Spain rocked as Swiss stand firm

SWITZERLAND celebrated the greatest victory in their history and one of the biggest World Cup upsets of all time by beating a seemingly invincible Spain in Durban yesterday.

Gelson Fernandes, the midfielder cast aside by Manchester City a year ago, scored the only goal at the Moses Mabhida stadium to record his country’s first victory over the Spanish, who had qualified for the finals with a perfect ten wins in ten games.

The Spanish have been heavily tipped by many pundits, even ahead of favourites Brazil, but they once again lived up to their reputation as chokers on the world’s biggest stage.

While they looked to have shaken off the unfortunate reputation of perennial under-achievers by winning the European Championship two years ago, and could boast a record of only one defeat in 45 games before kick-off, old anxieties have resurfaced about Spain’s failure in this tournament.

They have never progressed beyond the quarter-finals, and the omens are not good. Only once have the reigning European Champions gone on to win the World Cup, when West Germany completed that double in 1974, and more worryingly for Spain, no team has gone on to win the trophy after losing their opening game.

As Vicente del Bosque, their coach said afterwards: “It’s not a good omen and it’s not a good sign that we gave to the rest of the teams and the football world.

“I am very upset. But we have to face up to our next games and try to win.” Switzerland’s victory came against the run of play as well as against the odds. Spain, with Fernando Torres on the substitute’s bench for an hour, dominated possession from first to last, but they could not penetrate a ferociously stubborn Switzerland defence, where goalkeeper Diego Benaglio was outstanding.

The Swiss even survived the loss of central defender Philippe Senderos, the former Arsenal defender, who limped off with ankle ligament damage in the 36th minute and may miss the next two games.

That news could not dampen the excitement in the Swiss camp, with their normally lugubrious German coach Ottmar Hitzfeld barely able to hide his pleasure.

“It is a great feeling to start with three unexpected points against one of the biggest contenders. I am very pleased,” he said.

“If you go out to attack Spain you will lose out. We were well organised and did not allow them many chances. We were not shaken, not trembling.

“That gave us confidence while making the Spaniards more nervous.”

Fernandes, who spent two largely unsuccessful seasons at Manchester City after being one of Sven Goran Eriksson’s first signings, was even more effusive.

“It wasn’t the best goal that I have ever scored but certainly it was the most important,” said the player of Portuguese descent, for whom this victory was especially pleasing,

“I can hardly take it in. It’s a very special moment for the country, an historic moment.”

Spain, meanwhile, are now bottom of Group H and if they finish as runners-up, will probably face Brazil in the first knockout round.

On this form they could not fancy their chances.