SAN FRANCISCO.- With the Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui at the controls, Taste got the first point in its history in a World by tying in the final stoppage time 1-1 against Swissthis Saturday in San Franciscoin a Group B that is completely equal.
The Swiss believed they had victory in their hands, after maintaining almost the entire match the advantage they had achieved from a penalty with Breel Plunger in the 17th minute, but a header from Boualem Khoukhi In the 90+4 he left the pulse in a draw.
Everything is completely open in Group B after its first day, where the four teams are evenly matched, since the co-host Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina They also recorded a 1-1 draw in their duel on Friday in Toronto.
Four years ago, Qatar had experienced its first World Cup participation in an event in which it was also the host, but then it lost the three games it played, making it the first time that it has not been defeated in a duel in the supreme soccer tournament.
This agonizing draw allows Lopetegui to make a good debut as a coach in a World Cup, eight years after his bizarre dismissal as coach of Spain on the eve of La Roja’s debut in Russia 2018after it was known that he had signed for the real Madrid for after the tournament.
“I am very proud of this team. I told my players that even if we had not tied, if we had not scored that goal, I was already proud of their mentality and their discipline. But fortunately we have achieved that goal, which is already historic,” celebrated the 59-year-old Basque coach.
First penalty of the 2026 World Cup
Switzerland had taken the lead thanks to Embolo’s safety in the 17th minute, converting the first penalty awarded in favor of his country in a World Cup in its entire history and the first maximum penalty of this edition.
Your archer Gregor Kobel had thwarted two great chances for the Qatari attacker with Brazilian family roots, Edmilson Junior, in the first half, but turned into a pillar of salt when Khoukhi flew to head in a cross from Homam Al Amim at 90+4, for the final 1-1.
