Spain, despite going down to 10 men, secured their first win since lifting the Euro 2024 title with a dominant 4-1 victory over Switzerland in their Nations League match on Sunday.
Match Highlights
- Early Dominance: Spain’s Joselu opened the scoring with a header in the fourth minute, and Fabian Ruiz doubled the lead in the 13th minute. Despite a red card for defender Robin Le Normand in the 20th minute, Spain maintained their control.
- Switzerland’s Response: Zeki Amdouni scored for Switzerland in the 41st minute, giving the hosts hope. However, Ruiz struck again in the 77th minute, and Ferran Torres added a fourth goal three minutes later to seal the win.
- Match Conditions: The game was played in challenging conditions at the Stade de Genève, where the rain-soaked pitch was in poor condition, with grass plagued by fungus.
Game Overview
Spain’s victory came after a frustrating goalless draw with Serbia in their Nations League opener and follows their Euro 2024 triumph. Switzerland, on the other hand, had suffered a 2-0 defeat to Denmark in their first match of the Nations League campaign.
Key Moments:
- Joselu’s Opening Goal: Former Newcastle and Alavés striker Joselu, now at Al-Gharafa, scored a header from Lamine Yamal’s cross. The goal was confirmed by VAR after initially being ruled out.
- Fabian Ruiz’s Impact: Ruiz scored Spain’s second goal, blasting in the rebound from Nico Williams’ shot. He later added a second goal with a tap-in after Ferran Torres’ cross.
- Red Card for Le Normand: Spain’s Le Normand was sent off in the 20th minute for a foul on Breel Embolo. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Spain’s defense held strong.
- Amdouni’s Response: Amdouni scored for Switzerland shortly before halftime, but his second effort in the 48th minute was disallowed for a foul.
Spain’s Tactical Approach:
- Defensive Solidity: Despite being a man down, Spain’s defense, led by goalkeeper David Raya, effectively thwarted Switzerland’s attempts to level the score.
- Counter-Attacking Success: Ferran Torres, who came on as a substitute, played a crucial role in sealing the victory with a goal and an assist.
Standings Update
Denmark leads UEFA Nations League A Group 4 with six points after a 2-0 win over Serbia earlier on Sunday. Spain’s win moves them into a stronger position as they continue their title defense.
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