Switzerland vs Italy FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Italy goes on longest unbeaten run in the history of international football after goalless draw against Switzerland- Italy and Switzerland settle for a goalless draw in the 5th match of Group 6. Both the teams were equal statistically but neither could convert the final chance to go ahead in the game. As it stands, Italy stays at the top of Group C with 11 points. Switzerland is 4 points behind in the 2nd position and has 7 points.
3⃣6⃣ games unbeaten 🔥
Italy now has the longest unbeaten run in the history of international football 🇮🇹
The Azzurri last lost a match in September 2018 🤯
𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗶 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀.#WCQ #SUIITA #Italy pic.twitter.com/8EEjd1Qmuj
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) September 5, 2021
Switzerland vs Italy: Italy set an international record by extending its unbeaten run to 36 games in a 0-0 draw at Switzerland in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday that saw penalty expert Jorginho miss from the spot again.
The European champion has not lost under coach Robert Mancini for three years now, to pass the 35-game world record shared with Spain (2007-09) and Brazil (1993-96). Some credit Brazil with a 36-game run through one of those games, against Romania, is not officially recognized.
Still, Italy missed a clear opportunity to seize a tighter grip on Group C by failing to beat nearest rival Switzerland three days after being held 1-1 at home to Bulgaria.
Italy has 11 points from five games and leads the five-team group by four from the Swiss, who have played two games fewer. Bulgaria beat Lithuania 1-0 earlier Sunday and trails Italy by six points.
Jorginho’s reputation as one of world soccer’s trickiest spot-kick specialists — deceiving goalkeepers after a slow run and jump — already took a hit by failing in the Euro 2020 final shootout against England.
On Sunday, the newly crowned UEFA men’s player of the year became the latest European star to be outwitted from 12 yards by Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
Sommer made a quick stutter step to his right as Jorginho took his trademark hop then shifted to dive to his left and saved easily from a lightly struck kick in the 53rd minute.
The Swiss ’keeper is building quite a record of spot-kick saves — from Kylian Mbappé in the decisive kick of the shootout to eliminate France in the Euro 2020 round of 16, and twice from Sergio Ramos in a Nations League game against Spain last November in the same Basel stadium.
Sommer, who now plays for Borussia Mönchengladbach, returned to the home of his former club Basel to captain his country in the absence of midfielder Granit Xhaka, who missed the game after testing positive for COVID-19 in midweek.
Switzerland extended its unbeaten home record to 20 games in the first competitive game for new coach Murat Yakin. He was hired last month to replace Vladimir Petkovic who ended his seven years in charge by leaving to join French club, Bordeaux.
Italy next hosts Lithuania on Wednesday. Switzerland is at Northern Ireland on the same day.
Only the group winner advances directly to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The runner-up goes to a 12-team, two-round playoffs bracket in March.
FIFA World Ranking: Italy and Argentina climb World Ranking, US Men’s team makes top 10
Editor's Pick
Cricket
IND vs AUS 1st Test: Triple strike from Bumrah & co, Virat Kohli's redemption on India's radar on Day 2
Top Stories
