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Switzerland pulled off the biggest
shock of the 2010 World Cup so far when they beat European champions
Spain 1-0 in Group H on Wednesday, their first ever victory over their
opponents in 19 games.

Gelson Fernandes’ goal after a mix up
in the Spanish defence gave the Swiss a shock 52nd minute lead and
Spain, for all their talent and guile, were unable to find a way
through the massed ranks of white Switzerland shirts.

The Swiss share the lead in Group H with Chile, who beat Honduras 1-0 earlier on Wednesday.

After a forgettable first half, the
Swiss looked like spending another 45 minutes defending for their lives
until goalkeeper Diego Benaglio’s long clearance was allowed to bounce
and Fernandes pounced when the ball emerged from a clutter of bodies.

The European champions, many pundits’
favourites to win the tournament, enjoyed a near monopoly of possession
for much of the game but were unable to convert the chances they
created.

Coach Vicente del Bosque, who had
started the match with David Villa as a lone striker, brought Fernando
Torres and Jesus Navas on after the goal to try and rescue the game but
they were unable to find a way through.

Xabi Alonso hit the underside of the
bar with a fine strike in the 70th minute, Navas shot lamely at Swiss
goalkeeper Benaglio when through on goal about a minute later, and
Gerard Pique squandered another chance on the next Spanish attack.

Eren Derdiyok, playing in place of his injured captain Alex Frei,
then jinked his way through the defence to almost double the Swiss lead
but, to the relief of the Spanish, his shot came bouncing back off the
post.