FIFA World Cup : Switzerland vs Serbia

On the final night of the group stages & in a nerve jangling game marred with multiple fouls & ugly spats between players, Switzerland overcame Serbia 3-2 to enter the round of 16, as runners up to Brazil on goal difference in Group G. There were a dozen yellow cards in the game, most in a World Cup match since 2010, as frayed tempers marred an otherwise entertaining & feisty game of football. 

It was Switzerland who come out of the block first scoring in the 20 minute, as Shaqiri received the ball inside the box from Sow & smashed it with his left foot into the net 1-0. This was his 5th World Cup goal & 2nd against Serbia. However, Serbia came back strong & brought scores level, as their mercurial striker Mitrovic ran in to head Tadic's cross past Swiss keeper Kobel into the net, as the game opened up on the pitch, with both teams intent on covering every inch of the ground in order to keep control. Serbia then nosed ahead in the 35th minute, when Tadic as again instrumental in an assist as his lovely pass was fired in by the big & burly Vlahovic to beat Kobel with  superb placement, as the score read 2-1 in Serbia's favour. Not to be undeterred, the Swiss combination worked as a well oiled machine, when Akanji, blocked a Serbina attack & then came up down the right flank & passed to Widmer, who stepped ahead & the fired into the Serbian box where a Waiting Embolo, tapped in to level the score 2-2. Half time whistle was a much needed breather, as the game had been frenetic till then, & both teams have looked evenly matched. 

Switzerland came out off the blocks in the 2nd half to quickly regain control, as again their well oiled machine like combination conjured. Embolo won the ball & went past a Serbian player to forward the ball to Shaqiri, who went therough the right wing to dink the ball to Vargas, who in turn flicked to Freuler, who finish cooly to give Switzerland the all important lead, 3-2. Emobol should've made it 4-2, but with just to tap in, send the ball over the net !! They however, maintained the lead till the end, through some rough passage of time & ugly scuffles between the two teams. With this win Switzerland qualify for the round of 16 as runners of of this group & will face Portugal next. Serbia go back home, staing in the bottom of the group.