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Switzerland v Bosnia and Herzegovina: World Cup 2026 – live | World Cup
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GOAL! Switzerland 1-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina (Manzambi, 75)
Straight off the bench!
73 min: Dedic, on a card, wrestles Akanji down on to the ground as he chases a lost cause down Bosnia’s right. The game has certainly stretched. Feels like the midfield is less compact than it was about 15 minutes ago.
71 min: Final quarter (more or less) underway.
69 min: Kobel makes a save as Dedic fires from deep on the angle on the right. That ball was swerving and the Swiss keeper needed to get low.
And just as Bosnia has started to exert themselves on the game, just as they have wrestled back momentum and the crowd has found their voice, we are taking a hydration break.
I hate it, I hate it, I hate it!
66 min: Oh that is disappointing. Basic’s ball doesn’t beat the first man. All the Bosnians made a far post run so that needed to be much deeper. Kolasinac gets the ball down the left and wriggles. Alajbegovic monstered by two hefty defenders in red. The kid is lively. I’d like to see more of him as this game stretches.
65 min: The Bosnians are on the ball and their fans are chanting. They are starting to believe they can nick something here. Now they have a free kick from a potentially dangerous area on the left as Elvedi is booked for a clumsy tackle.
62 min: It’s a bit stop-start at the minute. Another Bosnian foul on halfway halts a sweeping counter. But they’ve worked it well and Ndoye has a sniff inside the Bosnian box after a cute little ball round the corner from Rieder. But it’s cleared for a corner.
Embolo sticks a head at the delivery and gets a small piece on it, forcing a save at the near post from Vasilj. But it was never going to beat the keeper.
Dzeko’s race is run. He’s replaced by Bajraktarevic. Tahirovic is also hooked for Basic.
61 min: Dzeko is booked after clattering Akanji late. He’s still rushing the Swiss centrebacks. Fair play to the old geezer.
59 min: Back to the footy, a long Bosnian throw down their left is cleared off a Swiss head. The Swiss break and Dedic is shown a yellow card for tugging at the cantering Ndoye. Will be interesting to see how that duel develops now.
For the record, I think this has been a great World Cup so far.
There will always be a few duds, but that’s sport.
Matt Burtz adds:
“It is axiomatic that group stage matches must be completed for there to be a knockout stage. This is why I bristle at the notion that certain group stage matches don’t matter; teams only advance if they actually win/draw said matches. Ultimately teams have to perform on the field. And as a result sometimes there will be clunkers, but that’s the way it goes”.
In an email titled ‘Group Stage Stinkers’ David Hindle just says “Italy 1982. Sulphurous.”
56 min: BEST MOMENT OF THE GAME! No, it’s not a goal, but it’s a stunning effort from Ndoye who unfurls a textbook perfect bicycle kick to a cross from the right. He caught it perfectly but it was straight at Vasilj who raised his hands and made the save from about eight metres out. Phew, that would have been really special.
55 min: Corner to Switzerland as Dzeko has his pocket picked by Ekanji who then unleashes Ndoye. The Swiss winger runs hard and straight and shoots though it’s blocked behind. Dzeko takes a while to get back to his feet, partly in embarrassment I’m assuming.
53 min: That’s sort of a chance. Freuler drifts a ball into the box from the left. Aebischer charges in from midfield and leaps towards it at the back post. He’s in no position to get the header on target, but that was a handy run. On another day it’s all inch perfect. But that day is not this day.
51 min: Better from the Swiss. Ekanji drops a shoulder high up the pitch and pings a pass to Ndoye who is free on the left wing. He cuts infield and lets loose a shot from the edge of the box. He goes near post and doesn’t catch it. Still, he forces Vasilj into a save low down.
50 min: Embolo is double marked with Katic cleaning him up. Bosnia will be pleased with this opening five minutes.
49th min: Embolo has the first touch of a trampoline as the ball bounces off him and is cleared away. Switzerland have not started this half with the requisite zip they need to break the deadlock.
Graeme Neill isn’t wrong, is he?
Everybody gets misty eyed about the group stages, arguing that they’re the best opportunity in a World Cup for absolute classic matches. That’s probably true but as that half and the match earlier show, they’re also the best opportunity for some absolute stinkers.
46 min: More of the same, really. Rodriguez hoists a lame cross from the left that is easily headed away.
Second half
Salad wolfed down, five-year-old running about like a maniac well past his bed time, the players in California are out and about and ready to go.
Let’s get this on!
James Humphries has a head scratcher for ya’ll:
One thing worth noting – I think this came up in a previous mbm, but, like, I’ve seen Uzbekistan-colombia and iran-eli just in real time so cut me some slack if I’m a bit confused – is that the refereeing so far has been… sensible? As a scarred Scottish premiership watcher, I keep seeing meaty tackles go in, waiting for the whistle, and then having a moment where I try to reconcile I) the referee clearly just seeing contact in a contact sport with II) the way I’m used to seeing a contact sport being (badly) refereed.
I broadly agree. In fact, there have only been two howlers I can recall.
The first was not giving France a penalty against Senegal and the second was giving South Africa a penalty against Czechia.
The first was immaterial as France got the comfortable win anyway and I have no issue with the second as it helped my countrymen nab an undeserving point.
So full marks to the whistle blowers as far as I’m concerned, though I’m sure many of you are readying a robust reply.
Here comes an email dump which should give me enough time to shovel some dinner down:
Julien Menz:
I tried to get my daughter (10) into the sweden and England games (we live in Sweden) but she had better things to do.
Now, after watching clips of fans from various nations (looking at you England, Scotland and the Netherlands), she’s up for every game.
I’ve actually done a watch-every-game-possible WC, but that was Tequila-fuelled back in 06.
Next she’ll want me to take her to Glastonbury….
Russell Brady:
Swiss not the same after [redacted bit – but it’s Shaqiri]
There’s loads more about hydration breaks, the grim commercialisation of the beautioful game and a few cheese and banker jokes, though, as Justin Kavanagh says, “I’m staying neutral”.
See you in a bit. There’s a tuna nicoise with my name on it.
Switzerland had all the ball but failed to do anything with it.
73% possession but only one more – four to three – attempt than Bosnia. And most of those were from range.
Xhaka was been majestic but that’s about it.
Half-time: Switzerland 0-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina
That’ll be that. Pretty drab if I’m being honest.
45+3 min: I’m going to copy and paste “Ndoye jinks down the left, wriggles, cuts but can’t find the final ball”. Because that has happened yet again and I’m sure it won’t be the last time it happens.
45+2 min: More good defensive work from the Bosnians as they easily clear a Rodriguez clipped cross from the byline down the left.
45+1 min: That Rodriguez ball that bounces into the arms of Vasilj and is nowhere near a teammate sums it up. He smiles, but this has been very frustrating from the Swiss. Once again Ndoye runs around down the left but doesn’t get a cross away.
44 min: Ooooh, Bosnia should have done better there. Lovely from Alajbegovic who gathered on the left flank, cut infield and waited for Kolasinac to run past him. Dzeko was at the back post but the ball didn’t reach him as the cross was steered away for a Bosnian corner. They can’t do anything with the set piece opportunity. Still, that was slick interplay.
43 min: Dedic runs down the Bosnian right. He looks more confident as he takes on a defender. But he leaves the ball behind and Switzerland are back on it to the sound of boos. Funny game this.
40 min: Dzeko shoots from inside Switzerland’s box and it’s closed down. Much better from Bosnia who unfurled a sweeping move that took them on the edge of the Swiss area. They lost the ball but won it back after a cheap giveaway by the Swiss. As it rolled across the D, Dzeko lined up his effort but the onrushing cover from Akanji was too quick for him. Again, that just proves how precarious this is for the Swiss despite their dominance of the ball.
39 min: The ball hits the referee as Xhaka’s forward pass doesn’t reach its target. Always exciting/frustrating. They restart with with a dropped ball and Switzerland are back on the attack. Ndoye cuts this way and that, Dedic has him covered and the call is for a goal kick. Ndoye can’t believe it. Dedic will be pleased with how that tussle is going so far.
36 min: Switzerland all over Bosnia. They win a corner when Embolo’s header back infield bounces off a defender. But you know what, Katic and co are up to the task. After from that Freuler fizzer just before the break, they’ve kept Switzerland at arm’s length despite the possession imbalance. And now Memic cuts infield off his left wing and fires a shot. It’s straight at Kobel and from a long way out. But that underlines the danger of this scoreline.
34 min: Ndoye has his man on toast down the left. He just can’t find that final pass. Not for the first time he drops a shoulder and gets himself into a crossing position. The ball is drilled low and is easily cleared.
33 min: That’s woken up the Bosnian fans who are back to booing as Switzerland pass the ball around. Widmer plays a give and go that almost puts him free inside the right of Bosnia’s box. But once again swift defence on the cover snuffs out the danger.
32 min: Alajbegovic slips in a lovely ball for Dzeko down the left inside the Swiss box. The veteran forward looks up and dinks a floater to the back post but no one can get on the end of it. Really good from young Alajbegovic. He needs more of the ball if they can get it to him. Bosnia’s best move of the game.
30 min: As expected, that drinks break has stripped Switzerland of their fluency. They’ve been reduced to lumping long balls to Embolo who has been well covered by the Bosnian centrebacks.
27 min: A rare loose pass from Xhaka in an advanced position lets Bosnia off the hook. But Switzerland are back on it after sloppiness from Bosnia though Embolo can’t bring the ball under control. Now Bosnia are on the ball with Memic down the left. This is their longest spell in possession. There’s a tame ball into the box from young Alajbegovic which Xhaka, back lending a hand, hoofs away.
25 min: They’re back after a drink.
Stephen McCrossan just wants to say that “Granit Xhaka is a lovely footballer”.
He really is.
Russell Brady adds: “Swiss attack asking questions, unlike the country’s banking executives”
Four readers have made jokes about cheese.
Hydration break. Yuck. I wonder if that might take some of the wind out of Switzerland’s sails. They’ve utterly dominated this first quarter.
23 min: Freuler has a pop from long range and it fizzes past the post on the right as Vasilj dives across. Fair enough. Switzerland were zipping it around but not quite working the shooting opportunity.
The family of Shaun Burton, say they are “devastated” by the loss.
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Key events
In the opening half an hour against Cape Verde, Mikel Oyarzabal, the centre-forward, did not get a single touch.
Kyle Green gets in touch: “Your highlighting of Lalas and his absurdity is something that has prevented me from wanting to watch the coverage on Fox. While every channel has its pros and cons I just can’t.
“I’m 45 and probably the youngest of anyone who remembers him as a player instead of an opinionated insert insult here. As for the match this could be more competitive than it looks on paper Spain need a win the pressure is on them. Saudi Arabia could hold out for a draw and see what happens in their last match. “
News from the England camp, and it seems to be good news on Declan Rice.
“I’m ready and fit, raring to go. I was feeling a little bit of neural pain in my hamstring, which I was managing from after Christmas with Arsenal for a very long time. Obviously, not a lot of people would have known that. It was all behind-the-scenes stuff but it was a smart decision.
“In the end, that last 20 minutes is probably where you pick up the most, and it’s where you play a 70-minute match. But that last 20 is where you really feel your body going for it. And I think it was a smart decision because the last few days I felt really, really good.”
Alex Reid has penned today’s weekend special Football Daily.
Portugal v Uzbekistan on Tuesday enticingly pits the incredibly nice, incredibly 41-year-old-superstar-tolerant Roberto Martínez against Fabio Cannavaro, who’s won a Ballon d’Or as a player and the Chinese Super League as a coach. While the fixture following that game really does see the dream of Thomas Tuchel – in his first international job with England – taking on Queiroz, who is in charge of his ninth national side with Ghana.
The expected formations are 4-2-3-1 for Spain, and 5-3-2 for the Saudi Arabians.
The Saudi team features two Donis changes: Ali Lajami, a defender, and Nasser Al Dawsari, a midfielder, are preferred to Mohammed Abu Al Shamat and Mohamed Kanno. You may recall Salem Al Dawsari, the Saudi captain, as the man who scored the winner against Argentina.
An entertaining read, even for those of us who have just seen the clips.
In a conversation where his co-panelist is casually reminiscing about his days playing alongside Messi or exchanging shirts with Ronaldo Nazário at the World Cup, what exactly is Lalas going to talk about – coming on as a second-half substitute for Earnie Stewart in a friendly against Scotland in 1998? Helping the Kansas City Wizards finish last in the 1999 MLS Western Conference? Did Lalas enjoy an elite playing career? No. But does he do the background reading that could compensate for his relative lack of standing in a conversation with titans like Henry and Zlatan? Also no. But is he charming or funny or charismatic or otherwise magnetic on screen? Eh, no.
For the record, I once interviewed Alexi Lalas on the challenge of playing against Romario in the 1994 World Cup. He had this to say:
“He could kill you in so many different ways. If you remember from that World Cup, he scored so many types of goals. That ranged from solo adventures to an outside-of-the-right-foot half-volley off a corner kick. Romario was both the most difficult to play against and the best that I have faced.
“Roberto Baggio was doing his thing, but in terms of consistency and living up to the hype, he [Romario] was the best. As with all stars, there was a moment when the fans sit up in their seats, and that was a feeling I got with Romario. When it got close to him and the potential for his involvement in a play was there, everybody sat up in their seat. They knew that something spectacular would be happening.”
Saturday’s match reports here.
The Saudi Arabia coach, and Blackburn legend, Georgios Donis, spoke about the challenges facing his team: “Spain is not the same team when Yamal or Williams are on the bench.
“While they still have plenty of possession, they lack the individual one-on-one penetration when these two are missing. I’m not saying it’s a problem for Spain, but when those players are missing, they play in a different way. We saw this very clearly against Cape Verde.
“We are playing against one of the best teams in the world, and it’s very important that when you play against these kinds of teams, you should enjoy the experience and respect the opponent, but not too much.
“It is very hard for any team playing against Spain to have any time in possession. So what we must do is to be more in control of our movement and compact, and when the ball goes through the lines, be able to defend dynamically.
“It’s nice to see miracles in football, and we’ve seen favourites losing against underdogs. Of course, it’s great for Saudi football to have a great memory of the result against Argentina, but we aren’t drawing anything from that.
“I think we’ll feel more pressure in that [Cape Verde] game than we will against Spain.”
The Spain coach, Luis De La Fuente had this to say in his Saturday press conference: “This generation of footballers is highly competitive and really fired up… It’s going to be a completely different story,” he said at his pre-match press conference on Saturday. There is no drama or crisis. The bottom line is simply that we need to win tomorrow.”
Four changes for Spain: Lamine Yamal, Pedro Porro, Dani Olmo and Alex Baena also come into the side with Marcos Llorente, Fabian Ruiz, Ferran Torres and Gavi dropping out.
The teams – Lamine Yamal starts
Spain: Simon, Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella, Gonzalez, Rodri, Yamal, Olmo, Baena, Oyarzabal. Subs: Raya, Joan Garcia, Pubill, Grimaldo, Eric Garcia, Llorente, Merino, Torres, Fabian, Gavi, Pino, Williams, Zubimendi, Munoz, Iglesias.
Saudi Arabia: Al Owais, Abdulhamid, Tambakti, Lajami, Al Amri, Al Harbi, Nasser Al Dawsari, Al Khaibari, Al Juwayr, Al Buraikan, Salem Al Dawsari. Subs: Al Aqidi, Al Kassar, Majrashi, Yahya, Al Shehri, Al Boushal, Kadesh, Al Johani, Al Ghannam, Al Hajji, Al Hamdan, Mandash, Kanno, Thakri, Abu Al Shamat.
Referee: Raphael Claus (Brazil)
Perhaps one of the Saudi -players can write themselves into this high-grade selection?
Perhaps it can be their goalkeeper.
Madrid screening of Spain v Saudi Arabia cancelled due to heat
The public screening of Spain’s World Cup match against Saudi Arabia in Madrid on Sunday has been cancelled because of extreme heat forecast for the Spanish capital, officials said.
The match, due to kick off at 6pm local time on Sunday, had been scheduled to be shown on a giant screen installed by the Spanish football federation (RFEF) at a fan zone in Plaza de Colón in central Madrid.
Madrid city council and the federation decided to cancel the screening after national weather agency AEMET issued an orange heat warning – the second-highest level – for the Madrid region, with temperatures forecast to reach 40C.
“The decision has been taken with the aim of protecting the health of attendees, event staff and support services involved in the event,” Madrid city hall said in a statement, apologising for any inconvenience.
Officials urged supporters to watch the match indoors in air-conditioned spaces and avoid prolonged exposure to the heat.
Large parts of Spain are experiencing unusually high temperatures for June as a mass of hot air from North Africa moves across the Iberian Peninsula.
A total of 13 of Spain’s 17 regions are on orange alert for heat on Sunday, while the northern Basque Country bordering France is on red alert, the highest level.
Authorities advised residents and visitors to take precautions during the heatwave, including drinking water regularly, staying in cool environments, limiting outdoor physical activity during the hottest hours of the day and taking extra care of vulnerable people. AFP
Can Saudi Arabia repeat the magic of 2022?
Argentina arrived in Qatar on a 36-game unbeaten run. When Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 10 minutes, a comfortable afternoon seemed in the offing. Saleh al-Shehri and Salem al-Dawsari had other ideas, Argentina had three goals disallowed for offside in the space of 13 minutes and the greatest comeback in Saudi Arabia football history was made. Argentina went on to lift the trophy, while defeats to Poland and Mexico meant the Saudis did not reach the knock-out stage.
Unai Simon over David Raya is a controversial choice for De la Fuentes. The Arsenal keeper could lay claim to being Europe’s best this season.
“Those at the Champions League final had a few more days, so I got there on the Wednesday night,” Raya says. “I arrived a bit before Fabián [Ruiz]. I was saying hello to some of the others in reception when he arrived. I went to say congratulations; that was almost the first thing I did. I couldn’t really talk [to him] after the final; I just didn’t have it in me. The next day we talked about the game properly. Just two mates chatting … I was happy for him that he could lift the trophy for a second time.”
A high pressure game for the European champions, as Sid Lowe reports.
“If we had scored one, the game would have changed,” Martín Zubimendi said. Immediately after the game, De la Fuente had offered a simple analysis: when the ball doesn’t want to go in it doesn’t want to go in, he insisted. Spain had racked up 27 shots, after all. Ferran Torres had hit the bar and seen another clear opportunity saved. Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who stopped that, saved six more and was named the man of the match. “There’s nothing to reproach the team for,” Rodri said. “We generated chances but couldn’t put it away; the good thing is they created almost nothing.”
We wait to see what role Lamine Yamal will play today. His coach would surely like to be able to use him.
The worst mistake we could make would be to compare him to anyone. He is the midst of a process. He has exceptional footballing maturity and lives it all with total naturalness. He has great serenity and strength. We have to let him follow his path but those players who have something different are ready for that. They’re geniuses, like Dalí [who] can paint a picture, or Michelangelo. They’re different. What is exceptional to us, isn’t to them. In those extremes, they feel comfortable. Why? Because they are different. What we think is exceptional, they consider normal.
Preamble
Spain’s campaign did not get off to a flying start, and Luis de la Fuentes may wake up in the night to visions of Cape Verde’s Vozinha. He will have Georgia on his mind ever since Monday. Saudi Arabia are no pushovers and gave Uruguay a scare in their opening match. Memories of downing Argentina four years ago still abound, and so Spain might beware. They can ill afford to go into the final game with Uruguay at a disadvantage. All eyes on Lamine Yamal, whose fitness situation remains opaque, though Spain need their other forwards to come to the party.
Kick-off 5pm UK, 1pm ET, 2am AEST. Join me.
A topless man can be seen driving erratically in Edinburgh before abandoning his car and attacking a black man and a delivery rider.
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