Mehmedi the magic man saves Swiss
TO concede one goal-of-the-tournament contender is bad luck. To lose points to a second in as many matches must make you wonder if this isn’t going to be your summer after all.
That is exactly how Romania boss Anghel Iordanescu was feeling after Switzerland’s Admir Mehmedi smashed an equaliser to rival Dimitri Payet’s opening-night stunner.
It was 10 miles north of here at the Stade de France that West Ham’s Payet scored a last-minute screamer to steal victory for the hosts. And Romania were again on the receiving end of a left-foot belter as Mehmedi cancelled out Bogdan Stancu’s penalty to claim the point that all but ensures Switzerland’s progress to the last 16.
Iordanescu refused to bemoan the concessions which leave his side with one point as opposed to a potential four. But he wore a rueful look as he offered: ‘Both Payet and Mehmedi, they were remarkable goals, fabulous goals.’
It’s a shame Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic was not able to appreciate the strike as much as his opposite number. ‘I didn’t see the goal because I turned my head to make a sub,’ he admitted. ‘I hope we can score another goal of that kind. Although I hear it was a very nice goal and well deserved.’
Granit Xhaka, Arsenal’s new £30million midfielder, was able to enjoy his team- mate’s blast, although he wasn’t happy it took such an effort to salvage a point.
‘Finally, we scored a goal,’ said the 23- year- old. ‘We had so many chances but we just could not finish. But it was a perfect strike, that sort of goal doesn’t happen every day.
‘But I can’t say we are happy with the result. We have to start scoring, it is the last wheel in our system.’
Xhaka was right, his side won’t go far if they continue to pass up chances like they did here. Haris Seferovic missed twice early on having been slipped in by Stoke playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri.
Romania found themselves in front on 18 minutes, having barely ventured from their own half. BPI Winger Alexandru Chipciu wriggled free of Stephan Lichtsteiner inside the area only to be tugged back by the desperate fingertips of the Swiss captain. Russian referee Sergei Karasev blew for a penalty. It was a brave call, but the right call.
Romania could have doubled their advantage when the lively Chipciu smashed narrowly wide before Cristian Sapunaru clipped the post when steaming on to a loose ball inside the area.
But Switzerland should have at least entered the break level as both Blerim Dzemaili and Lichtsteiner wasted headed opportunities inside the six-yard area.
There was nothing tame, however, about Mehmedi’s leveller as the Leverkusen forward pounced on a half-cleared corner before dispatching first time into the top corner from 14 yards just before the hour.
Next up for Switzerland is France, where Mehmedi and Payet can congratulate each other on their wonder goals, for there won’t be many better over the next few weeks.
ROMANIA (4-2-3-1): Tatarusanu 6; Sapunaru 6.5, Chiriches 6.5, Grigore 6, Rat 5.5 (Filip 62min,6); Prepelita 6, Pintilii 5 (Hoban 46, 5); Torje 6, Stancu 6.5 (Andone 83), Chipciu 7; Keseru 5. Booked: Prepelita, Chipciu, Keseru, Grigore.
SWITZERLAND (4-2-3-1): Sommer 6; Lichtsteiner 6, Schar 6.5, Djourou 6.5, Rodriguez 6; Behrami 6, Xhaka 7; Shaqiri 6 (Tarashaj 90), Dzemaili 5.5 (Lang 83), Mehmedi 7.5; Seferovic 5 (Embolo 64, 6). Booked: Xhaka, Embolo.
Man of the match: Admir Mehmedi. Referee: Sergei Karasev (Russia) 7.