The Czech Republic beats Switzerland and waits for Spain as leader

The Czech Republic defeated Switzerland (2-1) in Prague in a match marked by the defensive fragility of both teams and will host Spain on Sunday as leader of Group 2 of League A of the Nations League. La Roja drew against Portugal (1-1) on this first day.

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Switzerland was able to advance in the 10th minute with a great ball into the gap by Ruben Vargas that left Breel Embolo alone, but former Sevilla player Tomas Vaclik, now at Olympaicos, covered the Borussia M’gladbach striker’s shot in his one-on-one .

Switzerland give away 1-0

Murat Yakin’s selection not only forgave the 0-1. He also gave away the 1-0 on the next play after a serious defensive error. Vladimir Coufal took a long throw-in that Nico Elvedi misjudged first and after dribbling he also surprised Fabian Schar, who allowed Jan Kuchta to only have to put his leg on the far post to push the ball into the net (11′). It is the first international goal for the Lokomotiv Moscow striker.

Switzerland continued to concede a lot in defense and luckily their goalkeeper Yann Sommer prevented Jakub Jankto from making it 2-0 with two saves.

okfor tie

The Czechs left their rival alive and Switzerland equalized just before the break through Noah Okafor, who took advantage of the lack of defensive forcefulness to gain a foothold and shoot Vaclik high (44′).

Switzerland even had the opportunity to take the lead early in the second half on a counterattack, but Vaclik prevented it by taking Vargas’ cross (46′).

Another joke goal

But the Swiss did not correct their errors at the rear and, after a shot at the post by Coufal from outside the area from a corner (55′), it was 2-1 in circumstances as surreal as 1-0. Jankto put in a cross from the right that Djibril Siw deflected and went directly into the goal against an incredulous Sommer, who was misled by the fact that Kuchta tried to shoot and did not touch the ball (56′).

Vaclik secures the three points

The game was open at all times since the Czech defense is not to fire rockets either apparently today and left spaces. Switzerland pressed until the end and had options to equalize, such as a shot by Silvan Widmer that took out an outstanding Vaclik (66′), a shot by Embolo that made the local goalkeeper shine again (69′) and a chopped shot by Granit Xhaka that licked the crossbar already in discount, but the 2-1 no longer moved.

As a curiosity, the German referee Daniel Siebert was injured and had to be replaced in the 70th minute by the fourth referee Harim Osmers.