In front of 30,000 spectators, half the capacity of the Olympic stadium in Baku, the Helvetians and the Welsh did not do better, Saturday, June 12, than a draw (1-1) for their first meeting of the Euro.
Despite a good performance, the Swiss were not rewarded for their efforts.
In the first half, Vladimir Petkovic's players step on the ball and show more commitment.
Even if the first clearest opportunity is to be credited to the Welsh in the 15th minute thanks to a cross header from Kieffer Moore released by a superb save from Yann Sommer, the Swiss very quickly take matters into their own hands.
In the 26th minute, Haris Seferovic tried his luck with a powerful shot, but it went right past Darren Ward's cage.
In legs, he does it again five minutes later, but his shot is once again off target.
Just before returning to the locker room, the Benfica Lisbon striker once again tries his luck in law, but still without success.
Moore saves the Welsh
It was not until the start of the second half that the Swiss finally found the loophole.
In the 50th minute, Bleed Embolo opened the scoring for the Nati with a header on a corner from Xherdan Shakiri.
Very prominent during this match, the Borussia Mönchengladbach striker then caused some scares in the Welsh defense.
He is notably the author of a beautiful rolled shot 15 minutes later, but without succeeding in finding the frame.
Stung, the Dragons then try to equalize.
Without complex, the Swiss respond defensively, but Kieffer Moore, injured in the forehead during the first period, equalizes with an angry head, bandage around the head, in the 74th minute on a center from Joe Morrell.
The Helvetians expect to hold the victory in the 85th minute thanks to a volley in the penalty area of Mario Gavranovic, who has just entered the game. But the Dinamo Zagreb striker is finally signaled offside after viewing the assistance video.
The Nati pushes in the final minutes, but the Welsh goalkeeper is decisive with two high class saves.
In attack, his teammate Gareth Bale remained silent.
The Tottenham star has not shaken the nets in the selection since October 2019 against Croatia.
Like their captain, five years after their journey to the semi-finals of the Euro, the Welsh dragons timidly start the competition.
This draw, on the other hand, is the business of Italy which prances at the top of Group A after its great success Friday against Turkey (3-0).
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