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Tag: Switzerland

  • FIFA U-20: Draws scheduled to hold on Friday in Zurich

    FIFA U-20: Draws scheduled to hold on Friday in Zurich

    The postponed official draw of the 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup will hold on Friday, April 21st in Zurich, Switzerland.

    The Bureau of the FIFA Council made this known on Monday while confirming the decision to have Argentina as hosts of the competition scheduled for May 20 to June 11.

    Nigeria’s Flying Eagles are one of Africa’s four representatives, with Senegal, The Gambia and Tunisia the other teams.

    The original tournament hosts Indonesia were earlier removed, while a subsequent bid was submitted by the Argentinian Football Association (AFA).

    An on-site inspection by a FIFA delegation to the South American country last week then followed.

    The delegation members visited the proposed tournament venues and associated infrastructure.

    The hosting agreement has been signed by AFA, along with all other relevant documents on the part of the host and local authorities.

    The competition will feature six groups of four teams.

    Argentina are the most successful nation in the history of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, having won the tournament six times, most recently in 2007.

    The country also hosted the competition in 2001.

    Since 1977, this tournament has featured some of the greatest players of the past decades, including Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba, Erling Haaland and many others.

  • Manchester United legend, Gary Neville slams Cristiano Ronaldo

    Manchester United legend, Gary Neville slams Cristiano Ronaldo

    Manchester United legend, Gary Neville has fired shots at Cristiano Ronaldo and asked the Portugal captain to stop sulking.

    Neville slammed the 37-year-old for what he described as ‘petulant’ behaviour, warning the Saudi-bound footballer that his career is gradually coming to a scruffy end.

    This is coming after Ronaldo was dropped to the bench in Portugal’s 6-1 win over Switzerland in the round of 16 at the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

    Ronaldo only came on about 17 minutes to the end of Portugal’s World Cup round of 16 clash on Tuesday.

    It was the first first time since Euro 2008 that the former Juventus and Real Madrid man has not started in a major international tournament.

    Although manager, Fernando Santos said it was only a strategic approach to the game, the decision may not be unconnected with the 37-year-old’s fallout with the coach.

    Ronaldo had fallen out with Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag earlier this season. He also had issues at Juventus.

    On Tuesday, Neville provided a brutal assessment of his former Manchester United teammate on ITV. Neville said that when Ronaldo had issues with Erik ten Hag at Manchester United people suggested that the Dutch boss was trying to make a move on the superstar and was trying establish his authority.

    “This is a manager [Santos] who’s got an unbelievable relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo for eight years,” he said on ITV.

    The former Manchester United captain accused Ronaldo’s fans of failing to tell him the truth, insisting that the 37-year-old needs to listen to the truth, “that it’s becoming a little bit of a scruffy end” to his career.

    “The petulance, the stomping around, the sulking it’s got to stop because it doesn’t reflect well on him at all.”

    The former England international warned that the Portuguese has set for himself a long term legacy which he has protected as “one of the great all time players.

    “The Juventus manager wrong? The Manchester United manager wrong? And now is the Portugal manager wrong? There’s three of them that now have done the same thing with him,” Neville said.

  • Portugal coach unhappy with Ronaldo: I don’t know what the lineup is against Switzerland

    Portugal coach unhappy with Ronaldo: I don’t know what the lineup is against Switzerland

    Portugal coach Fernando Santos refused to guarantee Cristiano Ronaldo will start against Switzerland in the World Cup round of 16.

    Santos was unhappy with the way Ronaldo reacted to being substituted against South Korea and has held clear-the-air talks with him.

    Ronaldo was taken off in the 65th minute of Portugal’s World Cup defeat by Korea last Friday and there were reports that he swore at Santos.

    The pair have now cleared the air ahead of Portugal’s last-16 match against Switzerland on Tuesday, with Santos saying the matter is “solved”.

    “Let me split my answer into two,” he said. “The first is when I went to the press conference, as you know, when the match had ended.

    “I had a flash interview, you were there, and then obviously I went straight to the press conference and what I said I’ll repeat it here again. There on the field, nothing happened, nothing. So I just heard him discussing with the players of Korea, I didn’t hear anything else.

    “Now the second part of your question, if I have seen the images? Yes. I didn’t like it. Not at all. I did not like it. I really didn’t like it.

    “And therefore from that moment onwards you have people, everything is finished, full stop regarding that issue. Now we have to think about tomorrow’s match and everyone is focused on tomorrow’s match. The topic is solved. We fix that at home and that’s it.”

    Ronaldo is currently a free agent and has been heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia side Al Nassr, with some reports in Spain saying that a deal is now done. Santos insists it has not been a topic of discussion in the Portugal squad and will not distract their World Cup bid.

    “I haven’t spoken to him about this,” he said. “We had a conversation with the players, but I don’t really know about this.

    “To be honest I didn’t know about this. I just heard about this when I arrived here. Someone just told me that a few minutes ago.

    “But that’s his decision, that’s what he has to deal with, and we are totally focused here on the World Cup as a team. That’s what we spoke about and that’s our focus, and I don’t know anything about this other issue.”

    Santos also refused to confirm if Ronaldo will start against Switzerland tomorrow, saying: “I only decide who is going to be in the team when I reach the stadium. I don’t know what the lineup is.

    “That’s what I have always done and that’s what I am always going to do. It’s going to be the same tomorrow.”

  • Qatar 2022: Brazil beat Switzerland 1-0, qualify for round of 16

    Qatar 2022: Brazil beat Switzerland 1-0, qualify for round of 16

    Hard-fighting Selecao of Brazil kept it late before seeing off the Switzerland side 1-0 in a very interesting group H encounter.

    The Swiss  had a bit of joy in the first few minutes, causing Brazil a few issues with flicked first-time balls into the channels but none of it led to a goal.

    In the 13th minute, Brazil had an opportunity to score when Lucas Paqueta, sent Richarlison away for the first time. The Spurs striker breaks down the right but there’s a lack of numbers in the box and his ball toward Vinicius Junior was cut out by the Swiss defenders.

    First half ended goalless with both sides needing a win to make it to the round of 16.

    However, in the 65th minute, Vinicius Jr. thought he had put Brazil in front  but VAR intervened and saw his opener being chalked off because of an offside call in the build-up.

    However, luck smiled on Brazil when  Vinicius Junior  flicked the ball in for Casemiro, whose half-volley takes a nick off Manuel Akanji on its way into the far corner of the net inside 83rd minute of the encounter.

    Brazil eventually won the game 1-0 and qualified for the round of 16 at the Mundial.

  • Qatar 2022: Homeboy Embolo scores for Switzerland as they beat Cameroon 1-0

    Qatar 2022: Homeboy Embolo scores for Switzerland as they beat Cameroon 1-0

    The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon succumbed to the superior fire power of the Switzerland national team after losing 1-0 in Group G opener at the Al Janoub Stadium  in Qatar.

    Unfortunately for the indomitable Lions of Cameroon, it was their home boy Embolo who scored for the European nation.

    Switzerland score with their first shot on target. They move the ball across the pitch quickly, eventually reaching Shaqiri on the right, who slides a cross intoBreel  Embolo allowing him to tap in from six yards. Embolo didn’t celebrate his goal against his country of birth.

    Cameroon haven’t had the best time at WCs since Italia 90 with one victory and ten defeats in 15 games since the defeat against England.

    “Switzerland, on the other hand, are tough nut to crack – they rarely either win or lose inside 90 minutes at WCs (just four defeats in 15 games came inside 90 minutes).

    The result in Cameroon meant that no African team has scored a goal so far in the mundial.

    The last African team to play its opener is Ghana and they will slug it ot later today against the Selecao of Portugal.

  • My players were heroes in Spain defeat – Swiss coach

    My players were heroes in Spain defeat – Swiss coach

    Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic says they leave the Euros full of pride after their quarterfinal shootout defeat to Spain.

    An equaliser by captain Xherdan Shaqiri in the second half cancelled out an early own goal and sent the teams to extra time.

    Then in the shootout two of the Swiss penalty kicks were stopped by Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon while Ruben Vargas blazed over as the Swiss failed to repeat their heroics against France in the round of 16.

    “All these players were the heroes of the night. They would have deserved to go to the semi-finals,” Petkovic told a news conference. “I cannot complain and I take my hat off to the team.”

    Petkovic said he could not blame Vargas for hitting his penalty over the bar in the shootout, saying instead that his player had demonstrated mental strength by even taking a spot-kick after such a long and gruelling match.

    Manuel Akanji’s and Fabian Schar’s penalty kicks were both stopped by Simon.

    “We had to spend all our power and energy, and our energy ran out a little,” said Petkovic. “Penalty kicks are a lottery and we lost it.”

    Petkovic said he had not properly seen the tackle in the 77th minute that led to the red card against Remo Freuler – who had an assist for the Switzerland equaliser – but thought it had looked more like a minor foul.

    Freuler slid to win the ball back but caught Gerard Moreno in the process.

    “I question it a little bit, to be honest,” Petkovic said. “He (Freuler) maybe touched him a little.”

  • I’m sorry, I failed – Mbappe

    I’m sorry, I failed – Mbappe

    Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe apologised after blowing his penalty in their Euro 2020 round of 16 shootout defeat to Switzerland.

    Mbappe, who failed to score a goal during the entirety of the tournament, stepped up to take the fifth spot-kick with the underdogs having converted all of theirs, but his strike was parried away by Yann Sommer.

    “Very difficult to turn the page,” he wrote on social media. “The sadness is immense after this elimination, we could not reach our goal.

    “I’m sorry for this penalty. I wanted to help the team but failed.

    “Finding sleep will be difficult but unfortunately it is the ups and downs of this sport that I love so much.

    “I know you fans have been disappointed, but I still want to thank you for your support and for always believing in us.

    “The most important thing will be to get up even stronger for the next upcoming deadlines. Congratulations and good luck to Switzerland.”

  • Euro 2020: Italy becomes first team to reach last 16

    Euro 2020: Italy becomes first team to reach last 16

    In-form Italy became the first team to reach the knockout stage of the European Championship with another impressive Group A showing in victory over Switzerland.

    Roberto Mancini’s side thumped Turkey on the opening day of the tournament and made it back-to-back 3-0 wins courtesy of another sprightly performance in Rome.

    Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli scored twice, first by finishing off a move he started by tapping in from Domenico Berardi’s darting run and cutback.

    Italy’s passing and pressing was far superior to their opponents and Locatelli’s fizzing strike from the edge of the area underlined their control of the contest.

    Lazio striker Ciro Immobile’s long-range drive, which squirmed under goalkeeper Yann Sommer, completed a comprehensive victory late on.

    Switzerland barely threatened an Italian backline that has now gone 10 games without conceding in all competitions, a run approaching 1,000 minutes.

  • Nations League: Spain play draw after Ramos misses 2 penalty kicks

    Nations League: Spain play draw after Ramos misses 2 penalty kicks

    Spain captain Sergio Ramos missed two penalty kicks as Switzerland drew 1-1 with them in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday.

    Gerard Moreno came off the bench to grab a late equaliser for them to earn the draw.

    The result relegated Switzerland and Spain lost top spot in Group A4 to Germany, who earned a 3-1 win over Ukraine and lead the standings with nine points.

    Spain are second with eight points and must win Tuesday’s showdown at home to Joachim Loew’s side in order to progress to the final four.

    Ramos, who also became the most capped European player of all time, had scored all of his previous 25 penalty kicks.

    But he was thwarted when Yann Sommer guessed the right way and repelled his penalty kick in the 58th minute to preserve Switzerland’s lead.

    The hosts had taken the lead in the 23rd minute through a brilliant strike on the half volley from Remo Frueler.

    They could have doubled their advantage in the second half when Haris Seferovic rounded goalkeeper Unai Simon.

    But Ramos came to his side’s rescue and got back to clear the shot off the line.

    Spain then earned a second penalty kick in the 79th minute which led to Swiss defender Nico Elvedi being sent off for a second booking.

    However, Ramos was again outwitted by Sommer, who could not be fooled by the defender’s chipped ‘Panenka’ penalty kick and caught the ball.

    It is the first time Spain have missed two penalty kicks in one match.

    Substitute Moreno saved Ramos’ blushes in the 89th minute, lashing home a cross from Sergio Reguilon as Spain finally found a way past Sommer.

    This was after firing 20 shots at goal to Switzerland’s seven.

    “Football is like this, it’s a marvellous sport but sometimes it’s very unfair,” said Spain coach Luis Enrique.

    “We were lacking a bit of freshness but I think we played well even though we couldn’t do the most difficult thing, which is to score.

    “We deserved to win for our first half performance and for how we played in the second.”

  • Euro 2020: Switzerland revive chances with win, Ireland hopes hanging

    Euro 2020: Switzerland revive chances with win, Ireland hopes hanging

    Switzerland revived their hopes of qualifying directly for Euro 2020 with a nervous 2-0 win in rain-soaked Geneva on Tuesday which threw their group wide open.

    In the process they denied their opponents Ireland the chance to book their place early.

    Ireland would have qualified with a win but that never looked likely from the moment that Haris Seferovic gave Switzerland a 16th-minute lead.

    Ireland had a let-off when Ricardo Rodriguez saw a second-half penalty saved before an own goal by Shane Duffy in stoppage time ensured three points for the hosts.

    Ireland and Denmark top Group D on 12 points apiece with the Swiss one behind.

    However, Ireland have only one match left, at home to Denmark, while the Danes and Swiss still have two each to play.

    Switzerland have a much easier run-in as they host Georgia and visit Gibraltar in their final games.

    Switzerland took early control and Seferovic picked up a loose ball outside the penalty area and scored with a snapshot beyond Darren Randolph to put them ahead.

    Ireland had to wait 42 minutes for their first effort on target, a Duffy header from a corner which went straight to keeper Yann Sommer.

    Seferovic fired wildly over from a good position before halftime and, as the hosts became edgy, Ireland enjoyed a long period of pressure early in the second half.

    After Randolph turned a Fabian Schaer header onto the post, Switzerland won a penalty when Seamus Coleman blocked Breel Embolo’s shot with his hand and was sent off for a second bookable offence.

    Yet Rodriguez’s weak penalty from a stuttering run up was pushed onto the post by Randolph.

    Switzerland finally settled matters with the last kick of the game courtesy of Duffy, who slid Edimilson Fernandes’ shot into his own net.

    Georgia, who cannot qualify from the group, won 3-2 away to Gibraltar in the other game.

    Giorgi Kharaishvili and Jaba Kankava put Georgia 2-0 ahead after 21 minutes.

    But Gibraltar, still without a point, hit back to equalise through Lee Casciaro and Roy Chipolina in an eight-minute spell in the second half.

    It was all in vain, however, as Giorgi Kvilitaia grabbed Georgia’s winner six minutes from fulltime. (