That concludes our commentary of the Nations League fixture between Switzerland and Portugal! We hope you’ve enjoyed it!
Switzerland will start the next international break away at Spain in Nations League action on September 24. Portugal visit the Czech Republic on the same day.
Portugal were unable to find a goal despite 90 minutes of trying as Switzerland emerge from the Stade de Geneve with their first win of this season’s Nation’s League thanks to a 1-0 win over the Selecao. Seferovic’s first-minute strike was all it took for Yakin’s side to take home the three points despite a number of opportunities for the visitors. Omlin was at the top of his game, making a number of important parries and clean catches in order to foil the in-form Portugal attack. Cancelo, Jota and Fernandes all had opportunities to restore parity but a solid partnership between Akanji and Elvedi preserved the win and the clean sheet.
90' + 5' FULL-TIME: SWITZERLAND 1-0 PORTUGAL.
90' + 4' Mendes takes a long throw into the Swiss penalty area looking for one last chance but Elvedi smacks it away with his head.
90' + 2' Elvedi goes down inside his own penalty area, winning a free-kick after getting himself ahead of Andre Silva in pursuit of the ball. It's a clever set-piece earned by the resolute centre-back which Omlin will use to clear his lines.
90' The fourth official indicates four minutes will be added to the end of the match for stoppages.
88' Switzerland have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last five matches - since a 4-0 win over Bulgaria in World Cup qualifying. Alternately - Portugal have not been held goalless in their last six matches, since a 0-0 draw with the Republic of Ireland in November 2021.
86' Horta receives possession of the ball on the right corner of the penalty area but the substitute’s cross-cum-shot evades the head of Jota and goes behind narrowly for a goal-kick.
84' Jota bursts by Stergiou and Akanji but his centring pass for Bernardo Silva is intercepted at the last moment by Xhaka.
Ricardo Horta
Rúben Neves
82' One last roll of the dice for Portugal, who swap Neves with Horta.
J. Omlin
Yellow Card
80' Omlin is shown a yellow card for wasting time with 10 minutes to go.
L. Stergiou
R. Rodríguez
79' 20-year-old Stergiou comes on for his first senior appearance for the Swiss national side. Rodriguez is selected to make way.
M. Aebischer
D. Sow
79' Aebischer enters the match to add a bit of steel to the midfield - replacing Sow.
78' OMLIN TO THE RESCUE AGAIN! Guedes manages to keep the ball in play after Cancelo’s pass towards the byline before looping a cross to the far post. Jota rises with intent and hammers a low header towards goal but again the Switzerland goalkeeper is equal to it - getting down to his left to make a decisive punch.
76' Guedes charges towards the penalty area but a wild shot from distance fails to trouble Omlin, who gathers the loose ball slowly for a goal-kick.
Matheus Nunes
Bruno Fernandes
74' A disappointing evening for Fernandes comes to a close with 16 minutes left to go as Matheus is chosen to replace the Manchester United midfielder.
72' WHAT A CHANCE! Mendes again looks to hit a flat delivery to the far post for a team-mate and this time Guedes manages to latch onto the cross but his ensuing shot is sent directly into Omlin’s midriff.
70' It’s a wasted corner from Portugal as Fernandes takes it short to Mendes - who can only send a cross over the crossbar and directly out of play.
68' Bernardo Silva opts to strike a Portugal free-kick straight on target but Omlin is again equal to the challenge - catching the curling strike cleanly.
S. Zuber
B. Embolo
65' Zuber comes on for his 51st international cap - replacing Embolo with 24 minutes left to go.
65' Embolo stays down after having his leg stepped on by Neves in the aftermath of a tackle. The striker looks to be in some pain as the referee halts play.
63' Bernardo Silva immediately makes his impact felt, forcing a great save out of Omlin after striding forward and testing the goalkeeper with a strike from 20 yards.
Diogo Jota
Rafael Leão
62' Santos makes two attacking changes at one juncture as Milan's Leao is brought off for Liverpool's Jota.
Bernardo Silva
Vitinha
62' Bernardo Silva is on for Vitinha as Portugal continue to search for an equaliser.
61' Freuler takes the ensuing free-kick but the clipped set-piece is easily caught by Roma’s Patricio.
João Cancelo
Yellow Card
59' Cancelo is shown a yellow card for catching Embolo with a sliding challenge in midfield.
58' NOT QUITE FOR PORTUGAL! Mendes takes a touch on the left wing and fires a flat cross to the far post, which is missed by a lunging Fernandes at full stretch inside the six-yard box!
56' Portugal have scored at least two goals in each of their last three meetings with Switzerland; a run going back to 2017.
54' A chance for Switzerland goes begging as Steffen cuts inside from the right and finds the run of Sow, whose low, bouncing cross finds the feet of Seferovic. The striker opts to take a touch to set himself but he takes too long - inviting Pepe to come crashing through to clear the danger.
52' Cancelo’s nifty footwork opens a patch of space on the right wing ahead of Embolo but the full-back’s trivela is caught calmly by an alert Omlin.
50' GREAT SAVE! Mendes plays a pass into the channel for Silva, who takes a touch to put the ball on his stronger right foot before dispatching a low shot to the near corner. Omlin’s early dive takes him the wrong way but the goalkeeper manages to get two strong legs to the ball to prevent an equaliser.
48' Cancelo dinks a cross to the far post - drawing the frustration of Fernandes whose run through the middle left the Manchester United midfielder with no chance to attack the delivery.
46' Portugal get the match restarted from the kick-off!
R. Steffen
S. Widmer
46' Steffen takes over for Widmer at right-back as Yakin makes a change at the interval.
Gonçalo Guedes
Otávio
46' Guedes replaces Otavio in a half-time swap for Portugal.
An early injury to Shaqiri will somewhat hamstring Switzerland, though they still have a number of quality options to call upon. Should Yakin still wish to pursue a second goal, either Zuber or Gavranovic could be of service to stretch the match and hit on the counter. Portugal have no other option but to come forward in attack - with the likes of Jota and Bernardo Silva ready to make an impact from the bench.
The first half at the Stade de Geneve comes to a close with the hosts in front, thanks to Seferovic’s goal after just one minute. Getting the better of Pepe and Pereira, the striker took up a clever spot in the penalty area and was present to convert Widmer’s cross past a flailing Patricio. Despite being forced into attacking, Portugal have not troubled Omlin anywhere near enough - with Pereira’s saved header the only real opportunity for the Selecao. Switzerland have given their opponents chances though - denying the opportunity to close ranks and sit in, with Yakin apparently instructing his side to go out in search of a second.
45' + 3' HALF-TIME: SWITZERLAND 1-0 PORTUGAL.
45' + 1' The fourth official indicates two minutes will be added to the end of the first half for stoppages.
44' Mendes hoists a long throw-in into the penalty area looking for Pepe, who goes down after feeling a push in the back from Widmer. The full-back then clears the ball coolly as the referee allows play to continue.
42' Switzerland are refusing to sit back and see out the first half, with Yakin's side still pouring forward looking for a second goal. They've been afforded this opportunity by the rock solid defending of Elvedi and Akanji, who haven't put a foot wrong tonight.
40' Okafor plays a leading pass into the penalty area which Freuler does well to latch onto but Neves does minds his defensive responsibilities, charging back to get beside the Atalanta midfielder before shepherding the ball behind for a goal-kick.
38' Elvedi strides forward with confidence but his intentions aren’t read by his team-mates as the eventual cross hangs high in the air before rolling out on the other side for a throw-in.
36' With just under 10 minutes to go in the first half, Portugal have not done enough to test Omlin. With only Pereira’s close-range header a viable opportunity to score in the first 35 minutes - Santos will be thinking of changes he can make to the XI no doubt.
S. Widmer
Yellow Card
34' Widmer throws himself into a challenge to win the loose ball back from Fernandes but the Portugal midfielder is there quicker, receiving a sliding kick to his foot for his efforts. It’s a yellow card for the Swiss left-back for his late tackle.
32' Cancelo’s cross finds the outstretched foot of Silva on the penalty spot but Akanji and Elvedi converge to squeeze the striker off the ball for Omlin to gather.
30' Akanji steps towards the centre-circle and launches a pass long over the top for the run of Seferovic but Pereira marks him well and beats the striker to the aerial ball.
28' Fernandes finds Cancelo with a cross-field pass but the Manchester City full-back is unable to put in a quality delivery despite working acres of space ahead of the lagging Rodriguez.
26' Seferovic became the first Swiss player to score for the national team in the first minute of playing time since Alain Sutter in 1988 (against Luxembourg in the World Cup qualifiers). Never before has a player scored that early in a Nations League match.
24' A pass back from Rodriguez puts Omlin in a spot of bother following a poor first touch but the goalkeeper makes amends with a lovely follow-up effort, putting the ball behind his legs and shrugging off the pressing Silva before playing a switch out to the opposite flank.
N. Okafor
X. Shaqiri
22' Confirmation of the enforced substitution 22 minutes into the match as Shaqiri makes way for Okafor.
21' Okafor looks to be warming up as Shaqiri takes a knee off the ball, going down before signalling for a substitution. It seems the forward won’t be able to carry on after a potential tweak to his hamstring.
19' Rodriguez corrals a switch of play on the left wing but his pass inside for Sow is a tired one that’s intercepted by the wily Pepe, who then proceeds to win a free-kick which will clear the danger.
17' GREAT SAVE! Fernandes sends a Portugal corner-kick looping to the far post where it’s met by Neves, who nods it back across the face of goal. Pereira sends a powerful header from point-blank range towards the goalkeeper but Omlin manages to parry the ball away from danger!
15' NO PENALTY! After having a couple of looks at the incident, the referee decides that Elvedi’s attempt to win the ball from Silva was not a fair challenge and points the other way - giving Portugal a free-kick in midfield!
Danilo Pereira
Yellow Card
13' Pereira is shown a yellow card for dissent following the referee's initial decision of a penalty.
13' POTENTIAL PENALTY TO SWITZERLAND! Elvedi wins the ball back high in Portugal’s half before finding Shaqiri on the right wing. The talisman steps inside and fires a cross into the area with his left boot which clearly makes contact with the hand of Mendes. Portugal are protesting a foul in the build-up which has caused the referee to go over to the monitor to have a look.
11' Neves scoops a cross into the six-yard box which invites Omlin to step off his line. Otavio challenges for the cross and forces the goalkeeper to go up and over the forward - causing the winger a bit of distress.
9' This time Leao gets the better of Widmer inside Switzerland’s penalty area but Elvedi comes across to help his team-mate and force a poor cross that Omlin deals with comfortably.
7' Leao attempts to take Widmer on down the flank but the full-back shows his quality on the defensive end as well, taking up a good position before forcing the ball behind for a goal-kick.
5' Mendes’ corner from the right is met by a powerful Pepe header but an unwitting defender manages to get just enough of a block to the ball to prevent Omlin from action.
3' Seferovic will be especially pleased with his early opener for Switzerland, after his seventh-minute goal against the Selecao last week was chalked off for a handball. This time however, the goal will stand as Yakin’s side net for the first time since June 2.
S. Widmer
Assist
1' Widmer's inch-perfect cross is the assist for the opening goal.
H. Seferović
Goal
1' IT’S AN EARLY GOAL FOR SWITZERLAND! 1-0! What a start for the hosts! Widmer is played down the right flank after a leading pass from Shaqiri, latching onto the ball and firing a cross to the edge of the six-yard box. Seferovic slightly mistimes his jump but it won’t matter as he tucks his effort away at the far post!
1' Switzerland get the match underway from the kick-off!
Portugal make seven changes to XI that beat the Czech Republic 2-0 on Thursday. Patricio takes over from Costa at goalkeeper while Mendes is in for the uninvolved Raphael Guerreiro at left-back. Two alterations in midfield see Fernandes and Otavio selected over Carvalho and Bernardo Silva while a completely changed attack sees Leao, Silva and Vitinha in for Guedes, Jota and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Switzerland make four changes from their 1-0 loss to Spain three days ago. Omlin replaces Sommer between the posts while Elvedi is preferred to Comert in defence. Sow gets the nod ahead of Aebischer in midfield and Zuber makes way for Seferovic in the attack.
PORTUGAL SUBS: Domingos Duarte, William Carvalho, Bernardo Silva, Joao Palhinha, Ricardo Horta, David Carmo, Rui Silva, Diogo Costa, Diogo Jota, Diogo Dalot, Goncalo Guedes, Matheus.
PORTUGAL XI (4-3-3): Rui Patricio; Nuno Mendes, Danilo Pereira, Pepe, Joao Cancelo; Otavio, Ruben Neves, Bruno Fernandes; Vitinha, Andre Silva, Rafael Leao.
SWITZERLAND SUBS: Michel Aebischer, Renato Steffen, Mario Gavranovic, Fabian Schar, Yann Sommer, Mohamed Zeki Amdouni, Eray Comert, Steven Zuber, Yvon Mvogo, Noah Okafor, Fabian Frei, Leonidas Stergiou.
Switzerland XI (4-3-3): Jonas Omlin; Silvan Widmer, Manuel Akanji, Nico Elvedi, Ricardo Rodriguez; Remo Freuler, Granit Xhaka, Djibril Sow; Xherdan Shaqiri, Haris Seferovic, Breel Embolo.
With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, let’s take a look at how the sides are lining up - starting with our hosts!
An in-form Portugal side take to the Stade de Geneve looking for their third Nations League win in four matches. Top of the group by two points before the start of play today, Fernando Santos will be looking for a similar display to that of last Sunday - though the Selecao coach will be without a number of key veterans including Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Moutinho.
Bottom of the group without a point, Switzerland’s winless run was extended to five matches on Thursday following their narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Spain. Murat Yakin’s side have failed to score a goal in their last pair of matches and are tasked today with earning a result against Portugal - the side they lost 4-0 to just seven days ago.
Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the Nations League group A2 fixture between Switzerland and Portugal!
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