· 2 min readIn this Switzerland vs Bosnia match, I analyse the key tactical moments, individual performances and turning points of the game.
It was a match that carried some curiosity, but also a degree of scepticism. Switzerland came into it after a draw that felt disappointing, having dominated without finishing the job. Bosnia, on the other hand, arrived after a draw in which they had resisted more than they had played. And that ended up defining much of what this game was, at least for a long time.
Switzerland started better, higher up the pitch, more active and looking to take control. Ndoye was one of the first to make an impact, with a dangerous effort early on that showed there was intent to hurt the opposition. But as the minutes passed, that momentum gradually faded.
Possession clearly belonged to Switzerland, but it rarely translated into danger. The final pass was missing, as was the right decision at the right moment. Bosnia, meanwhile, felt comfortable in that scenario. A deep defensive line, plenty of bodies behind the ball and some ability to break forward, mainly through Džeko, who showed his quality in one move where he held the ball up, waited and delivered a measured cross, but with nobody there to finish.
The game became increasingly sluggish. Switzerland had the ball, Bosnia defended, and there were very few moments that truly influenced the match. There were some interesting individual battles, such as Ndoye against Dedić, but they always lacked an end product.
The second half brought no immediate change. Switzerland kept trying, and Ndoye even attempted an impressive bicycle kick, but everything remained predictable. The feeling was clear: the draw looked more likely than anything else.
But football has these moments. In the 74th minute, Switzerland worked the ball down the left. The first cross was blocked, they persisted, tried again, an incomplete clearance followed and the ball fell inside the box. Manzambi, who had only recently come on, did not hesitate and struck it first time. The goalkeeper got a touch, but could not keep it out. A goal born of persistence more than creativity. 1-0.
And from that point, the match changed completely. Even more so when, in the 80th minute, Manzambi broke through again and Muharemović brought him down to stop the attack. A clear red card, and Bosnia effectively exited the game at that moment.
With more space and greater confidence, Switzerland took control. In the 84th minute, Embolo received the ball in the centre of the box, held it up well and laid it off to the left, where Vargas arrived completely unmarked to finish comfortably. A simple goal, but one that came from clear superiority.
Bosnia offered no response, and Switzerland took advantage. In the 90th minute, a well-worked move saw Xhaka pick out Vargas in behind, and he squared it for Manzambi, who only had to tap in. Another goal where everything happened with far too much space. 3-1.
There was still time for an isolated Bosnia moment in the 90+3rd minute. After a corner was poorly dealt with by the defence, Mahmić struck powerfully into the net. But it was short-lived.
Because shortly afterwards, in the 90+7th minute, Xhaka sealed the result from the penalty spot. A debatable decision, but one that stood. A confident finish and the game was over.
Post-match
Switzerland win by a comfortable margin, but only truly pull away after the opening goal and the red card. Until then, they struggled to create meaningful chances. Bosnia were organised, but completely collapsed once they went down to ten men.
