Switzerland 1 Germany 1: Hosts’ late leveller means England MUST beat Slovenia to avoid nightmare last-16 tie vs Germans

LAST-GASP super-sub Niclas Fullkrug pounced with a header to break Swiss hearts.

Two minutes into added time Germany’s goal machine rose brilliantly to head home on the night Scotland exited the Euros.

Murat Yakin’s side thought they’d won it courtesy of a first half Dan Ndoye strike and were ready to celebrate a first competitive win over them for 86-years.

But then Borussia Dortmund ace Fullkrug – unlucky not to be starting ahead of Kai Havertz – had his say to secure top spot in Group A for Germany and a last 16 tie in Dortmund on Saturday.

Switzerland, though, still clinched second spot and they will now play in Berlin the same day.

For the third game in a row Julian Nagelsmann named the same Germany team which was a little surprising given that they’re already comfortably through to the knockout stage.

There had been a thought the Germany head coach might want to rest one or two of his top men.

But, no, Nagelsmann’s stressed the need for rhythm – and there was the need also to wrap up things as group winners.

Swiss boss Yakin didn’t mind seeing legend Xherdan Shaqiri net a beauty midweek against Scotland, making him the only player to score at the last three Euros and World Cups.

But it also didn’t stop him from dropping the Chicago Fire attacker – bringing back frontman Breel Embolo for his first international start in 18-months after recovering from knee and hamstring injuries.

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It was a frantic opening five minutes with some meaty tackles flying in.

After just 18 seconds Germany left-back Maximillian Mittelstadt was clattered late by Fabian Rieder.

There was plenty of muscle from the aggressive Swiss.

But it would be the Germans – dazzling in their opening victories over Scotland and Hungary – who would produce the first moment of class…and it would come from their top man Jamal Musiala.

Two tournament goals had helped electrify Germany’s bid to end a 28-year wait to become Euro champions and he delivered stunning second minute skill to lose a marker deep in his own half and then storm up the pitch.

Musiala then dinked what looked a superb ball into the box for Ilkay Gundogan only for Fabian Schar to make a desperate lunging clearance for a corner.

From Toni Kroos’ delivery Havertz rose first at the near post but could only head straight at Yann Sommer.

It looked as if the Germans had the Swiss clocked – pinning them back with relentless pressure.

It needed a magnificently timed penalty box tackle by veteran defender Ricardo Rodriguez on Havertz, from a Mittelstadt cross, to deny the host nation.

Then Germany thought they’d grabbed a 17th minute lead – Andrich making Sommer look stupid with a weak 20-yard shot which bounced over the Swiss No1 who could only push it into the net at his near post.

But, only seconds before Musiala had caught Michel Aebischer late in the box from another Mittelstadt cross and VAR official Massimilliano Irrati spotted it to instruct ref Daniele Orsato to disallow it.

How the gloating Swiss fans cheered.

And they were absolutely ecstatic in the 28th minute as their heroes took a stunning lead.

Ndoye burst into the box to clinically volley home an excellent Remo Freuler cross – and silence the home support.

Brilliant combination play from the Bologna team-mates.

Just a few minutes later Ndoye almost did it again, striding away from Toni Rudiger and firing a left shot from the far side of the box which beat a diving Manuel Neuer and was inches past the post.

Germany were in a daze – going behind for the first time – and the rock solid Swiss would see out things until half time.

Yakin’s men had gone into this unbeaten in their last three meetings with Germany but with only one victory in 21 games going back to 1959 and that was a friendly in 2012.

They were performing well, stifling the Germans and dangerous on the counter.

History also told you they’d only lost once before in the Euros after taking the lead, back in 2008.

Five minutes into the second half, though, they needed Sommer to fist away a powerful Musiala shot with Gundogan making a hash of a rebound volley.

Then Kroos shot narrowly wide as the Germans pushed for an equaliser.

But it was deep frustration for them as the Swiss continued to thwart them.

Sub David Raum and Havertz had efforts but the Germans went into the closing stages looking powderpuff after previously looking deadly in Munich and Stuttgart.

Nagelsmann threw on Leory Sane and Fullkrug in a desperate bid to find a breakthrough.

But the Swiss remained stout at the back as the Germans, for the first time in the competition, struggled to create.

Sane volleyed wide from outside the box as the minutes evaporated for them.

Swiss sub Ruben Vargas thought he’d made it 2-0 on the break only to be flagged offside.

Seconds later an under-performing Havertz headed over from six yards.

But it would be the Swiss again who went closest to another goal – Neuer producing a brilliant full-stretch 89th minute save to deny Granit Xhaka’s shot from distance.

Deep into added time, however, Fullkrug dramatically levelled with a close range header.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk