Swiss halt the Spanish march

Zaragoza – Switzerland earned a 2-1 win over Spain in the Nations League on Saturday in Zaragoza to drag Luis Enrique’s side off top spot in the group.

Portugal thrashed the Czech Republic 4-0 in the other League A Group Two clash to move two points clear of Spain, whom they host tomorrow in the final group match.

It was Spain’s first defeat in the group in five games, and one which exposed their defensive frailty from set-pieces.

Manuel Akanji (above) and Breel Embolo both scored from Switzerland corners, either side of Jordi Alba’s strike.

“In two set-piece situations, which will be important at the World Cup, their goals arrived,” said Villarreal defender Pau Torres. “We have to improve on that.”

Spain never looked comfortable in the game, a far cry from the team which reached the Euro 2020 semifinals and were defeated on penalties by Italy.

As a result, they stumbled to their first loss on home soil since 2018, after 22 matches unbeaten.

Luis Enrique selected six Barcelona players in his starting lineup, including regulars utilised at Camp Nou, Xavi Hernandez, Pedri, Gavi and Sergio Busquets.

Ferran Torres was another of the Barca clan, part of a threepronged attack alongside Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio and Paris Saint-Germain’s Pablo Sarabia.

None of the three have enjoyed regular football with their clubs this season but were given Luis Enrique’s trust.

They did not repay it in the first half, with Spain anaemic in attack and asleep at the back when it mattered most.

“We were sluggish, no, worse than sluggish,” said Luis Enrique.

“We had the most imprecise first half of my reign as coach.

“(However) this defeat does not condition anything ahead of the World Cup, at all. It’s always good to arrive in form to a World Cup, but I have total faith in the team.”

Switzerland took the lead when Manchester City summer signing Akanji got the better of Cesar Azpilicueta in the air at a corner and nodded past Unai Simon in the 21st minute.

Asensio had the crowd out of their seats early in the second half when he created the Spain equaliser with an electric burst forward, before playing in Alba to finish clinically.

However, three minutes later Spain defended another corner poorly and Akanji’s flick-on was nudged over the line by Embolo to restore the Swiss lead.