Previous Encounters:
Togo and Switzerland have never met before the Germany 2006 World Cup Finals.
The Match:
In Togo's first game there were doubts whether the Togo trainer would appear for the game
and this time speculation arose as to whether the Togo team would take to the field;
because of payment discrepancies.
For once, an afternoon kick-off was not unbearably hot and the
Dortmund pitch had received some rain before the game.
The first save of the day occurred when Kossi Agassa got down well to
a shot from Ricardo Cabanas. Kader Mohamed then tested Pascal Zuberbuhler in the sixth
minute.
Togo showed strength and determination going forward against
Switzerland; giving the Swiss defenders plenty of problems in the first ten minutes.
Then, just after the quarter-hour mark, Tranquillo Barnetta ran into
the right side of the Togo area, unmarked, to flick in Ludovic Magnin's cross; for
Switzerland's main man for goals, Alexander Frei, to sidefoot in from close range. A great
relief for the stadium full of Swiss fans who had watched Togo have the best of the early
moves.
Togo again had a golden opportunity to punish Senderos's mistake in
the 30th minute. When Togo decide to play, they certainly pose problems for the opposition
with their athleticism. A little more finesse with the final ball and they could stake a
claim for a place in the Second Round.
Togo were then denied a penalty when Patrick Müller caught Emmanuel
Adebayor with his back foot. Maybe the way Adebayor fell let him down; as the Paraguay
referee thought it was a dive.
Half-time: (0:1).
Alex Frei scooped the ball over the bar, just before the hour, as
Switzerland sought to consolidate their lead against Togo.
Five minutes later, substitute Hakan Yakin brought out the best in
Kossi Agassa, as the Togo keeper kept Togo in the game.
Togo continued to push up in search of the equaliser but lacked the
fast approach they showed in the first-half.
Togo paid for their lack of urgency when Swiss substitute, Mauro
Lustrinelli made to the edge of the area and squared the ball for Tranquillo Barnetta to
strike low; inside the far post.
The result knocked Togo out of the 2006 World Cup Finals.
Final Score:
Togo 0 - Switzerland 2
Goalscorers:
0:1 Alexander Frei (17)
0:2 Tranquillo Barnetta (88)
Substitutions:
24 Mins (Togo) - 7 Moustapha Salifou on for 8 Kuami Agboh
46 Mins (Switzerland) - 22 Hakan Yakin on for 10 Daniel Gygax
69 Mins (Togo) - 18 Yao Junior Senaya on for 9 Thomas Dossevi
77 Mins (Switzerland) - 11 Marco Streller on for 7 Ricardo Cabanas
86 Mins (Togo) - 11 Robert Malm on for 10 Mamam Cherif-Toure
87 Mins (Switzerland) - 18 Mauro Lustrinelli on for 9 Alexander Frei
4 Yellow
Cards:
45 Mins - Moustapha Salifou (Togo)
47 Mins - Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo)
52 Mins - Alaixys Romao (Togo)
90 Mins - Johann Vogel (Switzerland)
