Serbia vs Switzerland 2-3: World Cup 2022 – as it happened
All the updates from the World Cup 2022 match between Serbia and Switzerland on December 2 as they happened.
This blog is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the World Cup 2022 match between Serbia and Switzerland on December 2.
This blog is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the World Cup 2022 match between Serbia and Switzerland on December 2.
- Serbia XI: Milinkovic, Milenkovic, Veljkovic, Pavlovic, Zivkovic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Lukic, Kostic, Tadic, Vlahovic, Mitrovic.
- Switzerland XI: Kobel, Widmer, Akanji, Schaer, Rodriguez, Freuler, Xhaka, Shaqiri, Sow, Vargas, Embolo.
- Kickoff 10pm (19:00 GMT) at Stadium 974.
- At least one of these sides will be knocked out of the World Cup tonight.
- Serbia have only just one point and must win this match.
- Even if Serbia win, Switzerland will go through if Cameroon beat Brazil in the other group match.
- Live updates
- Match stats
- Lineups
That’s all we’ve got time for
Our coverage of that goal-fest is finishing up, but we will be back tomorrow for the start of the knockout rounds of the Qatar World Cup. Netherlands v USA is the first game up, followed by Argentina v Australia.
Until then.
Switzerland to play Portugal
Murat Yakin’s team will face Portugal next after beating Serbia, with Group G’s top team Brazil to play South Korea in the last 16. Serbia and Cameroon will be joining the other 16 teams in catching an early plane home.
What a first half we had
2 – For the first time since England v Argentina in 1998, both teams in a #FIFAWorldCup match have scored at least two goals before half-time. Madness. pic.twitter.com/J3PLUQwcKF
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) December 2, 2022
11 yellow cards
And remarkably not one red. Serbia’s Pavlovic looked like he might achieve that feat at one point but we finished with 11 on 11. Predrag Rajkovic of Serbia got a yellow for his protestations on the touchline despite not coming on summed this game up.
Full-time
A fiery end to a match that threatened to be a World Cup classic in the first half but petered out somewhat in the second period.
Switzerland won’t mind that one bit and goals from Embolo, Shaqiri and Freuler were enough to see them through to the last 16.
Serbia were an entertaining team to watch but were not tight enough at the back to stay in this tournament.
Serbia 2-3 Switzerland
Schar gets yellow card
Fabian Schar goes into the referee’s book for a challenge near his own box.
90+7 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland
Swiss change
Noah Okafor comes on for Switzerland, with Embolo going off.
90+6 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland
Milenkovic and Xhaka shove each other
Serbia’s Nikola Milenkovic and Granit Xhaka of Switzerland get into somewhat of a shoving match, which leads to both entire teams getting involved and surrounding them. Both receive yellow cards.
90+5 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland
Vargas makes way
Christian Fassnacht is on in his place for Switzerland.
90+2 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland
Seven minutes added on
It’s not enough time for Serbia to get two goals, right?
90+1 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland
Embolo fouled again
Breel Embolo has taken some serious punishment for his team this evening as he’s once again hauled to the ground, with the referee playing advantage on this occasion.
89 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland
Serbia need two goals
And time isn’t on their side. With Brazil and Cameroon still drawing, the only way the Serbs can progress is with a win. Switzerland could afford to concede one and still get through.
85 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland
Mitrovic and Gudelj both get yellow cards
Nemanja Gudelj for giving away a foul on the edge of the box, Mitrovic presumably for something he said to the referee since the ball wasn’t in play at the time.
83 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland
Pavlovic a lucky boy
Strahinja Pavlovic has already gotten a yellow card and probably should have had another one after an even worse challenge. Walking a tightrope in this game.
Duricic is bleeding and the referee instructs him to get it seen to.
81 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland
Serbian changes
Tadic and Zivkovic go off for Serbia, with Nemanja Radonjic and Filip Duricic brought on.
79 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland
Serbian players look tired and frustrated
There have been a few signs that Serbian players are starting to feel the heat – both literally and in terms of their group standing.
They have already had substitute Predrag Rajkovic booked after he ran onto the pitch to remonstrate with the referee.
There have also been a few mistimed challenges, with Jovic bundling over a Swiss player in the box and instantly arguing with the referee.
They need to focus on getting a goal now.
Embolo foul from Freuler
Remo Freuler kicks Breel Embolo in the centre circle, seemingly in frustration, and the referee correctly gives the foul. Can Serbia find their groove again?
76 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland
Tetchy on the touchline
Serbia’s Predrag Rajkovic gets a yellow card from the referee after their bench wasn’t happy with that lack of a penalty for Mitrovic.
72 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland
Changes for both teams
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic comes off for Serbia with Nemanja Maksimovic taking his place. Switzerland also make a change with Sow and Shaqiri going off, and Fernandes and Denis Zakaria coming on.
70 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland
Mitrovic looking for penalty
Aleksandar Mitrovic chests the ball to himself, and Fabian Schar puts his arms across him in the box but its deemed not a foul by the referee.
66 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland
There is no doubt which game is better
Who knew that these two teams would produce such a sweaty, messy and thoroughly enjoyable game of football?
Cameroon vs Brazil remains goalless.
Switzerland is through to the next round if the scores remain the same.
Tadic fires over the bar
Another Kostic ball sets this chance up. It eventually makes its way back to Tadic, but the Serb skies his shot well over the bar.
62 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland
Inviting Kostic cross
Serbia take a short free-kick to Filip Kostic, who puts a bending ball into the Swiss box that no one can make contact with. It deserved to be finished off.
60 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland
Pavlovic gets a yellow card
Strahinja Pavlovic leaves a late boot in on Embolo, possibly in revenge for that earlier tackle and gets booked. He’ll miss his team’s next game, if they get through.
58 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland
Serbia make two changes
Nemanja Gudelj and Luka Jovic come on for Serbia, and Vlahovic and Veljkovic go off for an early bath.
56 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland