Switzerland, the enemy in disguise

Spain was measured this Thursday at Switzerland, in a match from the third day of the UEFA Nations League on Swiss soil. After receiving two draws against Portugal and the Czech RepublicLuis Enrique’s eleven was almost forced get if you don’t want to see your options to qualify for the Final Four that will decide the championship title of the current edition of this championship is very small.

However, it will not be easy task for La Roja to destroy a Swiss team that, without much excitement, has been a real rock for Spain’s interests for some time now.

And it has been since June 16, 2010 Switzerland beat Spain for the first time after fifteen defeats and three draws, the last five clashes between the two teams show a balance absolute equivalent: one win for each and three boards, with four goals for each team. The final pulse, true, ended with a Spanish victory on penalties, but the ‘official’ result was a tie to one.

for penalties

It was on July 2, 2021, in Saint Petersburg, in the quarterfinals of the European Championship, when after Zakaria’s own goals at 8 ’and Shaqiri’s for the final 1-1 at 68’, the extra time didn’t break the table despite superiority. of Red (at 77 ‘Freuler was expelled). The money of penalties fell to the Spanish side 3-1, after Unai Simón blocked two Swiss shots.

In 2010, Spain’s journey began with World Cup in South Africa stumble against Switzerland in the debut, with the lowest 0-1 signed by Fernandes meaning Switzerland’s first victory in history against the Red and a knock that served to wake up Del Bosque’s staff, who would win the lone win . world of choice to the present.

Eight years later, on June 3, 2018, both teams met in a friendly played at Villarreal. Odriozolaat 29, opened scoring that would close R. Rodríguez at 62 with the final 1-1.

Precedent in the UEFA Nations League with SR4 as the star

On October 10, 2020, in the league of UEFA Nations League, Spain’s lowest success thanks to the goal of Oyarzabal 14 minutes into the match played by Alfredo di Stéfano. In a game played on Swiss soil on November 14, a goal was tied thanks to Freuler (26 ‘) and Gerard Moreno, who almost tied. in excess, at 89 ‘of the battle. A duel where Sergio Ramos missed … two penalties!

Since then, there has been only one confrontation, the one reviewed in July last year, in Saint Petersburg. The fifth in eleven years, which endorsed the label of the enemy hiding where Switzerland has been able to match its statistics against Spain since the historic World Cup in South Africa. Raised to 14th place in the FIFA rankings (Spain is in seventh position), Switzerland is, hardly apparently, a real stepping stone for this shaky choice by Luis Enrique.