Ben Fisher was in Baku to witness Kieffer Moore’s heroics. His report has landed, so off you click. As for the 5pm kick-off between Denmark and Finland, Barry Glendenning, like a pint of plain, is your only man. Thanks for reading this MBM.
Gareth Bale speaks to the Beeb. “Obviously a hard game. Both teams tried to play. It was the opening game, so it was a little bit tense. It wasn’t a bad result, so we take the positives. We had chances but so did they. You go one down and you can crumble, but we showed our class to keep playing and fight for the goal back. We worked hard, it was difficult in this heat, but we showed a lot of fight, determination and character. We have to keep on working and use this as a springboard for the next game.”
Rob Page talks to the BBC. “We wanted a positive start, and it feels like a win in the changing room. I’m so proud of the players for digging so deep. We got a bit of luck with the offside, but I wanted a positive performance and we certainly got that. We knew Switzerland would have a lot of the ball and that we’d have to be solid and organised defensively. Shaqiri was causing us a few problems. Unfortunately the gaps started to appear in the second half and they exploited that. Dan James looked dead on his feet because of the work he put in. He was disappointed coming off, but he’s great in there now, and it’s all about the squad. Kieffer Moore has been terrific at international and club level. He thoroughly deserved his goal. Turkey will be a tough test but we’re positive.”
Kieffer Moore speaks to the BBC. “It’s great personally, but it’s a good start for us. We would have liked to have won, but a draw from the first game puts us in a good position. It’s never good going a goal down, but to get one back and see the game out is a big positive for us. It was tough in the heat, but it’s what we expect in a hot climate, and we’re used to it. I’m enjoying it. It’s a big occasion and I’m loving every second of it!”
Wales look much the happier side after this draw. Kieffer Moore is understandably all smiles, receiving the congratulations of his team-mates. The Swiss are more subdued, having dominated the game and created the majority of the chances. But Wales dug in and got their reward for a determined response to going behind. They form a big huddle as Gareth Bale delivers a post-match pep-talk. A big game against Turkey coming up. The Swiss face an even bigger one against Italy, and may reflect that taking off Xherdan Shaqiri wasn’t the greatest idea.
FULL TIME: Wales 1-1 Switzerland
The Swiss were the dominant side, but Kieffer Moore’s superb header has earned a precious point for Wales!
90 min +4: Mbabu sashays down the left and wins yet another corner for the Swiss. Rodriguez’s delivery is too long. Xhaka sends it back in from the right, and Ward claims confidently.
90 min +3: Wales are clinging on a bit here. Ampadu replaces Ramsey.
90 min +2: Mbabu drives down the middle then slips a pass down the right channel for Gavranovic, who spins and shoots. The half-blocked ball looks like looping over Ward and into the top left, but Ward claws away. The flag goes up for offside anyway.
90 min +1: One corner leads to another, which leads to nothing. There will be five extra minutes.
90 min: Zakaria wins a corner down the right. It’s hit long. Embolo wins a header, eight yards out. It’s going in. Allen does just enough to deflect it over the bar.
88 min: The ball bounces on the edge of the Swiss box, but doesn’t sit for Bale, who was hoping to send a fierce shot goalwards. His eventual effort is easily blocked.
87 min: That VAR check took quite a while, and no wonder. What to the naked eye looked an obvious offside was in fact one of those toenail / armpit-hair jobs. Closer than we all thought! But offside is offside, and Wales escape.
NO GOAL! Wales 1-1 Switzerland
VAR has a look ... and Gavranovic was clearly offside. Wales breathe again!
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GOAL! Wales 1-2 Switzerland (Gavranovic 85)
A ball loops into the Welsh box down the left. Embolo rises to head back inside. Gavranovic, on the pitch for less than a minute, meets the dropping ball and lashes home. He wheels off to celebrate ... but is he offside?
84 min: Seferovic makes way for Gavranovic.
83 min: Brooks curls across the face of the Swiss six-yard box from the left. Ramsey slides in at the far stick, just inches away from poking home.
81 min: Seferovic grafts hard down the right, refusing to ship possession, then cutting back for Zakaria, whose low drive is blocked by Rodon. Both sides are in the mood for this, out in search of a winner.
79 min: Davies has a lash from distance. He shanks it miles wide left.
77 min: Mbabu crosses from the right. Embolo makes a hash of his header at the far post. Six yards out, he should have put the Swiss back into the lead.
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75 min: That was such a well-worked goal ... and out of nowhere, really! The small Welsh contingent in Baku make enough noise for 40,000! Before the restart, James rather surprisingly makes way for Brooks. He’s not particularly happy about it.
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GOAL! Wales 1-1 Switzerland (Moore 74)
This is better from Wales all right! A short corner’s worked back down the right flank for Morrell, who curls into the box. Moore, in a pocket of space by the penalty spot, guides a superb header across Sommer and into the bottom left!
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73 min: This is better from Wales. Ramsey rolls a pass down the left for Davies, forcing Akanji into the concession of a corner on the right.
72 min: Wales continue to stroke it around, but the Swiss seem happy enough to let them do it, because they’re nowhere near the final third.
70 min: A little bit of Welsh possession, but it’s all very sterile. It’s been a low-energy second-half performance by Wales.
68 min: Switzerland aren’t in complete control, but they do look comfortable. Wales aren’t doing too much to worry them. There’s little by way of a press.
66 min: Shaqiri departs with an assist to his name. Zakaria comes on in his place.
65 min: Embolo dribbles down the left, uses Mepham as a shield before curling towards the bottom right. It files inches wide, with Ward surely beaten.
64 min: Nope. Ramsey sends a glorious inswinger towards the far post. All it needs is a nudge, but nobody attacks the ball, which sails inches wide of goal. As good a delivery as you’ll see.
63 min: Mbabu dispossesses James with a fine sliding tackle. The referee doesn’t see it that way, giving Wales a free kick to the left of the Swiss box, and issuing Mbabu with an absurd booking. Mbabu looks perplexed, and rightly so. Can Wales take advantage?
62 min: Embolo is back up and running.
61 min: James takes the corner. It’s worked out to Davies, who sends a rasping drive over the bar from the edge of the box. But there’s a flick off Seferovic, so James gets another go ... but hoicks the second one over everybody and away from harm, releasing all the pressure.
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60 min: James turns on the jets again and wins a corner off Embolo. Before it can be taken, Embolo goes down, James having accidentally scraped his ankle during the challenge.
58 min: James has looked the most dangerous of those in red. He makes some space down the left and crosses low. The ball whistles all the way through to Roberts on the other flank, but as he prepares to shoot, Shaqiri gets involved to clear.
57 min: Ramsey curls a ball in from the right. James flashes a header goalwards from distance, but it’s blocked and cleared without too much fuss.
56 min: Embolo embarks on another determined run down the middle. He’s crowded out, but it takes three men. He’s flying at the minute.
54 min: Wales are so fortunate not to be two down. That would have been quite the double whammy, pretty much all of it down to the irrepressible Breel Embolo.
52 min: Embolo is on fire right now. He dribbles sensationally down the middle of the park, leaving a trail of red devastation behind him. Upon reaching the edge of the box, he feeds Mbabu in acres to his right. What comes next is neither cross nor shot, some diagonal weirdness that dribbles harmlessly wide left. What a run, though!
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50 min: That was a fine delivery by Shaqiri, whipped in with pace, allowing Embolo to cleverly pick his spot.
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GOAL! Wales 0-1 Switzerland (Embolo 49)
Shaqiri takes. Embolo rises above Roberts and steers a fine header into the bottom left. Simple as that. Ward had no chance. On the balance of play, that had been coming.
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49 min: Embolo turns away from Davies and Rodon, reaching the edge of the box. His rising shot is tipped over by Ward. And from the corner ...
48 min: Schar takes a while to get up ... and he looks a little groggy when he finally does. He’s off the pitch getting some running repairs.
47 min: Moore is booked for leading with his elbow as he challenges Schar for a high ball.
46 min: The ball’s sent witlessly out of play within six seconds of the restart. Hopefully not a harbinger of things to come.
Wales get the second half underway. No changes yet. “This feels like a deja vu of yesterday’s game, down to the more proactive team playing in white and the defensive team in red,” writes Kári Tulinius. “Though Switzerland is a lot less dominant than Italy, and Wales looking likelier to score than Turkey ever did. And Turkey don’t have a Gareth Bale.”
Half-time ad break.
HALF TIME: Wales 0-0 Switzerland
The Swiss have been on top, though Kieffer Moore came very close to scoring with a superb header. It’s nicely poised.
45 min +1: Wales are nearly undone by a simple ball down the middle. Embolo brings it down inside the box, his back to goal. Mepham grabs a handful of his shirt, but Embolo stays honest. Instead of going down, looking for a penalty he may well have got, he lays off to Seferovic, who lashes high and wide from ten yards. A big let-off.
45 min: The corner’s only half cleared. For a second, it looks as though Shaqiri is going to blast a shot goalwards from the edge of the box, but the ball doesn’t quite sit down for him, and he’s crowded out.
44 min: Mbabu’s good to continue. Shaqiri takes the free kick, hitting it long. Bale rises at the far post and concedes a corner, with Seferovic lurking.
43 min: Davies comes through the back of Mbabu and is fortunate not to go into the book. A free kick for the Swiss out on the right. Everyone lines up on the edge of the Welsh box ... but first the physio comes on to double-check that Mbabu is OK.
41 min: Seferovic breaks a prolonged bout of tedium by sending a speculative effort over the bar from distance. He screams in irritation.
40 min: Bing and then bong.
38 min: This has become a little scrappy. The ball’s like a pixel in a game of Pong.
36 min: Switzerland continue to push Wales back. Embolo is afforded too much time, 25 yards out, and aims for the top right. His shot is deflected out, and Shaqiri gets another crack at a corner. This one’s not much cop either. Uncharacteristically poor delivery so far from the Power Cube.
34 min: Shaqiri’s delivery isn’t all that, but he gets a second opportunity. The retake isn’t much better.
33 min: Freuler hoicks one in from the left. Davies does well to head out for a corner, under pressure from Seferovic.
31 min: Wales load the box. Bale stands over the free kick. He curls towards the far post. A fine delivery, but nobody in red attacks the ball. It sails away harmlessly.
30 min: James tears down the left wing and threatens to whizz past Schar. He’s about to break into the box, so Schar cynically checks him, taking a booking for the team. This is a free kick in a very dangerous position, just to the left of the box.
29 min: Xhaka strides down the left before threading a pass inside for Shaqiri, who is bundled over but gets no free kick. He’s not happy.
27 min: Seferovic turns on the edge of the box and curls powerfully towards the top left. Just wide. He reacts accordingly, sucking back some air. Very close. Switzerland are on top.
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26 min: Schar drives forward, down the inside-right channel, and attempts a one-two with Seferovic. Ramsey tracks back to intercept the return, just as Schar threatens to break into the box.
24 min: Shaqiri dinks in from the right. Roberts heads clear under pressure from Seferovic. Xhaka latches onto the clearance and sends a low drive wide right. Switzerland are getting plenty of joy down this right flank.
22 min: Somewhere in the multiverse, this game is 1-1, both sides having scored a marvellous goal. Switzerland, their tails up, come again, Seferovic getting on the end of a left-wing cross but heading harmlessly wide right. A nice open start to this match.
20 min: The corner’s hit low and hard towards the near post. Schar meets it with a backflick. It’s cute, and heading into the bottom right. Ward is positioned well to hack off the line. Great save. A second corner leads to nothing.
19 min: Moore comes back on. Then Mbabu busies himself down the right and wins another Swiss corner.
18 min: Moore temporarily departs so the physio can apply a bright red bandage to his sore head.
17 min: At the corner, Moore and Mbabu clash heads. Moore comes off worst and requires some lengthy treatment to stem the flow of blood.
15 min: Some room for James down the left. He curls towards Moore, who heads back towards the top left. It’s a wonderful steered header, and sailing in. Sommer arches his back and tips sensationally over the bar. That’s world-class football all round.
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13 min: Bale spins gracefully into space down the right. He reaches the byline but is hassled by Rodriguez. Rushed, he gets far too much on his cross, meant for Moore at the far post. Goal kick.
11 min: Shaqiri crosses dangerously from the right. Rodon heads clear. Xhaka returns the ball with a shot of extreme prejudice. It’s really travelling, but hits his own man Seferovic and balloons away from danger.
10 min: After their slow start, Switzerland are beginning to dominate possession. Wales seem happy enough to sit back and wait for an opportunity to counter.
8 min: Mepham sweeps both ball and Embolo away with one confident slide tackle. No nonsense. Embolo stays down, wanting a free kick, but he’s not getting one.
7 min: Rodriguez’s delivery is woeful. For a second, it looks as though James is going to counter down the left, but Mbabu puts a stop to his gallop.
6 min: The Swiss settle, stringing a few passes together. Rodriguez crosses from the left. Mbabu rises highest at the far post, and his header leads to the first corner of the game.
4 min: Switzerland by contrast look a little nervous during these very early exchanges. Akanji sends a simple sideways pass into Row Z.
3 min: Wales win the ball again, Bale sending Roberts into space down the right. His low cross is hacked clear. This is a bright start by 2016’s semi-finalists.
2 min: Switzerland spend the first minute stroking the ball around the back. But then Wales snaffle it, James sent scuttling down the left wing. He curls into the Swiss box; Sommer claims easily enough.
The captains Gareth Bale and Granit Xhaka exchange pennants and pleasantries ... a knee is taken ... then Switzerland kick off. Here’s Matt Dony: “Right. I’ve been listening to Together Stronger and Bing Bong on a loop, reminiscing about 2016, and I am ex-ci-ted! This time around, it might well be an anti-climax. Let’s be honest, 2016 was magical in part because everything was new and there were no expectations. This is a horrible group, and I’m a looooong way from being confident. But it’s happening, and I’m determined to enjoy it whatever!”
Here come the teams! Wales are in dragon red, forcing the Swiss into second-choice white. We’ll be off soon, after a blast of the Welsh national anthem ...
... and the Swiss Psalm. People like to say salsa Swiss Psalm.
There are “a few hundred” Welsh fans in situ in Baku. Here are some of them, recovering from a long flight.
Beer is also on sale in Cardiff, where fans are gathering at a Fanzone.
Rob Page talks to the BBC. “We want to get the best 11 on the pitch, and the team picks the formation. That’s what we’ve done, we had that in mind all along. We’ve used the two friendlies to get minutes into the players and get them in the right position to play today. It’s a good problem to have when you have great goalkeepers. Neither are playing domestic football so I had to go with my gut on that one; Danny Ward has played his way into the team. It was always the plan to manage Aaron Ramsey slightly differently to the rest of the group. In the main he’s trained every day, it was just when the press were here we chose to keep him off the grass. There was no concern, and he was on the team sheet. If I’m the opposing manager and I’m looking at that teamsheet ... it’s exciting on paper!”
If this game is half as much fun as last night’s, we’re in for a treat. Paul Doyle sat down to watch Italy eviscerate Turkey, remote in one hand, quill in the other. Here’s his verdict on the tournament’s - and the BBC’s - opening night.
You’ll be wanting some expert analysis, then. Here’s what to expect from the two teams this afternoon, courtesy of our expert analysts.
Kieffer Moore starts for Wales, then. Reward for his disruptive second-half performance against Albania last weekend. Danny Ward gets the nod over Wayne Hennessey in goal. The busy young trio of David Brooks, Harry Wilson and Neco Williams are held back on the bench.
There’s plenty of Premier League representation from Switzerland: Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka is captain, while Liverpool’s Xherdan Shaqiri and Fabian Schar of Newcastle also start.
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The teams
Wales: Ward, Connor Roberts, Mepham, Rodon, Ben Davies, Allen, Morrell, Ramsey, Bale, Moore, James.
Subs: Hennessey, Gunter, Neco Williams, Lockyer, Wilson, Tyler Roberts, Ampadu, Norrington-Davies, Jonathan Williams, Brooks, Adam Davies, Levitt.
Switzerland: Sommer, Elvedi, Schar, Akanji, Mbabu, Xhaka, Freuler, Rodriguez, Shaqiri, Embolo, Seferovic.
Subs: Widmer, Zakaria, Vargas, Mvogo, Zuber, Sow, Fassnacht, Benito, Mehmedi, Gavranovic, Omlin, Comert.
Referee: Clement Turpin (France).
Preamble
Wales waited 56 years to make it to their first European Championship finals. You know how these things happen; like Cardiff buses, a second one’s turned up immediately. Nobody’s been seriously talking about a repeat run to the semis … but then again, what’s the point in competing if there’s no room for dreaming?
It’s not as though it’s beyond the realms. Joe Allen, Gareth Bale, Ben Davies, Chris Gunter, Wayne Hennessey, Aaron Ramsey, Danny Ward and Jonny Williams are all back and ready to go again. Meanwhile there’s plenty of fresh meat – Dan James, Harry Wilson, Tyler Roberts, Neco Williams, David Brooks – and so plenty here for Rob Page to work with.
Switzerland, a steady tournament outfit who made it to the last 16 at Euro 2016 and the World Cup two years later, have their eye on a Walian-style deep run themselves. Hey, if the Power Cube is plugged in, anything is possible. They’re on a five-match winning streak, and unlike Wales, have a couple of 2020-21 domestic champions in their squad, in the shape of Mario Gavranović of Dinamo Zagreb and Christian Fassnacht with Young Boys. A test, right here, for Page and his lads.
Italy’s flinging down of the gauntlet last night against Turkey has ramped up the pressure for both teams. Can either join the Azzurri at the top of Group A with three points? Kick-off at the Baku Olympic Stadium is at 2pm BST, 5pm local time in Azerbaijan. It’s on!
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