BLOG - 2014 European Under-17 Championship: Switzerland 1-3 Scotland - Match Report

Switzerland 1-3 Scotland - Group B, Matchday Three

Scotland qualified from Group B with a superb second half performance which saw them oust Switzerland for the points and second spot in the the group.

The Swiss dominated the opening exchanges, controlling the ball and winning a series of corners as the Scottish struggled to retain possession and saw themselves being out-run and out-passed. The Swiss attacked the challenge knowing they needed a win against opponents who appeared hesitant knowing that a draw was enough to take them through on a head-to-head record.

The first of the Swiss chances came from a corner as the centre-back Selmanaj picked up a poor defensive clearance and curled the ball towards the top left corner which Robby McCrorie did brilliantly to save. The Scottish dealt badly with balls behind their defence, with the Swiss having a significant advantage in pace and physicality. Oberlin was played in after 10 minutes, bringing another excellent save from McCrorie, whose parry out to Ajeti was placed well wide on the rebound from 25 yards with McCrorie out of his goal.

The pattern of corners and balls over the top targeting the right back Wardrop's lack of pace was a problem that would be exposed for the goal where Kyreziu lofted a perfectly weighted backspin pass behind the full-back for Oberlin to run onto and finally beat McCrorie with a volley off the outside of his boot.

At half time it appeared Switzerland were going into the semi-finals after an excellent performance that would have seen them ahead by more were it not for McCrorie's efforts. The game turned on Scottish coach Scot Gemmill's half time substitutions to chase it by bringing on forwards Wighton and Hardie to support the tireless Scott Wright, while withdrawing the shielding presence of Ballantyne.

With the situation now meaning Scotland had to score, they were far more comfortable knowing what they had to do and their two substitutes attacked with gusto, combining within four minutes to force a goal through sheer willpower. Hardie drove down the left and from a tight angle got the ball across goal. It was partially cleared to Wright down the channel but overrunning it the defender tried to hack the ball away, which rebounded off Wright's shins into the path of Wighton to drill past Kobel who despite getting a foot on the ball couldn't get it round the post.

The Scottish were now controlling the game with the excellent skills of Wighton and Sheppard, thriving on the right wing with the extra support, providing a base for Scotland to play off. They scored the second goal on the counter-attack as Wighton skipped past a challenge on the half way against the exposed, high-pressing Swiss defence and sped up to the penalty area. There, he picked out Hardie on the far side of the area with a deft pass who headed across for Sheppard to tap home and score a perfect counter-attacking goal and one which made Gemmill's half time substitutions into a masterpiece.

The Swiss disintegration continued when Nesbitt picked out Hardie who controlled the ball on his chest, then hand, before hooking past Kobel for a goal which was allowed and though the Swiss regrouped for the final 15 minutes to go on an offensive rally they were almost caught again when Hardie raced through one-on-one and his shot was well turned around the post by Kobel. There was a final chance for McCrorie to show his abilities after Oberlin went down softly in the box to earn a penalty which Babic took hard to McCrorie's right but the keeper made another impressive save to add to his list in this match, atoning for his errors in the first game against Portugal without which Scotland way well have finished top of this group.

It remains to be seen how well these Scottish players do over the rest of their careers compared to the Swiss but it has been a phenomenal achievement not only to qualify against the talents of Belgium but then to beat the Germans and their neighbours earning themselves a game against the Dutch for a place in the final where they could have another go at Portugal or the old enemy, England.

With thanks to Samuel King, who you can follow on twitter @KingSRV