The day after Germany’s show of force over Scotland (5-1), Switzerland, which finished its match significantly less well than it started, nevertheless confirmed its rank as second force of this group A by beating a Hungary which will already be on a wire against the host country this Wednesday.
Duah, Aebischer and Embolo: Murat Yakin’s winning choices
Criticized to the point that the Swiss federation was forced last November to formalize his continued position in a press release even though he had just achieved his objective by qualifying the Nati, Murat Yakin is not always easy to follow. And his decision to communicate a first group of… 38 players at the end of May did nothing to increase his popularity rating.
Which does not prevent the former defender from charting his course, he who emerges strengthened from this victory which bears his signature. Rather than Xherdan Shaqiri (123 caps, 31 goals) and Zeki Amdouni who played this season under Vincent Kompany at Burnley and who changed everything during the friendly against Estonia (a goal and an assist), the technician preferred Michel Aebischer and Kwadwo Duah. Rightly, decisive passer for the Ludogorets attacker whom he masterfully served by piercing the Hungarian central defense (12th), the Bologna midfielder opened his counter in the selection with a nice curling right shot just before the break ( 45th). And Yakin’s choice to throw Breel Embolo at the end also paid off: the Monaco striker, victim of a cruciate ligament rupture last summer, marked his return with a goal scored despite the loss of his knee brace ( 90+3).
The beautiful story: Duah should not have been there
His presence in the 26 where he was notably preferred to Genko’s Andi Zeqiri, the last player excluded by Yakin, had already surprised. His tenure “because Embolo is not ready to start” according to his coach, even more. But what about its goal?
At 27, Kwadwo Duah is experiencing the best weeks of his career which took a long time to take off. Born in London to Ghanaian parents who later moved to Switzerland, the striker trained at Young Boys Berne where he never broke through. After stints at Xamax or Servette, Duah ended up discovering the elite at the age of 23 at Saint-Gall where he scored 24 times in two seasons. Enough to attract the attention of Nuremberg where he only stayed for a year, scoring 11 goals in German D2. Before landing last summer at Ludogorets where he took over from a certain Igor Thiago, signing the most prolific season of his career (15 goals) which found an extension in the selection.
He who had known call-ups among the young people was called up for the first time to the A at the end of May, experiencing against Estonia by being released at half-time a sluggish baptism which did not bode well for what he has. lived against the Hungarians. With a goal full of composure celebrated in style Jude Bellingham.
The number: Varga’s 36th
If his header flirted with Sommer’s amount (63rd), Barnabas Varga did not miss his second opportunity of the match. At the origin of an action that he himself concluded after a delightful cross from Dominik Szoboszlai, the Ferencvaros striker reignited the flame of hope on the Hungarian side (66th). Marking in passing his 36th goal of the season, he who has scored 29 for club and therefore 7 in 10 matches with his selection. In vain.
Datasheet
Hungary: Gulasci; Lang (46th Bolla), Orban, Szalai (80th Dardai); Fiola, Nagy (67th Kleinheisler), Schafer, Kerkez (79th Adam); Sallai, Szboszlai; Varga.
Swiss : Sommer; Schär, Akanji, Rodriguez; Widmer (68th Stergiou), Xhaka, Freuler (86th Sierra), Ndoye (86th Rieder); Aebischer, Vargas (73rd Embolo); Duah (68th Amdouni).
Arbitrator : Mr. Vincic (Slo).
Warnings: Widmer, Freuler, Szalai, Fiola.
The goals : 12th Duah (0-1), 45th Aebischer (0-2), 66th Varga (1-2), 90th+3 Embolo (1-3).
: Yakin’s successful bets, the Duah surprise and the vain efficiency of Varga){kind=link}