Switzerland against Lithuania with a mini win

In qualifying for the World Cup, Switzerland fulfilled the second mandatory task with the minimum. In St. Gallen, she beat flagrant outsider Lithuania 1-0. Xherdan Shaqiri scored the goal in the second minute.

The result of the duel with the clearly weaker opponent in the qualifying group on paper was disappointingly even. But the 1-0 victory was enough to keep the Swiss on track for the first time in eliminating the World Cup. Together with favorite Italy, they lead with six points from two games. However, like Thursday against Bulgaria, the Swiss missed something to do on goal difference. In this secondary division they are one goal away from the Italians.

But only: the Swiss will go to the next qualifying match for the World Cup in September and after the final of the European Championship with the maximum number of points. At that point, he no longer expects a mandatory task and no inferior opponents: he will then play against Italy at home.

The first surprise was the eve of the game. A few minutes before kick-off, the Finnish referee realized that one of the goals was too high. However, as the SFV announced later, the bar on the right side increased by about four inches during the inning. It was measured, pulled, pushed, but in the end the goal had to be replaced. The game could only start with an 18 minute delay.

Another fast start for the Swiss

The slap on the door caused head shakes, smiles, and slight confusion. However, obviously, he did not interrupt the Swiss team. The SFV selection did not allow any delay in the game that night; led 1-0 after just 85 seconds. Lithuanian Martynas Dapkus made a terrible bad pass in front of his own penalty area, Breel Embolo passed hard to Xherdan Shaqiri, and the Liverpool pro hit his weaker right foot with a low shot into the far corner.

Like three days before in Bulgaria, it was the tailor-made Swiss departure, only without the immediate forceful continuation as in Sofia. Sure, the Swiss continued to dominate, never risking losing the game. They also created opportunities, but lacked a lot of verve against the limited opponent to bring the advantage to a level that would put the difference between the two teams in the correct proportion on the scoreboard.

Despite his clear superiority, only one goal

Yes, the Swiss even had to experience a moment of shock when the guests lost the tie by a hair immediately after the break after a corner kick. It continued to be one of the rare episodes in the Swiss penalty area. The event continued to unfold in the middle of the square for the Lithuanians. And so the Swiss basically worked for 90 minutes on an opponent who was unwilling and unable to make his contribution to at least rudimentary open play.

Lithuania, the only 129th in the FIFA rankings, was at least one opponent who took the defense after a passive start and knew how to close the space in front of their own penalty area. The Swiss are to be blamed for making an unusually large number of simple errors in the opposing zone. He started with loose balls, went through the tricky paths of the forwards and ended with the last few inaccurate passes.

In the end, statistics such as 64 percent ball possession, 21 shots on goal and 14 corners remained a pattern of little value. Because Steven Zuber only hit the post in the final stages and Denis Zakaria shot past the near-empty arc, for example, he actually came in at a meager 1-0.

Switzerland – Lithuania 1: 0 (1: 0)

Kybunpark, St. Gallen. – No spectators. – SR Gestranius (FIN). – Goal: 2nd Shaqiri (Embolo) 1-0.

Schweiz: Sommer; Elvedi, Akanji, Rodríguez; Widmer (65. Fernandes), Freuler (66. Zakaria), Xhaka, Vargas (79. Zuber); Shaqiri (80. Mehmedi); Embolo (65. Gavranovic), Seferovic.

Lithuania: Svedkauskas; Mikolun, Gaspuitis, Beneth, Whitun; Simkus; Novikov, Dapkus, Slivka (75th Eliosius), Lasickas (58th Laukzemis); Cernych (81. Petravicius).

Comments: Switzerland without Schär, Steffen and Omeragic (all injured). 9. Akanji heads to the post. 84th Post Shot Zuber. Warning: 42º Cernych (unsportsmanlike conduct).