drmic's strike was ruled out for offside. The forward was in an onside position when he received the ball from Rodriguez, but the linesman's flag went up nonetheless.

Ecuador came within inches of snatching the points late on when Benaglio reacted quickly to parry away a deflected free kick, though it was the Swiss who found a late winner as Haris Seferovic capped a dynamic counter-attack by firing in with seconds remaining.

Read More

#2014FIFAWORLDCUP PREVIEW: Switzerland Vs Ecuador

Group E top seeds Switzerland will be confidently of getting their 2014 World Cuptournament off to a winning start when they face Ecuador in Brasilia on Sunday.

The Swiss stormed into the top 10 of the FIFA rankings courtesy of their unbeaten qualification campaign under the guidance of experienced tactician Ottmar Hitzfeld.

Unpredictable France may be the group's main attraction, but Switzerland have been far more consistent than Les Bleus over the past 18 months and may fancy their chances of snatching top spot.

To do so, though, they will likely have to pick up maximum points against an Ecuador side that has pace and power in attack, but gaping holes at the other end to address heading into their third World Cup.

These strengths and weaknesses were evident when they held England to a 2-2 draw in their pre-tournament match in Miami a fortnight ago, during whichAntonio Valencia was sent off for tussling with Raheem Sterling.

The Manchester United winger will be available this weekend, though, and will provide counter-attacking speed on the right, while the highly-rated Jefferson Montero will do the same on the other flank.

Former Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo will try to get on the end of any crosses that they can provide, but will have a tough task netting against a Swiss back line that conceded only six goals in qualifying.

In front of a sturdy back four, the familiarity of Valon Behrami, Blerim Dzemaili and Gokhan Inler, who are all teammates at Napoli, make them equally solid. The flair comes from out wide in the form of experienced wide man Tranquillo Barnetta and reported Liverpool target,Xherdan Shaqiri of Bayern Munich.

Ecuador finished above Luis Suarez's Uruguay in qualifying, though, and will have their own ambitions of reaching the last 16 in favourable conditions, despite a poor record outside of their own borders.

The Swiss are three times quarter-finalists at the World Cup, but not since they hosted in 1954.

Recent form

Switzerland: WWDLWW

Ecuador: DLDWDD

Possible starting lineups

Switzerland: Benaglio; Lichtsteiner, Djourou, Schar, Rodriguez; Inler, Behrami, Inler; Barnetta, Shaqiri, Drmic

Ecuador: Dominguez; Ayovi, Guagua, Erazo, Paredes; Montero, Noboa, Castillo, Valencia; Caicedo, Valencia

Read More