Switzerland on verge of last 16 after Shaqiri double downs Turkey

Group A

Switzerland 3-1 Turkey

Switzerland missed out on a top-two finish in Euro 2020 Group A on goal difference despite a 3-1 victory over Turkey in Baku.

Vladimir Petkovic’s side knew nothing but a win would be good enough if they wanted to qualify for the last 16 with a second-placed finish in the group, and the Swiss were sent on their way by first-half goals from Haris Seferovic (6) and Xherdan Shaqiri (26).

With Italy leading 10-man Wales 1-0 in Rome, confidence would have been high in the Switzerland camp on reeling in Rob Page’s side, but Irfan Kahveci’s stunning strike (62) was a huge blow to the Swiss’ last-16 chances.

Shaqiri (68) did restore his side’s two-goal advantage but there were to be no more goals in Baku, while Wales held on for a 1-0 defeat to secure their passage to the knockout stages.

Haris Seferovic scores the opener in Baku.

However, all is not lost for Switzerland, who now have to wait to see if they qualify from third place. But for Turkey, it’s the end of their tournament after three straight group stage defeats.

Switzerland would have wanted a fast start and that’s what they got when Seferovic’s low strike put them ahead in the sixth minute, hushing the raucous Turkish crowd in the process.

Steven Zuber picked out Seferovic, who placed his shot low beyond Ugurkan Cakir into the far bottom corner from the edge of the box to hand his side the perfect start.

Switzerland didn’t have it all their own way and they needed goalkeeper Yann Sommer to pull off four big saves in the first half, three of them to deny full-back Mert Mldr.

Shaqiri fires the ball towards goal for his first of the game.

It got even better for Switzerland midway through the first half and Zuber played his part again. He rolled the ball into the path of Shaqiri, who had time and space to curl it into the top-right corner, leaving the goalkeeper no chance.

Turkey looked lost but they were given a lifeline after the break, Kahveci scoring a spectacular goal of his own, curling the ball past Yann Sommer from the edge of the penalty area.

The stunning strike gave the pro-Turkey crowd a lift, but Switzerland soon restored their two-goal advantage.

Zuber produced a third assist of the game, picking out Shaqiri from the left, and the Liverpool forward produced an emphatic finish to give Switzerland hope again.

With Wales still trailing 1-0 in Rome, Switzerland needed to find two more goals to secure a place in the last 16, but they did not come, leaving Switzerland to wait on their place in the knockout stages.

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