Switzerland hold off Hungary fightback after Duah bursts on to the scene

During the majority of the second part of the game, the cowbells rang with happiness. Despite initial concerns about Switzerland and positive talk surrounding Hungary, it was somewhat unbelievable how easily Yakin's team controlled the first half. Even though Hungary appeared sluggish, they managed to make an impact in the second half, causing Switzerland to feel uncertain. However, the victory was already within reach, and Breel Embolo solidified it with his late goal.

In the 2006 World Cup, Switzerland lost to Ukraine in a penalty shootout at this stadium. The match was very boring and lacked any excitement, it was so dull that it still holds a gravitational pull on light waves. Switzerland couldn't seem to score, as if they could have played for centuries without success. Surprisingly, Ricardo Rodriguez, a key player on the Swiss back-line, did not participate in that game. It's important to note that despite making 116 appearances for the Swiss team, Rodriguez is only 31 years old which shows how time can seem to slow down when there isn't much happening.

In a recent game, Switzerland managed to score within just 13 minutes. This is quite a contrast to their last-16 match 18 years prior. During the game, Kwadwo Duah, who was playing only his second match for the national team, made an impressive run through Hungary's midfield, causing chaos. Michel Aebischer then passed the ball to him and he scored perfectly. However, the Slovenian linesman doubted whether Switzerland could score in Cologne since their last-16 tie in 2006, and raised his flag. Nevertheless, VAR showed that at least two Hungarian players played Duah onside.

Hungary had been worried about their performance leading up to the game. Although they had only allowed seven goals in their eight qualifying matches, a recent loss to the Republic of Ireland in a friendly match exposed their weakness during transition. This is always a concern for coaches like Marco Rossi, who emphasizes the importance of relationships between players rather than just their positions. Hungary's slow pace also makes them susceptible to danger from any team, especially Switzerland which is known for not being intimidated by slow-moving opponents.

Many people were worried that Switzerland, who had made it to the final stages of the last five major tournaments, might not be as good as they used to be. However, they played with a strong determination and seemed to be specifically targeting the left wing-back, Milos Kerkez, who plays for Bournemouth. Kerkez made a mistake when he made a weak pass, which allowed Ruben Vargas to advance after 20 minutes. Although Vargas was stopped by Peter Gulacsi.

Switzerland managed to dominate Hungary quite frequently, making it hard for them to resist for too long. The second goal came in the last minute of the first half. Hungary tried to defend well but Switzerland's excellent through balls made it hard for them, and they were saved only by Aebischer's exceptional skills. Rodriguez's run created a gap in Hungary's defence and enabled Aebischer to hit a shot into the bottom corner, scoring his first international goal. Both Aebischer and his Bologna teammate Dan Ndoye were impressive in the first half, indicating Switzerland's bright future ahead as well as their past success.

The second part of the game started with Switzerland still having a lot of control, but the physicality of the Hungarian team began to show and suggested a possible comeback. Barnabas Varga, the striker from Ferencvaros, had missed a header earlier, but managed to scramble past his opponent at the back post to score from Dominik Szoboszlai's cross 21 minutes into the second half. When a team focuses on attacking, they can become vulnerable to counter-attacks, but on the other hand, this goal was a result of the team's successful teamwork and mindset.

During the last 30 minutes of the game, Hungary showed why many had believed they could come out as a surprise contender while Switzerland was met with skepticism. However, this may alter the perception of the group going forward. Switzerland had numerous chances to score, including a final goal scored by Embolo, who had been sidelined for a year due to injury. He remained calm and lobbed the ball in after Willi Orban hesitated during a long clearance. The Hungary team that played was unexpected, as was the Swiss team to the delight of the fans.