The highly anticipated match between Spain and Switzerland began on a solemn note, as both teams observed a moment of silence to honor the victims of the Valencia flood. The respectful tribute set the tone for a game that would unfold with dramatic twists and turns.
As the whistle blew, the action commenced with Spain looking to assert their dominance early. In the sixth minute, Nico Williams stepped up to take a free-kick but failed to hit the target. A few minutes later, the winger made another attempt, breaking downfield to unleash a long-range effort, but his shot sailed high over the bar.
Switzerland maintained their defensive composure, but the game sparked to life in the 32nd minute. Pedri missed a crucial penalty after a strong Spanish attack, but his teammate Yeremy Pino reacted quickly, firing a shot from a tight angle to give Spain a 1-0 lead. The celebration was momentarily overshadowed by concern for Pedri, who was left in visible pain following a harsh challenge. Thankfully, the midfield maestro recovered and continued playing.
The second half began with both teams determined to make an impact. Switzerland had a golden opportunity in the 49th minute when Monteiro found himself in front of goal, but his effort went wide, leaving his teammates in disbelief. Spain responded with Fabián Ruiz testing Swiss goalkeeper Mvogo, who made a solid save in the 57th minute. Moments later, Nico Williams had another chance to double Spain’s lead, but Mvogo once again denied him.
The game took a new turn in the 60th minute as Bryan Gil replaced Nico Williams, while Switzerland brought on Sierro for Xhaka. Just three minutes later, Monteiro redeemed himself for his earlier miss, leveling the score at 1-1 with a well-taken goal. However, the Swiss celebrations were short-lived. In the 68th minute, Spain’s substitute Bryan Gil proved his worth, firing home his first international goal to restore Spain’s lead at 2-1.
As the clock ticked down, the drama intensified. Spain made another substitution in the 82nd minute, bringing on Pablo Barrios to replace the industrious Pedri. However, in the 85th minute, Switzerland was handed a lifeline when Zeqiri calmly converted a penalty to equalize, making it 2-2 and setting up a nervy finale.
The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time. In the 93rd minute, Zaragoza won a penalty for Spain and stepped up to take it himself. Displaying remarkable composure, he slotted it past Mvogo to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory for Spain.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, showcasing moments of brilliance, resilience, and drama. Spain’s ability to respond to adversity and capitalize on key moments ultimately saw them edge past a spirited Swiss side.
