Match News and Current Form

Switzerland paid the price for not taking their chances after scoring early against Qatar on matchday one, being stung by a late equaliser as they drew 1-1 in one of the bigger surprises of the opening round. Manager Murat Yakin admitted his side had “lost two points” in a deflated post-match interview, but the Red Crosses remain the favourites to top the group and must respond quickly to put that disappointment behind them. On a positive note for the Swiss, they have now lost just two of their last 17 group-stage games at major tournaments (W7, D8) and have progressed to the knockout phase of the last three World Cups.

Bosnia were also on the wrong end of an equaliser on matchday one, although the goal they conceded to draw 1-1 against co-hosts Canada was not nearly as dramatic, and that was a scoreline that they were satisfied enough with at full-time. Sergej Barbarez’s side are now nine games unbeaten (W4, D5), though each of those last six matches has been level after 90 minutes, with no European country having ever shared the spoils seven times on the spin in normal time before. Three points here as underdogs would provide a huge boost in their attempt to reach the knockout phase of a World Cup for the first time as an independent nation, having previously exited at the group stage back in 2014.

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