Switzerland extend a 60-year World Cup record despite draw with Qatar

Switzerland have earned a draw in their opening World Cup fixture as they drew 1-1 with Qatar, and in the process they have extended a 60-year record.

The European side were dominant throughout the match and will have felt they deserved all three points, but they were shocked in stoppage time as Qatar snatched a point.

There will be disappointment among the Swiss as they could have taken control of the group following the draw between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina, but they could only secure a point in this clash against Qatar.

This has left the group wide open regarding who will progress to the knockout stage of the World Cup, as all four teams are on one point.

Switzerland’s goal came from the penalty spot, with Breel Embolo sending the keeper the wrong way in the 17th minute, while the Qatari equaliser came in stoppage time through Boualem Khoukhi.

The Swiss still have to face Canada along with Bosnia and Herzegovina in their remaining group games, and they will be hoping to put themselves at the top of the table.

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The last time they finished top of a group was in 2006, when they became the only team not to concede a single goal from their four goals at that iteration of the World Cup.

While this will be the focus, the players and fans will be pleased to know they have extended a 60-year record for the Swiss, as they have not suffered a defeat in their opening game of a World Cup since 1966, when they lost 5-0 to West Germany.

Since then, they have won three and drawn four thanks to this most recent draw in the competition against Qatar.

There will be some hope within the Swiss squad and among their supporters that they can progress past the second round for the first time since 1954, when they reached the quarter final, an obvious ambition for the European nation this year, when they were on home soil.

Meanwhile, Qatar have made history as they secured their first point of the competition, after losing all three of their games at their home World Cup in 2022.