Coach Vladimir Petkovic conceded that Switzerland have been fortunate enough to reach this stage of the tournament but insisted that they will hit peak form against Sweden in St. Petersburg. Defenders Augustinsson and Granqvist have proved their goal-scoring abilities in Russian Federation and their contribution will be key if the match goes into extra-time. Sniff at the standard if you must, but there were also seven in eight AFC Champions League outings.
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Sweden will now face England in the quarter-finals as another battle of contrasting styles awaits. This is a man who knows where the goal is. After a 1-0 win over South Korea in their opener, the Swedes were unlucky to lose to Germany after a brilliant last-gasp Toni Kroos strike.
Therefore, it was no surprise when the first clear opportunity came to the Swedes, but Marcus Berg wasn’t on the same script after slicing a shot after a nicely laid through ball.
Another opportunity was blocked as Janne Andersson’s men piled merrily into the box with their Scandi-ball.
Switzerland are unbeaten in Russian Federation following draws against Brazil and Costa Rica and a dramatic win over Serbia meaning the world’s 6th ranked side have only been defeated in one of their last 25 games (W17, D7). No other player had had more without scoring.
In keeping with Andersson’s emphasis on a team ethic for a squad lacking in individual star talent following Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s retirement from worldwide football, Forsberg has had to sacrifice some of his qualities for the team. I’ve understood that we won the match today and went through the last 16.
A merry band of about a thousand yellow-clad Sweden fans stayed after the game, singing in a stand behind the goal and ignoring repeated requests from the stadium announcer to make their way out. Stifling star man Shaqiri was the priority and here too, Forsberg did his bit, ensuring the Stoke City man was never found with the ball in risky pockets of space.
Switzerland were without skipper and new Arsenal signing Stephan Lichtsteiner as a result of suspension and ahead of the match, the former Juventus full-back had only missed 25 minutes of the 1,590 his team had played at major tournaments since the 2008 European Championships.
“He has nearly been playing like a left back”, one Swedish journalist bemoaned on the eve of the match.
“We know we are a good team, that we’ve earned our successes – we know how we got this far”.
It was as if the smothering Sweden defense extinguished the desire and passion that drove Switzerland through the group stage in Russian Federation. Two compact banks of four, two up front, work the channels. A minute later Switzerland were up the other end of the field and nearly equalised. Emil Forsberg got the winning goal midway through the second half with help from a big deflection of Switzerland’s Manuel Akanji.
In the shape of Sweden, this World Cup has a rogue quarter-finalist.
Switzerland twice went close to grabbing an equaliser, as Djourou’s header dribbled agonisingly across the goal-line and substitute Haris Seferovic drew a late save from close range.
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Maybe this weekend he can drag the embattled Berg with him into the light.
