Switzerland hold off Hungary fightback after Duah bursts on

For most of the second half, the cowbells clanked gleefully. After all the doubts about Switzerland, all the positive noises about Hungary, there had been something almost surreal about the ease with which Murat Yakin’s team dominated the first half. Hungary, having been oddly sluggish, were able to impose themselves enough after the break to at least cause Switzerland some anxiety. In truth, though, this was comfortable enough, a game in effect won by half-time and sealed by Breel Embolo’s late strike.

When Switzerland went out of the 2006 World Cup to Ukraine in this stadium on penalties after a 0-0 so dull, so entirely devoid of incident, that even now light waves continue to be sucked towards its centre, the sense was that Switzerland could have played for centuries without scoring. Ricardo Rodriguez, implausibly, was not involved that day, although the fact that the eternal ponytail of the Swiss back-line, making his 116th appearance, is still only 31 shows how time can slow down near a black hole of interest.