'The difference between Sweden and Switzerland? One played badly and the other worse'
The 2018 World Cup has seen plenty of exciting games: Tuesday afternoon's match between Switzerland and Sweden was not one of them.
Perhaps some of it was down to the pre-match confusion over which country was which. Or it could have been the empty seats at the stadium.
People in North America watching the #SWESUI game like... pic.twitter.com/bDLqvBnA5J
— Tony Thain (@tonythain) July 3, 2018
Then again, maybe it was just the anti-climactic way Switzerland exited the competition after all the drama and controversy of the group stage.
Whatever, the reason, Tuesday's game failed to ignite.
The #SWESUI match is a rare occasion where you can say “it’s one for the neutrals” and be geopolitically correct.
— Tony Walsh (@MalarkeyFC) July 3, 2018
And while Sweden was summarily dismissed as “modest” and “limited” in the Swiss press, it was the team in red and white that came in for the most criticism after the match.
Read also: Sweden v. Switzerland - 12 facts to tell them apart
The ‘Nati’, as the national team is known in Switzerland, was described as “harmless” by regional daily Aarguer Zeitung.
Sweden vs. Switzerland. Here we go. #SWESUI pic.twitter.com/oHlj1pEWft
— Todd in the Shadows (@ShadowTodd) July 3, 2018
The players hadn’t “earned victory” the daily said, noting that the country had once again crashed out of the World Cup in the round of 16.
And by Tuesday evening, the soul searching was already underway. “Switzerland is missing that je ne sais quoi” said Swiss national broadcaster SRF.
Read also: Why Sweden won't be scared of England at the World Cup
The broadcaster asked: was it a lack of killer instinct? Too little cleverness? Too little talent?
For the reporters at Tages Anzeiger it was simple: “They are not as good as they think and say they are,” said the paper.
Among the fans, the overriding feeling was one of disappointment and frustration. On social media, meanwhile, there was plenty of humour.
@RTEsoccer
Imagine if Switzerland had won! pic.twitter.com/nOKNtiADW9
— David Vickers (@DaveV99) July 3, 2018
This Twitter user told us why the world will now know the difference between Sweden and Switzerland:
Nach diesem Spiel wird die Welt den Unterschied zwischen der Schweiz und Schweden kennen. Schweden spielte schlecht. Die Schweiz spielte schlechter. #SWESUI
— Tim Schneider (@schneiti_) July 3, 2018
"After this game the world knows the difference between Switzerland and Sweden. Sweden played badly. Switzerland played worse."
Another user already had revenge on his mind:
Wir gehen morgen in die #Ikea und nehmen alle Mini-Bleistifte mit. #swesui
— Gerry Reinhardt (@gerryreinhardt) July 3, 2018
"We are going to Ikea tomorrow to steal all those little pencils."
There was also this piece of commentary about the Swedish fans:
Thought we recognised those faces... #SWESUI pic.twitter.com/6vplQb3TQz
— Mask-arade ? (@maskmaker) July 3, 2018
And finally, a bit of consolation for Swiss fans:
Pech im Spiel,
Glück in der Schoggi.#SWESUI #WM2018 pic.twitter.com/yDSOBROm6L
— Emma Roth (@EmmaRothSF) July 3, 2018
"Bad luck in the game, good luck when it comes to chocolate,"
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Perhaps some of it was down to the pre-match confusion over which country was which. Or it could have been the empty seats at the stadium.
People in North America watching the #SWESUI game like... pic.twitter.com/bDLqvBnA5J
— Tony Thain (@tonythain) July 3, 2018
Then again, maybe it was just the anti-climactic way Switzerland exited the competition after all the drama and controversy of the group stage.
Whatever, the reason, Tuesday's game failed to ignite.
The #SWESUI match is a rare occasion where you can say “it’s one for the neutrals” and be geopolitically correct.
— Tony Walsh (@MalarkeyFC) July 3, 2018
And while Sweden was summarily dismissed as “modest” and “limited” in the Swiss press, it was the team in red and white that came in for the most criticism after the match.
Read also: Sweden v. Switzerland - 12 facts to tell them apart
The ‘Nati’, as the national team is known in Switzerland, was described as “harmless” by regional daily Aarguer Zeitung.
Sweden vs. Switzerland. Here we go. #SWESUI pic.twitter.com/oHlj1pEWft
— Todd in the Shadows (@ShadowTodd) July 3, 2018
The players hadn’t “earned victory” the daily said, noting that the country had once again crashed out of the World Cup in the round of 16.
And by Tuesday evening, the soul searching was already underway. “Switzerland is missing that je ne sais quoi” said Swiss national broadcaster SRF.
Read also: Why Sweden won't be scared of England at the World Cup
The broadcaster asked: was it a lack of killer instinct? Too little cleverness? Too little talent?
For the reporters at Tages Anzeiger it was simple: “They are not as good as they think and say they are,” said the paper.
Among the fans, the overriding feeling was one of disappointment and frustration. On social media, meanwhile, there was plenty of humour.
@RTEsoccer
— David Vickers (@DaveV99) July 3, 2018
Imagine if Switzerland had won! pic.twitter.com/nOKNtiADW9
This Twitter user told us why the world will now know the difference between Sweden and Switzerland:
Nach diesem Spiel wird die Welt den Unterschied zwischen der Schweiz und Schweden kennen. Schweden spielte schlecht. Die Schweiz spielte schlechter. #SWESUI
— Tim Schneider (@schneiti_) July 3, 2018
"After this game the world knows the difference between Switzerland and Sweden. Sweden played badly. Switzerland played worse."
Another user already had revenge on his mind:
Wir gehen morgen in die #Ikea und nehmen alle Mini-Bleistifte mit. #swesui
— Gerry Reinhardt (@gerryreinhardt) July 3, 2018
"We are going to Ikea tomorrow to steal all those little pencils."
There was also this piece of commentary about the Swedish fans:
Thought we recognised those faces... #SWESUI pic.twitter.com/6vplQb3TQz
— Mask-arade ? (@maskmaker) July 3, 2018
And finally, a bit of consolation for Swiss fans:
Pech im Spiel,
— Emma Roth (@EmmaRothSF) July 3, 2018
Glück in der Schoggi.#SWESUI #WM2018 pic.twitter.com/yDSOBROm6L
"Bad luck in the game, good luck when it comes to chocolate,"
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