Not knowing where to stand after disappointing qualifications, Switzerland reassured itself and launched its Euro-2024 perfectly by easily overcoming Hungary 3-1 on Saturday in Cologne, to join Germany at the top of Group A.
Switzerland will seek qualification on Wednesday against Scotland
If it will really be necessary to judge the Nati against a more substantial opposition, Granit Xhaka’s partners nevertheless quickly removed the doubts which surrounded them before the start of the competition. In attack in particular where the state of form of Monegasque Breel Embolo, barely returned from injury, and of star Xherdan Shakiri, exiled in the United States for two seasons, pushed Murat Yakin to select just before the Euro, Kwadwo Duah , 27 years old, of Ghanaian origin, played through all the Swiss youth teams, without ever being called up for the Nati.
A quarter of an hour into the game, the Ludogorets (Bulgaria) striker went behind the Hungarian defense, received a superb pass from Michel Aebischer, only to find himself alone against Peter Gulacsi, the Hungarian goalkeeper, deceive him, and score thus, after using VAR, his first goal with Switzerland, for his second selection (1-0, 14th). At the end of the first period, Aebisher took advantage of the passivity of the Hungarian defense to calmly adjust Gulacsi with a strike from the edge of the area (2-0, 45th).
Completely overwhelmed until then, Hungary recovered in the second half, reducing the score with a header from Barnabas Varga, its center forward, perfectly served by Dominik Szoboszlai (2-1, 66th). The 23-year-old Liverpool midfielder, the youngest captain in this Euro, worked hard to keep his team afloat. He almost succeeded when his partners laid siege to Yann Sommer’s goal and the Swiss defense, never called upon in the first half, but far from being as effective as his attack during the second.
But Breel Embolo, who came into play in the 74th minute, delivered his own, on the counter, thanks to a lob on Gulacsi (3-1, 90th + 3). Switzerland will seek qualification for the elimination phase on Wednesday against Scotland. The same day, Hungary will challenge Germany, favorite of the competition since their inaugural 5-1 victory against the Scots on Friday.