Iceland 1-2 Switzerland
It wasn’t the humiliation of just over a month ago but an overall score of 8-0 over two UEFA Nations League contests tells its own story.
Switzerland can still top Group A2 while all SBOBET supporters knew before this that Iceland were destined for bottom spot.
Highlights of the game
It took 52 minutes for the deadlock to be broken in Laugardalsvollur but then two goals in 15 minutes ended Icelandic hopes.
First Haris Seferovic headed home after a cross from Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, the new Swiss captain – even though that decision has not been to everyone’s liking.
Then another English Premier League man, XherdanShaqiri, turned provider to allow Michael Lang to fire into the bottom right-hand corner from close range.
Iceland have not kept a clean sheet for more than a year and, after their encouraging draw with world champions France last week, this was another setback.
Sure, Alfred Finnbogason reduced the arrears with nine minutes remaining with a shot from outside the box into the top left-hand corner – one of the UEFA Nations League 2018 highlights so far and well worth watching – but it wasn’t enough.
This was hardly the revenge Iceland had hoped to inflict on the Swiss in rainy Reykjavik after their capitulation last month against the same opponents.
It is known Iceland can compete with the best on home turf, and they certainly held their own in the first half.
After an early Mario Gavranovic effort was blocked, talisman Gylfi Sigurdsson called visiting goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo into action before Johann Berg Gudmundsson saw an effort blocked.
Sigurdsson again tested Mvogo on the half hour as Iceland came closest to scoring with Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson also heading narrowly wide and Gudmundsson seeing another effort blocked as the half drew to a close.
Switzerland started the second half stronger and, just after Kari Arnason went close, Seferovic broke the deadlock and dented Icelandic confidence.
Looking for an immediate response, Sigurdsson set up Arnor Ingvi Traustason whose shot was kept out as the game opened up.
Unlike the Swiss, the hosts were, at least, getting most of their efforts on target but the next goal was always going to be key and, after Finnbogason went close with a header, Lang settled the contest at the other end.
Prompted by Sigurdsson, the spirited home side pressed on and were rewarded when they pulled one back.
However, Arnason and Birkir Bjarnason were both denied a leveller before the latter fired just wide and, once Fabian Schaer cleared off the line and Mvogo tipped over another Sigurdsson effort, it was clear there was to be no share of the spoils.
The final whistle confirmed Iceland would go down to the second tier of this competition.
It’s a difficult time for home coach Erik Hamren who is struggling – as many would – to get the national team on song and replicate the form of the last two years.
Two years in which they have reached new heights, including progressing to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 (with victories over England and a draw with European champions Portugal) and ensuring a nation which has just three months of sunlight each year rose 91 places in the FIFA rankings.
During the same period, the Swiss have been pretty steady without pulling up many trees and are back on top of the group – for now at least.
Key statistics
Iceland have now not won for virtually a year. Their last victory came in January with a 4-1 friendly success over Indonesia.
Their last win of any note was a World Cup qualifier in October last year when they saw off Turkey 3-0.
Switzerland have scored in 10 of their 12 matches in 2018, including against the likes of big hitters Belgium, Brazil and Spain. The only nations they have failed to find the net against are England and Sweden (in the World Cup last 16).
After their first three games in the group, Iceland have no points and a goal difference of minus 10.
This was Mvogo’s international debut for Switzerland – he was born in Cameroon.
What’s next?
The UEFA Nations League 2018 betting odds were always against them and Iceland are now further adrift at the bottom of their group.
They travel to Belgium on November 15 before finishing off their 2018 programme four days later with a friendly in Qatar.
Switzerland also play Qatar (November 14) in a friendly before hosting Belgium on November 18 for a game which will almost certainly determine who finishes top of the group.
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