Leg one of the
playoffs between the hard fighting Nati of Switzerland National team and North Ireland
in their first match played in the sold out colossus of Belfast Windsor Park
turned out to be a total mess.
As a nonexistent
penalty kick product of that imaginary handball that the referee charge on the
Norn Iron defender Corry Evans in the 56 minute, became the lone away goal the
Swiss need to seal the deal on Sunday at Basel.
Still 1-0 is nothing
after the conversion to goal by the Milan defender Ricardo Rodriguez.
Cruel and unjust was
the way the Schweizer Nati delivered the lone score that at the end could be a
heavy burden for the Green and White Army going to play as a visitor as the
squad of Vladimir Petkovic can play real hardball as a local.
With the Squadra
Nationale making all sorts of efforts in the first half by pressuring the likes
of the Norn Iron defense, with arrivals from Granit Xkaha, Blerim Dzemali
earlier in the match.
In addition to these
arrivals a near play from Hans Seferovic that combed in front of the North posts
and later in the 45 Xerdan Shaqiri shoot inside the area and leaving the whole
of Windsor speechless with a near goal missed by just inches.
However, give the
Swiss an A for effort and intentions of taking the match leaning towards them
in the course of the whole evening with a series of close arrivals and plays
just missing the posts defended heroically by Michael McGovern.
Very well, the
defensive backfield that North Ireland manager Michael O’ Neill sent to
confront a dangerous Swiss counter attack known for its speed and fulminating attacks,
the Irish defense stood up until that bad call and yellow card to Corry Evans.
Citing a poor and
destitute decision by referee Ovidiu Hadegan who did not saw in full the play
when the ball hit the Norn Iron player in the shoulder and never touch his
hands, despite their protests, the play stood.
Down not even as the
second leg to play in Basel will be the definitive and one that will bring the best
of these two initial eleven’s looking forward to their Russian adventure next
year a win for the Swiss does not assure their pass as ninety minutes separates
them from their feat.
So far we have learn
from the North Ireland squad philosophy and motto of aiming and dreaming big
and they can wrap it up at the backyard of the Swiss in Basel as nothing written
yet and for the Norn Iron the fight is on.
Despite the dynamic 4-3-3
formation sent by O” Neill with Lafferty, Dallas and Magennis in the frontal attacks
little these did and despite a narrow escape on the box defended by Yan Sommer
who had a tranquil afternoon.
Josh Magennis did
slip a close shoot that went wide in the 71 that could been the equalizer, but
narrowly miss, as the Swiss showing a conservative 4-2-3-1 formation these did
survive the Norn Iron assault and persevere to decide it at their home.
Still do not count O’
Neill’s squad out of it, as the Green and White Army can play tough ball and
show off a conviction like no other when the going gets tough on them, citing
in the past European qualifiers the way these stood up their ground.
Come this Sunday its
Russia or bust for any of these two titans.
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Irish Football Association 2017
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