MATCH REPORT: WALES 1-1 SWITZERLAND

Photo credit: Darko Vojinovic (AFP/Getty Images)

Wales held Switzerland to a 1-1 draw in their opening group match of Euro 2020.

It was a tale of two headers with Breel Embolo handing the Swiss the lead early in the second half before Kieffer Moore responded on 74 minutes.

After an even first half, it was the Red Crosses who were undoubtedly on top after the break and it took a string of superb Danny Ward saves to prevent them coming away with all three points.

The explosive pace of Daniel James and the aerial threat of 6ft 5in centre forward Moore were the Dragons’ greatest attacking options and the two linked up on half an hour when the Cardiff City man saw his header tipped over the bar expertly by Swiss goalie Yann Sommer.

There was nothing Ward could do in the Wales goal on 49 minutes when Embolo got above Joe Allen and nodded in from a corner to give Switzerland the lead.

But Rob Page’s side responded 25 minutes later when the talismanic Moore flicked Aaron Ramsey’s cross beyond the reach of Sommer this time.

The Swiss will feel unlucky not to have sealed the win with a number of wasted opportunities in the closing stages, including a Mario Gavranovic strike being ruled out for offside.

With the first round of fixtures in Group A now complete, it remains an intriguing set of teams still with everything to play for.

Both sides will take heart from this stalemate and know that their chances of making it into the knockout stages are still very much alive after Turkey’s heavy defeat to Italy last night.