00:05Makhboud Abunada is chosen in goal to make just his seventh appearance for Qatar ahead of the
00:10vastly more experienced Michel Barsham. Five of this team played at the 2022 FIFA World Cup
00:15including Akram Afif who scored four goals in qualifying.
00:21Granit Xhaka and Ricardo Rodriguez both make history today as they play for the 13th time
00:27at a FIFA World Cup. It's the fourth World Cup for both of them and it's the most appearances at
00:32a
00:32World Cup by a Swiss player. Goalkeeper Gregor Kubal and defenders Nico Elvedi and Manuel Akanji
00:38all played every minute in qualifying. Striker Braille Mbelo scored two goals.
00:46Switzerland head coach Mourad Yaka said yesterday that his team would be on the front foot right
00:54from the kickoff hoping for an early goal hoping for an early breakthrough.
00:59Juleen Lopetegui the head coach of Qatar saying we've made history in qualifying for a FIFA World Cup
01:06and we don't want that history making. Almost getting that one over the top.
01:11Alvedi with the header away and now a great chance for Qatar Edmilsson Junior foiled by Kubal.
01:20Roshimu started two games at the last World Cup. Now here's a chance for Ndoy.
01:24Dan Ndoy excellent save. Abunada getting down low. Unable to prevent that effort from Ndoy.
01:36Vargas.
01:39Cross on the overlap and it was met by Dan Ndoy and he put it high.
01:46That could.
01:47Defenders are all up hoping to get on the end of it.
01:55Abunada might well have seen that very late but for the third time it's had to do.
01:59Tantori tends to go forward as yet.
02:02Zakaria teasing cross into the middle.
02:04Is it going to be touched here? Is that a penalty?
02:06What does the referee say?
02:08He says spot kick.
02:09Fouled by Abunada.
02:33And while the goalkeeper received treatment let's have another look again.
02:37Is there a possible offside there in the middle?
02:40Very very tight isn't it?
02:41As we know with technology.
02:44Concerned for Qatar that they might be about to face a penalty but their goalkeeper there clattered into.
02:52It's Fruyler.
02:54And he both attempted to get on the end of that ball.
02:58It's a hefty hefty challenge isn't it?
03:01Brave to a degree for the goalkeeper to come out.
03:07It certainly has come off worse in that particular exchange and has had such a good game so far.
03:15Penalty is still being checked.
03:24It's Embolo.
03:26And it's one more Switzerland.
03:36They said they wanted to make an early breakthrough and they have done exactly that.
03:41It's only took a while before the actual stock it was taken for BĂ©lin Melo to think about where he
03:46was going to place it.
03:47And it's fine in the back of the net.
03:49Casually walking up watching where Abunada goes.
03:51Almost waiting for the goalkeeper to jump to his left.
03:54And coolly placed in the opposite corner.
03:58It's been good chances so far for Switzerland.
04:00They've dominated proceedings so far in this game.
04:03Abunada has had a cracking game up until that point.
04:17And it's been good chances so far in this game.
04:36Capitalised to Podmo by Andoy.
04:39Andoy just asking.
04:41Minimal movement until it's time to press the accelerator.
04:46And the key thing is from Qatar's point of view, don't allow any gaps.
04:49Gats switch off for a second.
04:52Chaka.
04:54Abashir drives it across.
04:57That is a corner.
05:00Abunada with yet another save.
05:02It certainly feels like it's a mid-hit cross, doesn't it?
05:05Abashir finding himself with just a couple of yards of space.
05:08Six yards away.
05:10There was plenty of debate ahead of this game as to whether Switzerland will play a back three or a
05:14back four.
05:14Chance.
05:16Ed Milson Jr.
05:18With the effort.
05:19And Kubal puts it behind.
05:22Nothing hesitant there about the goalkeeping, wasn't they?
05:24First real attack that we've seen for quite...
05:27Andoy, who's moved across to that left-hand side with Vargas now on the right.
05:32Abashir.
05:34Andoy.
05:35Another excellent save from Abunada.
05:39Russia and I was actually in Sochi ahead of that opening game against Portugal, which was a magnificent game.
05:44And he was basically sacked by the Spanish FA.
05:49Embelo.
05:50Lovely little ball back.
05:51And just the wrong side of the post from Vargas.
06:04It's a fantastic play once again, isn't it, from Switzerland.
06:07And once again, we keep mentioning it.
06:09There's no chase and the game needed.
06:10It's a big...
06:11Royla.
06:12Almost getting in behind.
06:14Embelo picking up possession.
06:15Super chance.
06:16Cleared off the line.
06:18Michel Abashir must surely have thought there that he was going to double Switzerland's lead.
06:23Penalty area for Switzerland.
06:28Vargas with the delivery.
06:30And the header is over.
06:33And the referees decided that it...
06:35Royla.
06:37Drives it deep.
06:38Well, it could have been cleared by the defender then, but it wasn't.
06:42And Andoy can't play it back into the middle.
06:46He made the best of an opportunity, Dan Andoy, that he didn't really believe was coming his way.
06:51Royla was the man with the ball into the box.
06:55But for a couple of extra inches, that had been cleared before he got to the feet of Dan Andoy.
07:03He's been a live wire in the game.
07:05Vargas.
07:05Trying to take on Miguel.
07:08Floated in.
07:09And it was curling.
07:11But always just from Granit Xhaka, curling away from goal.
07:15Really good ball, wasn't it?
07:17Glorious left foot of his, just caressing it with pace into such a dangerous area.
07:23One of his teammates really knowing whereabouts he wanted the ball to go.
07:27It does feel like there's a bit more impetus though from Qatar after that hydration break.
07:32Vargas, bearing down on goal.
07:34Vargas.
07:37Abunada again to the rescue.
07:39Manzampi, brilliant.
07:41Just wide from Ambelo.
07:46Super football from Switzerland.
07:49A box seat, watching one of the real masters at work.
07:51Didn't enjoy talking about defending.
07:54Always talked about going forward.
08:00Nice little touch.
08:02Manzampi will go for goal.
08:11Al Munek.
08:16Can he turn and shoot he can.
08:19Ahmed Al-Aldi.
08:23With a chance for Qatar to draw level in the closing stages.
08:27Feels like the best chance of the second half, doesn't it, for Qatar.
08:32Unless something happens in the last few moments.
08:37Decent ball.
08:38And it's running in.
08:39Ball and Hokey.
08:43What an ending.
08:47It was a superb cross in.
08:49And Hokey was on the end of it.
08:51To make it 1-1.
08:53With just seconds left.
08:55What a moment.
08:56What a moment.
08:59It's a big welcome in all of its glory.
09:01The jeopardy was always there when the scoreline was only 1-0.
09:05Chance after chance after chance.
09:07When begging for Switzerland.
09:10Qatar.
09:10Do not mind one bit.
09:14Every single member of the staff open off the bench.
09:18They've been ruining the many opportunities that they just didn't take.
09:25All around us.
09:28There is one side of the stadium full of people jumping and dancing and waving the flag of Qatar.
09:35And at the other end, the Swiss fans, stunned.
09:41Sitting, slumped in their seats.
09:45Manzambi.
09:48Corner.
09:49Could we have yet more drama?
09:51Well, they cranked it up once again.
09:52They were too comfortable in this game, Switzerland, for such a long time.
09:56All those chances.
09:58All that time they were taken to get the ball back.
10:00Let me dare to put you on there.
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