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.
19 mins: Fans of Sheffield United, Preston, Bristol City, Sunderland, Wolves and Brentford will know exactly what the Swiss are going through right now. They are being run ragged by Mitrovic, who controls an Ivanovic cross with his chest on the edge of the box before unleashing an overhead kick wide of goal. The one consolation for Switzerland right now is that Ryan Sessegnon isn't Serbian as well.
25 mins: Rodriguez tries to get in behind Ivanovic on the left, only for a last-ditch tackle to deny the overlapping full-back from making inroads. It wins Switzerland their second corner of the game though, one from which Manuel Akanji almost gets a clean connection with a header. The defender turns his effort wide under pressure from Mitrovic, proving once again that Serbia's defending starts from the front.
30 mins: A great save from Stojkovic keeps Serbia's lead in tact! A beautifully weighted pass from Steven Zuber between defence and goalkeeper had Blerim Dzemaili on his toes. Amid a rush to the ball, the Swiss forward got there first, only to see his clipped shot pushed away at close quarters by the Partizan Belgrade goalkeeper.
33 mins: A first yellow card of the game is shown to Sergej Milinkovic-Savic by referee Felix Brych of Germany. The Lazio midfielder was penalised for catching Schar on the instep with his studs.
A tournament with only 26 games? The public might have actually got some work done that summer.
37 mins: Sommer is required to make another stop, albeit a routine one. Mitrovic put himself about in the box one again, drawing defenders to him like moths to the flames of an on fire striker, and that afforded Tadic the room to strike a shot from 22 yards straight at the Swiss goalkeeper.
39 mins: Luka Milivojevic is the second Serbian player to find himself cautioned in this first half. The Crystal Palace midfielder finds himself in Felix Brych's notebook after he hacked down Xherdan Shaqiri.
44 mins: Serbia win their first corner of the game and, my word, I do not know how it hasn't led to their second goal. A beautiful inswinger from Tadic on the right has the Swiss all of a panic, but the ball evades a number of red shirts before catching Nemanja Matic unaware at the far post.
45+1 mins: The Swiss need half-time. After a decent spell, Vladimir Petkovic's team are hanging on. Milinkovic-Savic expertly heads down a lofted pass on the edge of the box for Tadic to smash a left-footed drive over the crossbra.
45+2 mins: Nemanja Matic is the third Serbian cautioned. It's a harsh punishment for the Manchester United midfielder, who did little more than bundle over new Arsenal signing Stephan Lichtsteiner. Perhaps they were just getting in their new Premier League rivalry earlier.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments