Switzerland 0-0 Italy
Less than three months after their Euro 2020 group encounter, it was time for Switzerland and newly-crowned European champions Italy to lock horns again – this time in World Cup 2022 qualifying.
Both nations are hopeful of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Qatar, as the Group C table shows, and the victors in this knew they would certainly hold the upper hand to secure top spot and automatic qualification.
Italy were comfortable winners less than three months ago, but this was far from a straightforward task. Remember, the Swiss recovered to send world champions France out of Euro 2020 before being a penalty kick away from despatching Spain after being victims in what this SBOTOP observer described as a laughable sending-off.
Highlights of the game
Seeking World Cup qualifying highlights, it was a quick return to action for the Azzurri following a 1-1 draw against Bulgaria on Thursday, prompting manager Roberto Mancini to make four changes.
He brought in captain Giorgio Chiellini and Giovani Di Lorenzo for Francesco Acerbi and Alessandro Florenzi, while Manuel Locatelli replaced Marco Verratti, who sustained a knock to the knee in that game – Locatelli had actually scored twice when Italy beat Switzerland in the Euro 2020 group stage.
Switzerland have a new coach since the tournament with Murat Yakin replacing Vladimir Petkovic in the hot seat.
Captain Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri, Breel Embolo and suspended Atalanta midfielder Remo Freuler were among their absentees with Fabian Frei drafted in following Xhaka’s Covid test.
The chances that arrived were mainly Italy’s.
Nicolo Barella surged down the right and rolled the ball across for Ciro Immobile who shinned it high before Lorenzo Insigne fired just wide after a Locatelli ball.
The hosts were not without a few opportunities of their own mind with Manuel Akanji out-jumping Leonardo Bonucci and the ball going agonisingly close.
So often in recent years when I’ve covered games involving Switzerland or Inter Milan, one man has constantly impressed me.
That was the case again tonight as Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer showed his top-level ability by keeping out Insigne before half-time and then going even better after the break.
Straight after the restart and Immobile threaded the ball through to Domenico Berardi only for a last-ditch tackle from Ricardo Rodriguez to catch the Italian in the penalty area.
Up stepped Jorginho but Sommer smothered his spot-kick easily, the second penalty in a row the reliable penalty taker has failed to convert for the national team.
Despite that setback, the World Cup qualifying betting odds were still stacked in Italy’s favour against the understrength hosts only to be denied again by Sommer after Locatelli had found Insigne.
With time ticking, Sommer then had to palm an in-swinging corner off the line as the Italian pressure grew, although Switzerland still showed a glimpse of an attacking threat with Denis Zakaria turning Chiellini and rifling a shot which Euro 2020 hero Gianluigi Donnarumma tipped into the side-netting.
Four minutes of stoppage time followed and with no goals, Italy set a new European record.
They are now unbeaten in 36 games, taking them beyond Spain’s 35-match landmark from February 2007 to June 2009.
They are now five days short of going three years unbeaten.
A fine record for the European; a fine point for the Swiss.
Key statistics
Jorginho has failed to score a penalty (penalties shootout excluded) for the first time with Italy, after scoring each of the previous five.
Italy have a stellar record against Switzerland, securing 29 wins in 60 matches while only facing six defeats.
In 41 matches in charge of the Italian national team, Roberto Mancini has lost just twice (won 28, drawn 11).
What’s next?
Switzerland travel to Northern Ireland on Wednesday night (September 8), the same time as Italy host Lithuania.
The return Swiss fixture against Northern Ireland is then on October 9, three days after Italy meet Spain in the Nations League semi-finals, a repeat of their exciting Euro 2020 semi-final from Wembley in July.
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