Serbia vs Switzerland, LIVE World Cup 2018: Xherdan Shaqiri completes Swiss comeback – latest score and updates from Kaliningrad
Follow all the latest news from the Group E clash in Kaliningrad
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Serbia will be hoping to seal their qualification for the World Cup knockout stage with a victory against Switzerland in Kaliningrad.
Mladen Krstajic’s men were unlucky not to beat Costa Rica more convincingly in their first match, and they may have to be more ruthless when they face a stubborn Swiss side that successfully stifled tournament favourites Brazil to earn a 1-1 draw.
Switzerland’s defence is their biggest strength, and they will have identified Lazio playmaker Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as a key threat to their hopes of victory.
Follow all the live action below...
Please allow a moment for the blog to load
What time is it?
Serbia vs Switzerland kicks off at 7pm.
Where can I watch it?
The game will be shown live on BBC One. It will also be shown on the BBC website.
Odds
Serbia: 9/5
Switzerland: 47/23
Draw: 20/9
Prediction
Serbia 1-0 Switzerland: Neither of these teams are full of goals but Serbia’s greater creativity in attack should provide the breakthrough they need at some stage.
As the two teams emerge from the tunnel of the Kaliningrad Stadium, the BBC tell us for the third time this evening that we are at the most westerly ground at this World Cup. Useless information that I am nevertheless choosing to utilise within this section.
To be honest, the two national anthems sounded pretty similar, the one difference being the Swiss's came littered with boos from the Serbians in the crowd.
KICK-OFF: We're underway in Kaliningrad! It's meat versus chocolate. It's Djokovic versus Federer. It's Serbia versus Switzerland.
2 mins: An Aleksandar Kolarov free-kick was the difference in Serbia's opener with Costa Rica, and the left-back is causing problems with his set-pieces here already. A deep delivery into the Swiss box is headed back across goal towards Aleksandar Mitrovic. The striker attempts to turn, but goes to ground with Valon Behrami in close attendance...and when I say Mitrovic "goes to ground," I actually mean he pulls his opponent down with him in typically robust style.
5 mins: GOAL! SERBIA 1 SWITZERLAND 0:
Mitro's on fire! Moments after Yann Sommer had denied Aleksandar Mitrovic a goal with a header, the Serbian striker retaliates with the opener. Dusan Tadic twisted Ricardo Rodriguez one way and then the other on the right wing before delivering a teasing cross into the centre. Undeterred by his previous miss, there was Mitrovic to rise above Fabian Schaer and turn a wonderful effort past Sommer from ten yards.
10 mins: Switzerland come forward for the first time since falling behind. Rodriquez worked a cross to the edge of the penalty area from the left touchline, only for Blerim Dzemaili to drag a shot wide of Vladimir Stojkovic's goal from 20 yards.
Mate, if you think that's good, you wanna see what he was like down the Cottage.
14 mins: Mitrovic is causing the Swiss all kinds of problems, not just in front of goal but with his build-up play. He takes Schar completely out of the game again to feed Kostic down the left, and only just fails to get on the end of the winger's delivery back into the box. Seconds later, Milinkovic-Savic follows up with a powerful drive from outside the area that flies just wide of the far post.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments