Switzerland, Austria draw before heading to Euros

ST. GALLEN, Switzerland: Switzerland and their Alpine neighbours Austria played out a 1-1 draw on Saturday in a final match before both sides head over the border to Euro 2024 in Germany.

Christoph Baumgartner put visitors Austria ahead in the fifth minute at the Kybunpark in St. Gallen before Silvan Widmer levelled for the hosts in the 26th minute.

Switzerland had most of the possession but Austria racked up more shots.

“We know we can do much better,” Swiss winger Dan Ndoye said afterwards.

“That´s what´s a little frustrating today. But the team facing us was solid. We made good sequences at times; that´s what we have to keep for next week, and then modify the little things that weren´t there today,” the Bologna player told RTS television.

“I can do much better, but I´d rather it happen today than next week.

“We have the quality; it´s just that today it wasn´t so good.” Switzerland´s Denis Zakaria added: “I think it´s a draw we have to take positively. “We have to base ourselves on the good things from this match and give our best for the Euros,” said the Monaco midfielder, who is currently struggling for fitness.There was plenty of support for the visitors in the 18,731-strong crowd, with the stadium less than 25 kilometres from the Austrian border.

The two countries had not met since a 2015 friendly, when Switzerland won 2-1 in Vienna. Switzerland are ranked 19th in the world and Austria 25th. Switzerland coach Murat Yakin named his 26-man squad for the Euros on Friday, retaining 18 players that went to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Veteran midfielders Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri remain the star names in the Swiss squad.

Pedri brace helps Spain thrash Northern Ireland before Euros

Pedri Gonzalez struck twice for Spain as they thumped Northern Ireland 5-1 in their final friendly ahead of Euro 2024 on Saturday.

Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Mikel Oyarzabal also netted for Luis de la Fuente´s side in Mallorca, with wingers Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal oozing menace on the flanks.

Spain, in a Euros ´group of death´ with Italy, Croatia and Albania, are aiming to win the competition for the fourth time.

“I´ve worked hard to be in good shape at the end of the season,” Pedri told Radio Marca. The playmaker was out injured for a large part of the season but has hit top form in the final weeks of the campaign. “Injuries are the worst thing about football, now I am doing a lot better,” continued Pedri.

“We´ll go for (the Euros), with the idea of winning.”

Spain thrashed Andorra 5-0 in a friendly earlier in the week before dismantling Northern Ireland.

The visitors surprised Spain by taking the lead through Dan Ballard, who headed home a Caolan Boyd-Munce free-kick after just two minutes.

Isaac Price came close to a second before Spain recovered their poise and took complete control.

Pedri pulled Spain level with a low drive from the edge of the box, before Alvaro Morata nodded La Roja ahead from Jesus Navas´ cross.

Barcelona midfielder Pedri struck again after a neat move and Fabian Ruiz headed home Lamine Yamal´s cross for the fourth.

The second half was a calmer affair although Mikel Oyarzabal did net Spain´s fifth after electric 16-year-old Barcelona winger Yamal set him up.