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After an action-packed start to the EURO 2020 with an emphatic win by the Azzurri, the focus now shifts to the second match of Group A between Wales and Switzerland. Both sides will be raring to start the tournament on a positive note as the outcome of this match could have a huge impact on their chances to qualify for the next round. With so many star players on display, the stage is perfectly set for a mouth-watering game of football at Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan.
Welcome to the live blog of Wales vs Switzerland...
IT'S FULL TIME IN BAKU! WALES 1 - 1 SWITZERLAND!
It's a point each for both the sides after a hard-fought contest at Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan.
90+5' Gareth Bale runs down the left flank
The Wales captain drives down the left flank for a brilliant run but the Swiss defends it. No harm done.
Last 1 minute of action left
90+2' Another huge chance for the Swiss
Danny Ward produces another fantastic save off Mario Gavranovic's strike. The referee has deemed it offside but it would have been a close call by VAR had the ball gone into the back of the net.
5 added minutes in Baku
90' Good save by Ward
Breel Embolo rises the highest once again off a Swiss corner and heads it towards the goal. Goalkeeper Danny Ward to the rescue for Wales.
87' VAR in action!
Mario Gavranovic almost scores a dream winner for Switzerland with his first touch in the game with a brilliant left-footed strike. However, the decision has been ruled by VAR as the Swiss No. 19 is ruled offside. The Welsh fans celebrate as their side heaves a huge sigh of relief.
84' Another substitution by Switzerland
Haris Seferovic has been withdrawn as the Swiss introduces Mario Gavranovic.
Final 10 minutes in Baku as the match heads towards a draw...
A substitution by Wales as David Brooks replaces Daniel James for the final 15 minutes of the game.
74' Wales score an equalizer!
A huge moment in the game as Kieffer Moore finds the back of the net with a brilliant header after a training-ground corner by Wales. Brilliant assist by Joe Morrell. It's game on in Baku! Wales 1-1 Switzerland...
Will this goal be Embolo prove to be the deciding moment of the game?
WATCH: Breel Embolo puts Switzerland in front with bullet header in game against Wales
66' Substitution for Switzerland
Xherdan Shaqiri comes off as Denis Zakaria replaces him for the final part of the game. The Liverpool winger receives a warm round of applause by the Swiss fans.
63' Yellow card for Mbabu
Kevin Mbabu receives a caution after a reckless tackle on Daniel James. Ramsey takes the resulting free kick and curls in a brilliant delivery which narrowly misses everyone and goes for a goal kick.
61' Almost an equalizer for Wales
Daniel James delivers a corner from the left as the ball lands in the path of Ben Davies at the path of the box. The defender keeps his composure, gets a good first touch and fires in a shot which went few yards over the cross-bar.
52' Another chance for the Swiss
Breel Embolo continues to weaves his magic as he runs past Wales' defenders to find Mbabu who drives his shot wide off the goal.
49' Breel Embolo scores for Switzerland!
Breel Embolo heads it past Ward with a brilliant header off a brilliantly-taken corner by Shaqiri to break the deadlock in Baku. It was the Swiss forward who had won the corner after he had dribbled past the defenders and produced a save by the Wales goalkeeper. However, Ward had no chance this time around as Switzerland go 1-0 up against Wales.
47' Yellow card for Moore
Kieffer Moore gets a caution after he catches Fabian Schär with an elbow on his face. It looked unintentional but it was dangerous and hence deserved a yellow card.
46' Second half begins
The players have made their way back onto the field and we are all set for the second half. The referee blows the whistle and the final 45 minutes of action begins.
The referee blows the whistle. Score remains 0-0 at half-time in Baku.
45+1' What a miss by Seferovic
Breel Embolo keeps his composure and finds Seferovic with a delightful pass. The Swiss No. 9 makes a complete mess off his shot on his right foot and misses a golden opportunity to break the deadlock. It could have been a possible penalty for the Swiss had Embolo got down as the Wales defender had hold of his shirt throughout the move.
2 added minutes in the first half
44' Seventh corner for the Swiss
Xherdan Shaqiri delivers another curling ball inside the box but Gareth Bale rises high and heads it for Switzerland's 7th corner of the match.
41' Seferovic shoots it off the target
Remo Freuler finds Haris Seferovic on the edge of the box as Switzerland's forwards comes up with another attempt on goal. The ball flies off the post as the score remains goalless.
36' Another corner for the Swiss
Switzerland continue to attack as Embolo's shot gets deflected for another corner. Wales defends it and tries to counter through Aaron Ramsey. No harm done as the Swiss gets the possession back.
30' Yellow card for Schar
Wales come up with a brilliant counter-attacking move as Daniel James runs past everyone down the left flank. The Winger gets brought down by Fabian Schar who gets a caution by the referee for the cynical foul. Gareth Bale puts up a delicious delivery inside the box off the resulting free-kick but the ball misses everyone and goes for a goal kick.
26' Decent effort by Seferovic
Switzerland are currently bossing the game in the midfield as Haris Seferovic finds himself some space inside the box. The No. 9 shows some good skills and drives a powerful shot off his left foot which goes just wide off the goal post.
20' What an effort by Schar
Switzerland defender Fabian Schär produces a brilliant flick on the near post off a corner by Xherdan Shaqiri. Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward reacts quickly and comes up with a crucial save.
Kieffer Moore injures himself while heading the ball on the resulting corner. The Wales No. 13 receives some treatment and comes up on the field with a taping on his head.
15' Brilliant save by Sommer!
First big chance of the game as Daniel James produces a brilliant cross from the left flank which Kieffer Moore heads it perfectly towards the goal. The ball was sailing over the top of Yann Sommer but the Switzerland keeper jumps high and comes up with an acrobatic save.
11' Swiss settling into the match
Switzerland have made their way back in the last 5 minutes and have taken their possession to 77%. Shaqiri curls in a beautiful delivery from the right wing as the Welsh side defends it easily.
8' Heavy tackle by Mepham
Wales defender Chris Mepham comes up with a sliding challenge on Breel Embolo. No foul as it was a legal tackle and the Swiss forward is feeling the impact. He gets up after a brief stoppage and the game resumes.
5' Impressive start by Wales!
It's been a good start to the match by Wales as they dominate the early part of the possession against the Swiss.
And the match begins...
6:30 PM IST: Both sides lined up for national anthems
Both Wales and Switzerland are set for the match as they get pumped up while singing their national anthems in front of fans
6:25 PM IST: Only 5 minutes away from the kick-off
Azerbaijan is set to host the first EURO game! The fans have settled inside the stadium and we are all set for the match to begin in around five minutes from now.
6:20 PM IST: We're trying to start the tournament on a high: Gavranovic
Switzerland forward Mario Gavranovic is quite confident ahead of his side's opening encounter. He said, "I’m happy with how my season went. I’m ready to help my nation when they need me. It will be a tough match (against Wales), but we're trying to start the tournament on a high." The 31-year-old starts on the bench today but might come on for a cameo late in the match.
6:15 PM IST: Bale vs Shaqiri - The ultimate contest!
6:10 PM IST: All eyes on Xherdan Shaqiri
The Liverpool forward did not have a great campaign with the club and he will hope to put that aside and deliver for his nation in this tournament. Shaqiri has either scored or assisted nearly half of Switzerland's goals at major tournaments since 2014. Can the Swiss produce another magical performance for his side?
6:05 PM IST: Can Kieffer Moore make a big impact today?
Kieffer Moore, who stands 1:96 cm tall, believes that he can run faster than what people believe he can because of his size. He said, "For my size, people don’t think I can do what I can, but I’m a good mover. I can run with the ball, I can run the channels and cause a nuisance."
6:00 PM IST: 30 minutes left for kick-off
We are just half an hour away from the start of the much-awaited encounter between Wales and Switzerland. Both Bale and Ramsey were on the scoresheet when the two sides met last in October 2011 in a UEFA EURO 2012 qualifier match. Can the duo repeat the magic today?
5:55 PM IST: You want your best players on pitch: Page on Ramsey
Wales coach Rob Page opens up on Aaron Ramsey's despite his poor form off-late for the club. He said," It wasn't a difficult decision at all. You want your best players on the pitch at all times."
5:45 PM IST: Fans have made their way inside the stadium
Also Read: Euro 2020 Fantasy Tips: Wales vs Switzerland
5:30 PM IST: Here are the starting XI of both sides
Wales: Ward, C Roberts, Mepham, Rodon, B Davies, Allen, Morrell, Ramsey, Bale, Moore, James.
Subs: Hennessey, Gunter, N Williams, Lockyer, Wilson, T Roberts, Ampadu, Norrington-Davies, J Williams, Brooks, A Davies, Levitt.
Switzerland: Sommer, Elvedi, Schar, Akanji, Mbabu, Xhaka, Freuler, Rodriguez, Shaqiri, Embolo, Seferovic.
Subs: Widmer, Zakaria, Vargas, Mvogo, Zuber, Sow, Fassnacht, Benito, Mehmedi, Gavranovic, Omlin, Comert.