U-21 Playoffs: Mighty Spain bows to Switzerland

An extraordinary result that in many ways compensates for the disappointments Swiss football has had to experience these past two months: in the first leg of the playoffs for the Swedish 2009 Euro U-21 the young “Nati” came from behind to defeat a tough Spanish side 2-1 in Aarau.

Switzerland – Spain 2:1 (1:1)
Brügglifeld, Aarau. – 2500 Spectators. – Referee Gumienny (Bel).
Goals: 18. Busquets 0:1. 26. Vonlanthen 1:1. 51. Nikci 2:1.
Switzerland: Sommer; Thiesson, Barmettler, Ferati, Ziegler; Schwegler; Nikci (91. Frank Feltscher), Fabian Lustenberger (62. Stocker), Zambrella, Crettenand; Vonlanthen (89. Ural).
Spain: Asenjo; Torres, Javi Garcia, Piqué, Canella; Busquets (67. Suarez), Raul Garcia; Sisi, Jurado (72. Xisco), Mata; Bojan.

Following the impressive win over the holders, the Netherlands, in the group stage (which meant that Switzerland qualified for the playoffs in place of the Dutch) Switzerland U-21, despite the many injured and absent players, has triumphed once more.
The Spanish selection is among the most talented in the European competition: the likes of Bojan, Xisco, Piqué, Asenjo and Javi Garcia overshadow local stars Zambrella, Vonlanthen, Lustenberger and Ziegler.

Logically, then, it was the Spanish who took the early advantage on a corner through Busquets. Yet Switzerland kept on attacking, building pressure on the Spanish rearguard and drew level through Vonlanthen, with Zambrella’s assist. The first-half ended with a 1-1 score and the second half began with an embarrassing Swiss superiority that logically led to the winning goal scored by Nicki on a Crettenand free-kick. However, the Spaniards did not give up and tried to score the crucial second goal but FC Vaduz’s keeper Yann Sommer and the Swiss defence were up to the task. Now Switzerland will have to face a terrible second leg in Spain knowing that they have the means to qualify for the tournament and be a major surprise! Spain is the only team to have won every single game of their group stage and this is the first game where they’ll have to go home with no points at all!

A video of the game can be found here (in French)