Switzerland hold World Cup holders Italy to draw

Posted Monday, June 07, 2010 by theguardian.com

Switzerland 1-1 Italy

The World Cup holders Italy were held to a draw by Switzerland in their final warm-up match before heading to South Africa.

Udinese's Gokhan Inler put Switzerland ahead in the 10th minute, but Fabio Quagliarella, a late addition to Marcello Lippi's squad, levelled four minutes later. However, Switzerland will be buoyed as they managed to outplay the defending champions for most of the match, putting to rest the shock of their defeat to Costa Rica last time out.

Inler grabbed the opening goal with a long-range effort, beating Federico Marchetti from 25 yards. But Italy quickly responded as Riccardo Montolivo crossed for Quagliarella to head home. However, Switzerland, cheered on by their home fans in Geneva, were still on top as they created several more chances before the break. West Ham's Valon Behrami, who would later hobble off with an apparent muscular injury, saw a shot charged down by Giorgio Chiellini before Marchetti held Alexander Frei's shot.

Frei then whipped in a free-kick that Gelson Fernandes headed just over from close range. Italy were better in the second half, with Angelo Palombo enjoying a pair of chances but failing to test Alex Manninger. First, he sent a shot over from 30 yards and then moments later saw his effort blocked by Stéphane Grichting when he met Antonio Di Natale's cross.

Switzerland had three chances to win it late on. Eren Derdiyok headed wide from a good position before Alberto Gilardino did the same at the other end. As the game moved into the final five minutes, Hakan Yakin, a late replacement for Frei, sent a free-kick wide from 25 yards, while Marchetti denied Xherdan Shaqiri in injury time, parrying away his left-footed effort from 25 yards.

Switzerland open their Group H campaign against Spain before later facing Chile and Honduras, while Italy are in Group F along with Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia.