Plenty o’ pain in Spain after Swiss stunner

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This article was published 17/06/2010 (5952 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DURBAN, South Africa — That indefinable but unmistakable roar, the emotionally charged fission tthat signifies the slaying of a giant, reverberated around the Moses Mabhida Stadium at the final whistle.

Swiss hero Gelson Fernandes sank to his knees and pointed gratefully to the heavens as he scored the lone goal on Wednesday at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, giving Switzerland a huge 1-0 upset over heavily favoured Spain.

In the stands, men and women wrapped in Swiss flags danced and kissed and clanged Swiss cowbells as if awakening neighbours to a four-alarm fire.

Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas, disconsolate, walked slowly from the pitch but still stopped to offer conquering coach Ottmar Hitzfeld a light pat of congratulations on the cheek.

An incredible sight.

But oh, the pain in Spain.

"Today wasn’t our day," said Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque objectively. "We have two games ahead of us. We have to find a way to win them."

From the funky clubs on las Ramblas to the elegant byways of Madrid to the winding cobblestone streets of Toledo and the Alhambra in Granada, the reaction will be one of shock, disbelief. Mighty Spain, the reigning European champions, beaten 1-0 by a country more renowned for its chocolate, peace-loving ways, watches and founding the Red Cross than its soccer.

The headline in the UK’s Daily Mirror said it all: Tobler-Owned!

Statistically, the game wasn’t close. Ball possession, 63 per cent to 37. Shots at goal, 25-6. Shots on goal, 8-3. Corners, 12-3. All, heavy advantage Spain.

But the Swiss, despite missing influential striker Alexander Frei and seeing key defender Philippe Senderos hobble off after only 16 minutes, defended with aplomb. They were under siege, yes, but showed no panic and no jangling nerves, particularly after assuming the shocking lead. It would’ve been easy to go to pieces under the relentless interrogation of the Spanish attack.

Not everyone was unduly impressed.

"They played a defensive game and tried to take advantage of any counter-attack and dead-ball situation,” said Del Bosque. "I feel it’s an excessive prize for them considering the football they displayed… but they did play well in defence.”

To the delight of Swiss fans and neutrals and the bewilderment of the Spanish, Fernandes bundled the ball over the goal-line in the 52nd minute after Eren Derdiyok had rounded Casillas on one of the underdog’s rare forays upfield. Defender Gerard Pique dove in to deny Derdiyok, suffering a cut to left eye in the process, but Fernandes was handy to mop up.

"It’s a sensational moment for the team and the country,” said the newest national hero, a midfielder for French team St. Etiene. "To be fair, I’m not used to scoring goals, so I was a bit surprised. It was a bit of luck.”

Now, if Switzerland does its remaining business and bests both Honduras and Chile, the Spanish can anticipate a knockout match against their rivals and favourites in this tournament, Brazil.

That would come startlingly early, in the round of 16. And have only themselves to blame.

Spain had only won 27 of its 28 matches, the lone blemish a 2-0 loss to the U.S. at last summer’s Confederations Cup here in South Africa. They’d gone unbeaten against European opposition in an astounding 37 games, 34 of those wins and 19 on the trot.

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Stunned by the Fernandes goal, Spain, blessed with more offensive creativity than any other nation on earth, ratcheted up their urgency in search of an equalizer.

Xabi Alonso cracked a thunderbolt off the crossbar in the 70th minute. Substitute Jesus Navas blistered a half-volley a butterfly’s wing-wide of the far post. Andres Iniesta curled a shot just over the crossbar.

Xabi released Fernando Torres, on as a substitute, approaching full-time but his first touch was heavy and the chance went wanting.

The Swiss goal came out of virtually nowhere.

— Canwest News Service