A3: Switzerland 2 - 0 Portugal - 15/06/08

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Game over! 2-0.

Switzerland have beaten Portugal.

1-0 (71)YAKIN
2-0 (Pen83)YAKIN

[__-SNAKE-__]

Didnt see the match, but I think the Swiss deserved atleast a win on their home ground. Cant comment how did Portugal play?

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Yakin goals send hosts out on high

Co-hosts Switzerland brought the curtain down on their UEFA EURO 2008 campaign with stirring performance at St. Jakob Park, signing off with a victory thanks to a pair of second-half goals from Hakan Yakin.

Pride restored
Though it was not enough to take them off the bottom of Group A, the victory restored pride in a side that had been left with little else to play for after opening the tournament with successive defeats. Yakin struck on 71 minutes then again from the penalty spot with seven minutes to play to ensure victory. Prior to that a second-string Portugal team – featuring only four starters from their previous victory - had made enough chances to win the game, although they will be back at full strength when they return here on Thursday for their quarter-final.

Zuberbühler saves
Köbi Kuhn was starting his last match in charge of Switzerland and he brought in the ever-popular 37-year-old goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbühler for his first taste of UEFA EURO 2008™ while midfielder Johan Vonlanthen replaced Tranquillo Barnetta. Though there was nothing at stake, Switzerland fans were determined to give Kuhn and his side a rousing send off and they were in full voice early on. Portugal, though, were giving more reason to cheer. Luiz Felipe Scolari's reserves were playing for their places and Ricardo Quaresma staked his claim on seven minutes with a delightful pass flicked from behind his standing leg that Hélder Postiga headed wide. Ten minutes later Nani caught the eye, firing a low free-kick into the box to Pepe whose touch was spectacularly tipped on to the bar by Zuberbühler.

Behrami strike
It was not all one way traffic. On 19 minutes, Ricardo pushed a Gökhan Inler effort over before blocking Valon Behrami's shot with his legs. In an entertaining game chances were coming thick and fast, and just before the half-hour Ricardo was again pressed into action to palm away Hakan Yakin's header. With the latter stages of the competition in mind, Scolari brought on Jorge Ribeiro – brother of Maniche, a star of the 2004 finals – for Ferreira in the 41st minute as the Chelsea FC full-back had earlier been booked.

Woodwork
Chances continued to come and go at the start of the second half. Postiga headed over, Nani hit the post when clean through and Zuberbühler saved from Quaresma. Quite what Eusébio, watching on from the stands, made of such profligacy did not bear thinking. Portugal were almost made to pay when substitute Barnetta snapped a shot at goal from close range on the hour, but Pepe came to the rescue with a brilliant block. Four minutes later Vonlanthen had the cow bells ringing again with rasping drive that clipped the post.

Breakthrough
The breakthrough finally came on 71 minutes when Eren Derdiyok's deft touch slipped Yakin in behind the Portugal goalkeeper and 31-year-old rifled the ball beyond Ricardo. Yakin made sure of the points with seven minutes to play with a powerfully struck penalty after Fernando Meira had impeded Barnetta's run in the box. That left St. Jakob Park buzzing, but it is the Portuguese who live to fight another day.

euro2008.uefa.com - Tournament - Matches

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The official Man of the Match is Hakan Yakin (Switzerland).

euro2008.uefa.com - Fanzone

[z187]

Portugal didnt play very well, but with 8 rested players it was expected against the swiss who looked like they really wanted to win much more.

a lot of calls went in favour of the swiss, portugal could have had 2 penalty's on nani called in their favour on another day, Postiga scored a goal that was called back for offside (didnt look offside), and the switzelrand penalty came on Meira when he got the ball first, and then made contact with the defender and they called a penalty for that.

not that i really care anyways, hopefully Portugal comes out strong on Germany.

[kyan]

I didn't see the game but I did see Postiga's goal and it was definitely offside, obviously not that it matters.

[verde-rubro]

replays confirm postiga was on side goal should of stood

[verde-rubro]

he was crap to night v the swis

[Dragoen]

Originally Posted by verde-rubro

he was crap to night v the swis

Seems that Kahns Theory was proven right.

[jec1]

Yep, What an awful game to watch! Both sides had their chances courtesy of the stubborn ref but Swiss deserved to win. Portugal's 'B' Defense sucks and Miguel was poor, I mean terrible! Veloso sucked as well, he's not ready to take it to the next level. Postiga was surprisingly good but 3 good chances showed his inconsistency as a striker.

Quaresma was our best player but overall we had our chances, just couldn't finshed. Swiss can thank the ref for winning this game.... A moral victory my ass -- pay him the money and shut up!

[verde-rubro]

i'm talking about Q17 he was crap

[z187]

quaresma the best player?

he was crap.

anyways whats this talk doing in the turkey v portugal thread? this discussion belongs in the swiss v portugal thread.

[jec1]

You can't judge him by one game.... the whole team was crap!

I thought Quaresma played well, Our defense was shite.

[z187]

Originally Posted by kyan

I didn't see the game but I did see Postiga's goal and it was definitely offside, obviously not that it matters.

it looked onside it was very very close and there were also 2 non-call penaltys on nani (who dove too much in the game but still had legit claims to 2 penaltys) and the swiss penalty was not a penalty.

anyways this game was meaningless switzerland is going home (while they already are home ) and we are going to the quarter final. anyone who watched the game knows the ref was most biased of any match in the cup so far, thank god Portugal won their first two matches otherwise this could have been a disaster but with Deco and Ronaldo on the field no way a ref helping switzerland would ever defeat portugal.

[jec1]

Bullox, it was a good goal.... He was aligned with the Swiss player. It was a dubious call, refs needs to change their system, how many bad calls in this tourney?