The World Cup has its first shock and, as unexpected results go, it could be that this tournament sees nothing quite so remarkable again. Spain may be sublime on the ball but there is no use out-passing opponents without out-scoring them and they learned that the hard way here in Durban against a limited but ultimately jubilant Swiss side.
Gelson Fernandes, once an unremarkable fringe player at Manchester City, was the hero with a 52nd-minute goal for Ottmar Hitzfeld's team and when Spain survey the wreckage of their opening match they will, once again, have legitimate cause to fear they are going to live up to their reputation as serial World Cup underachievers.
To put it into context, Spain had lost only once in their previous 41 matches. They came into this competition as the joint favourites alongside Brazil and they are so top-heavy with superstars their bench here included quite possibly the best goalkeeper, midfielder and striker in the Premier League last season. The Euro 2008 winners passed the ball superbly, working those elaborate, triangular patterns, always looking for the killer pass. But this was pass-them-to-death football without end product and unless Spain can remedy that it could be another demoralising World Cup, and a long and tortuous inquest.
Switzerland defended stoutly, rolled up their sleeves and when Fernandes bundled in the rebound from Blaise Nkufo's shot, completely against the run of play, it gave them the greatest incentive to withstand the late onslaught. Xabi Alonso rocketed a shot against the crossbar. Fernando Torres, a second-half substitute, came close and, at times, the Swiss were indebted to their goalkeeper, Diego Benaglio, but this was not one of those smash-and-grab victories that could be attributed solely to good goalkeeping.
For all their possession and artistry, Vicente del Bosque's men could not find their usual width or penetration. They looked far more dangerous when Torres was brought on to play alongside David Villa but there were times, too, when the Liverpool striker seemed unusually careless with his touch, a legacy perhaps of his time out of the game with an ankle injury.
At 1-0, Switzerland could also reflect on Eren Derdiyok striking the post in another of their rare forays into the opposition half. The statistics told us that Spain had two-thirds of the play but, with Andrea Iniesta leaving the pitch injured, it is difficult to know how their World Cup could have started any worse. The fact it has enlivened a hitherto sterile competition will be no consolation.
© Guardian News and Media 2010
