Switzerland 4 Wales 1:BRIAN FLYNN is the type of person who always tries to find a silver lining, but the harsh reality for the caretaker manager is that he has now presided over two defeats in five days and contributed to the worst start Wales have made to a qualifying campaign in more than 40 years.
With three matches played, Wales have no points on the board, are bottom of the group and have no chance of qualifying for the 2012 finals.
For long periods in the second half Wales were still in this game, and had opportunities to secure a second equaliser, but in the end the occasion proved to be too much for Flynn’s callow side. Gokhan Inler’s penalty, after Christian Ribeiro was adjudged to have pushed Tranquillo Barnetta, increased Switzerland’s lead and Valentin Stocker grabbed his second of the night late on to embellish the scoreline.
Wales got off to a dreadful start, when they conceded after eight minutes. Barnetta thumped a 12-yard shot that Wayne Hennessey repelled, but Stocker scored off the rebound.
Wales equalised within five minutes, Andrew Crofts’ sliding tackle allowed Bale to bear down on goal and score with little fuss. Wales were playing with renewed belief and almost had a second, but James Collins’ header from Bale’s corner was cleared off the line.
Back came Switzerland, and when the ball broke to Inler on the edge of the area, he found Streller, whose volley was poorly hit, but still found the net.
- Guardian Service
SWITZERLAND:Benaglio (Wolfli 8), Lichtsteiner, Ziegler, Von Bergen, Grichting, Schwegler (Fernandes 90), Barnetta, Inler, Stocker, Frei (Derdiyok 78), Streller. Subs not used: Affolter, Yakin, Degen, Shaqiri.
WALES:Hennessey, Blake (Ribeiro 54), James Collins, Williams, Danny Collins, Crofts, Edwards (Morison 77), King, Bale, Vaughan (MacDonald 88), Church. Subs not used: Cornell, Morgan, Taylor, Doble.
Referee: A Hamer (Luxembourg).
Stocker 8, 89
Streller 21, Inler 82 pen
Bale 13
Att:38,500
