Serbia vs Switzerland 2-3: World Cup 2022 – as it happened

Our coverage of that goal-fest is finishing up, but we will be back tomorrow for the start of the knockout rounds of the Qatar World Cup. Netherlands v USA is the first game up, followed by Argentina v Australia.

Until then.

Murat Yakin’s team will face Portugal next after beating Serbia, with Group G’s top team Brazil to play South Korea in the last 16. Serbia and Cameroon will be joining the other 16 teams in catching an early plane home.

2 – For the first time since England v Argentina in 1998, both teams in a #FIFAWorldCup match have scored at least two goals before half-time. Madness. pic.twitter.com/J3PLUQwcKF

— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) December 2, 2022

And remarkably not one red. Serbia’s Pavlovic looked like he might achieve that feat at one point but we finished with 11 on 11. Predrag Rajkovic of Serbia got a yellow for his protestations on the touchline despite not coming on summed this game up.

A fiery end to a match that threatened to be a World Cup classic in the first half but petered out somewhat in the second period.

Switzerland won’t mind that one bit and goals from Embolo, Shaqiri and Freuler were enough to see them through to the last 16.

Serbia were an entertaining team to watch but were not tight enough at the back to stay in this tournament.

Serbia 2-3 Switzerland

Fabian Schar goes into the referee’s book for a challenge near his own box.

90+7 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland

Noah Okafor comes on for Switzerland, with Embolo going off.

90+6 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland

Serbia’s Nikola Milenkovic and Granit Xhaka of Switzerland get into somewhat of a shoving match, which leads to both entire teams getting involved and surrounding them. Both receive yellow cards.

90+5 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland

Christian Fassnacht is on in his place for Switzerland.

90+2 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland

It’s not enough time for Serbia to get two goals, right?

90+1 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland 

Breel Embolo has taken some serious punishment for his team this evening as he’s once again hauled to the ground, with the referee playing advantage on this occasion.

89 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland

And time isn’t on their side. With Brazil and Cameroon still drawing, the only way the Serbs can progress is with a win. Switzerland could afford to concede one and still get through.

85 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland

Nemanja Gudelj for giving away a foul on the edge of the box, Mitrovic presumably for something he said to the referee since the ball wasn’t in play at the time.

83 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland

Strahinja Pavlovic has already gotten a yellow card and probably should have had another one after an even worse challenge. Walking a tightrope in this game.

Duricic is bleeding and the referee instructs him to get it seen to.

81 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland 

Tadic and Zivkovic go off for Serbia, with Nemanja Radonjic and Filip Duricic brought on.

79 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland 

There have been a few signs that Serbian players are starting to feel the heat – both literally and in terms of their group standing.

They have already had substitute Predrag Rajkovic booked after he ran onto the pitch to remonstrate with the referee.

There have also been a few mistimed challenges, with Jovic bundling over a Swiss player in the box and instantly arguing with the referee.

They need to focus on getting a goal now.

Remo Freuler kicks Breel Embolo in the centre circle, seemingly in frustration, and the referee correctly gives the foul. Can Serbia find their groove again?

76 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland 

Serbia’s Predrag Rajkovic gets a yellow card from the referee after their bench wasn’t happy with that lack of a penalty for Mitrovic.

72 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic comes off for Serbia with Nemanja Maksimovic taking his place. Switzerland also make a change with Sow and Shaqiri going off, and Fernandes and Denis Zakaria coming on.

70 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland 

Aleksandar Mitrovic chests the ball to himself, and Fabian Schar puts his arms across him in the box but its deemed not a foul by the referee.

66 mins: Serbia 2-3 Switzerland