Spain 4-1 Switzerland (8 Sep 2024) Match Analysis

Spaniard Fabian Ruiz scored twice in pouring rain in Geneva as his 10-man team beat Switzerland 4-1 to secure their first win in Nations League A Group Four on Sunday and inflict a second straight defeat on their home side.

Euro 2024 winners Spain drew 0-0 with Serbia in their group opening match but came into their own at the Stade de Genève when Joselu and Ruiz put them 2-0 up inside 13 minutes.

A red card for Spanish defender Robin Le Normand after 20 minutes was a setback and brought Switzerland back into the game, as Zeki Amdouni scored just before half-time.

But as the Swiss went for an equaliser in the closing stages, Ruiz scored his second and Ferran Torres was also the first to score as Spain bombarded the home side with lightning-fast counter-attacks.

“If there is one thing I like to boast about, it is the pride I have always felt for this team,” said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente. “When circumstances like this happen, you feel even more proud.

“With 10 men we were able to interpret the game in a masterful way. I am very proud of this team and every day we see that we continue to grow and that we can do even better.”

Switzerland lost 2-0 to Denmark in their group opener on Thursday and are already behind, regretting two disallowed goals and a penalty appeal that was rejected.

Spain took the lead after just four minutes when 17-year-old Lamine Yamal played tricks down the right and drove towards the byline, then delivered a cross that Joselu headed home.

---

Becir Omeragic thought he had scored the equaliser a few minutes later, but his effort was disallowed due to a handball by Remo Freuler in the run-up to the equaliser.

Spain doubled their lead in a lively opening period when Nico Williams’ first-time shot was saved by goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and the ball fell to Ruiz, who fired his effort into the net.

Midway through the first half, the visitors were down to ten men when Breel Embolo was stopped by Le Normand, who threatened to run out of the striker’s way. The Spaniard was shown a red card by referee Irfan Peljto.

After a free kick from Amdouni hit the crossbar, the attacker found the net five minutes before half-time by tapping the ball in from close range.

Switzerland thought they would be awarded a penalty at the end of the first half when Lamine Yamal got the ball on his arm, but the referee allowed play to continue.

Amdouni thought he had scored again from another corner, but the ball was out of play and the attempt was disallowed.

Spain secured the points with a third goal on the break when Torres was released and his cross was turned into the far corner by Ruiz. Torres then scored a fourth himself to add further lustre to a comfortable victory.

“The goals we conceded were unnecessary,” said Swiss defender Manuel Akanji. “There were communication errors and the goals came too easily. When we were 2-0 down, we did well. They had a lot of trouble defending Breel.

“In the second half we didn’t do all the good things we did in the first half. We got into counter-attacks and got punished. Overall we didn’t do enough.”