Gelson Fernandes scored from close range after 52 minutes in Durban, South Africa, as Switzerland ended a 12-match winning run by Spain.[break]
“If you played this match again, I don’t think the same thing would happen,” Spain coach Vicente del Bosque told reporters. “We could have scored, but today was not our day.”
Switzerland now hasn’t allowed a goal in five straight World Cup games -- matching Italy’s record in 1990. The last World Cup goal given up by the Swiss was in 1994 when Txiki Beguiristain scored a penalty in the 86th minute of a round-of- 16 match won by Spain 3-0. The Swiss were eliminated in the round of 16 in 2006 in Germany without conceding a goal.
The loss leaves Spain at the bottom of the group, tied with Honduras with no points. No team has ever lost its opening match and gone on to become champion.
Fernandes’s second international goal secured Switzerland’s shock win, as the man of the match bundled the ball over the goalline after a rare attack by his team.
Spain dominated possession, and with 24 shots had three times as many as Switzerland, but was unable to break down a resolute defense.
Switzerland even coped with a foot injury to center-back Philippe Senderos, who was replaced by Steve von Bergen after 36 minutes. Senderos is in doubt for the next game, against Chile on June 21, coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said.
Center-back Gerard Pique had Spain’s best chance of the first half in front of a crowd of 62,453, goalkeeper Diego Benaglio stopping the effort with his legs.
Benaglio then closed down David Villa after 61 minutes to protect his team’s lead. He was left helpless when Xabi Alonso cracked the bar with a long-range effort 10 minutes later.
Spain continued to push and spent most of the remainder of the match on the attack. There was still time for another Switzerland chance, Eren Derdiyok hitting the post with 15 minutes remaining.
Spain, ranked No. 2 by soccer’s governing body FIFA, had won 27 of its previous 28 internationals, with its only defeat in 48 coming against the U.S. in last year’s Confederations Cup.
“We really must give everything,” Del Bosque said. “We can’t just leave our heads hanging, we have to fight for it.”
William Hill maintained Spain as the favorite, although lengthened its odds to 9-2. Ladbrokes now makes Brazil -- which could meet Spain in the last 16 -- the favorite.
Chile won on Jean Beausejour’s goal, which gave his nation its first World Cup victory in 48 years.
Beausejour’s 34th-minute strike was little reward for Chile’s consistent pressure and numerous scoring chances in Nelspruit. The nation’s last win came on this date in 1962 when it beat Yugoslavia to clinch third place as tournament host.
“We deserved the win, but we should have scored more goals,” Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa told reporters. “Defensively, we didn’t give a lot of chances away.”
Chile, even without injured striker Humberto Suazo, still had too much attacking power and variety for Honduras, which was making its first appearance at the tournament since 1982.
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