Swedes edge Swiss to reach last 8
Print Edition
A DEFLECTED shot from Emil Forsberg gave Sweden a 1-0 victory over Switzerland in a dull World Cup last-16 match in St Petersburg yesterday, sending the Scandinavians through to a quarterfinal against either Colombia or England.
Switzerland had the lion’s share of possession but was toothless in attack, and bowed out in dispiriting fashion after registering four shots on target over 90 minutes, none of which unduly tested Robin Olsen in the Swedish goal.
Boos and whistles rang around the St Petersburg Stadium as early as the 25th minute, with both Swedish and Swiss fans alike left irate by the shoddy display.
The teams went into the interval locked in a goalless stalemate, with Sweden just about shading its opponent in terms of the quality of the few clear chances created.
Marcus Berg forced a fine save from Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer in the 27th, and Albin Ekdal squandered an excellent chance when he volleyed over the bar after getting on the end of a cross from Mikael Lustig.
At the other end, Blerim Dzemaili wasted Switzerland’s best chance when he fired over from 12 meters.
The second half started in a similarly stultifying manner, with play bogged down in midfield and both sides looking to be inching inevitably towards extra time and a penalty shootout until Forsberg struck in the 66th to inject a flicker of life into the contest.
Picking up a pass on the edge of the penalty area, the RB Leipzig midfielder shifted the ball to his right foot and struck a low shot that deflected off defender Manuel Akanji’s foot and past the wrong-footed keeper.
Switzerland came to life after the goal but Sweden defended stoutly and looked threatening on the counter-attack.
It broke through the Swiss cordon in added time when the substitute Martin Olsson was released into space and brought down just outside the box.
The referee first awarded a penalty but then changed his mind after consulting the video assistant referee to award a free kick, but Sommer saved Ola Toivonen’s effort.
Meanwhile, Brazil’s steady progress into the quarterfinals has marked it out as one of the favorite, but the title talk has been drowned out in much of the world by a debate over Neymar’s play acting.
Neymar turned in his best performance of the tournament so far against Mexico on Monday, scoring one goal and setting up the other in the 2-0 win.
However, the chat online and in the media has focused not only on his football but on his diving and in particular one moment in the 72nd when he writhed about after Mexican Miguel Layun appeared to step on his ankle. The incident was clearly meant to wind Neymar up, and Layun was lucky to escape punishment.
But he didn’t look to have put pressure on Neymar’s leg, and the player’s delayed and exaggerated response was the subject of heated debate, especially coming after similarly petulant displays in earlier matches.
Outside Brazil, fans and former players condemned the Paris Saint-Germain player, with Denmark’s Peter Schmeichel calling his antics “disgraceful,” and former England striker Alan Shearer tweeting “STOP IT. We are fed up of it”.
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