Swiss sixer crush Iceland

ST GALLEN (Switzerland): Liverpool winger Xherdan Shaqiri was among the scorers as Switzerland routed Iceland 6-0 in their opening game of the UEFA Nations League in St Gallen on Saturday.

Steven Zuber and Denis Zakaria gave Switzerland a two-goal lead before Shaqiri fired in a freekick from a tight angle out on the right on 53 minutes.

Goals from Haris Seferovic, Albian Ajeti and Admir Mehmedi completed the resounding win as Switzerland made a dream start to a group that also includes World Cup semi-finalists Belgium.

Iceland host Italy in Reykjavik tomorrow, while Switzerland play England in a friendly in Leicester.

Meanwhile, Bosnia began their Nations League campaign with a 2-1 victory away to Northern Ireland on Saturday — Haris Duljevic and Elvis Saric on target for the visitors.

Northern Ireland's Will Grigg scored in stoppage time but it proved a mere consolation.

The hosts had dominated early on but fell behind when Edin Dzeko’s cross was flicked in by Duljevic in the 36th minute.

A defensive mix-up between defender Craig Cathcart and goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell allowed Saric to double the lead in the 64th minute.

Northern Ireland were guilty of several wasted opportunities as they made a poor start to a new competition that could offer a secondary route to the Euro 2020 championship.

Austria are the other team in Group B3 with the teams playing each other home and away.