Spain stunned - Switzerland score shock win over highly fancied Spaniards

DURBAN, South Africa (AP):

Switzerland pulled off a shock victory at the World Cup yesterday, beating European champion Spain 1-0 in their opening group match. Gelson Fernandes bundled the ball into the net in the 52nd minute in one of Switzerland's few attacks, ending Spain's 12-match winning streak and handing the Spanish team only its second loss in 50 games.

"Today wasn't our day," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said. "We have two games ahead of us. We have to find a way to win them."

Spain, one of the pre-tournament favourites, dominated possession throughout the match, but could find no way through Switzerland's determined defence.

"We had plenty of chances but they defended very well," Spain defender Gerard Pique said. "I don't think we adapted adequately to their game."

Eren Derdiyok created Switzerland's goal by surging through the centre of Spain's defence and getting around goalkeeper Iker Casillas. Gerard Pique's tackle stopped Derdiyok, but Fernandes pounced on the loose ball and forced it into the net.

"To be fair, I'm not used to scoring goals, so I was a bit surprised," Fernandes said. "It was a bit of luck."

At the final whistle, Fernandes fell to his knees and raised both arms to the sky. The entire team then went to the small section of Swiss fans at the Moses Mabhida Stadium and saluted them as they cheered and rang cow bells.

"These were three unexpected points," Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said, before defending his side's defensive play as the only way to nullify Spain.

"If you play an attacking game against Spain, you'll lose and suffer one goal after the next," he said.

Change in history

History was not on Spain's side: Only two of the last eight reigning European champions had won their opening match at the World Cup - France in 1986 and Germany in 1998. And Spain have not advanced past the World Cup quarter-finals since their best finish of fourth in 1950.

Derdiyok nearly doubled the Swiss lead in the 75th minute when he shrugged off Carlos Puyol's tackle and poked the ball past Casillas, but the shot hit the post.

Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso came closest to equalising when his powerful drive in the 70th minute hit the crossbar.

"It was a match we tried to play without abandoning our style," Del Bosque said. "We tried to play heroically and they fell back and tried to stop us."

Spain's misery was compounded when Andres Iniesta was substituted in the 77th after a hard tackle from Stephan Lichtsteiner. Del Bosque said the midfielder was not seriously hurt.