Switzerland beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-1 in their second game of the 2026 World Cup, putting them top of Group B after two games.
The first half was a cagey affair, with just seven shots between the two sides and 0.26 Expected Goals.
But Switzerland turned up the dial in the second half, particularly after the hydration break. They made a triple sub and brought on two of the goalscorers, Johan Manzambi and Ruben Vargas.
Switzerland put four past Bosnia-Herzegovina in the final 20 minutes, with four of their five shots post-hydration break finding the back of the net.
Switzerland vs Bosnia-Herzegovina analysis
Swiss army midfield
The clear quality in this Switzerland side is in their midfield. They play with Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler at the base, and Michel Aebischer and Fabian Rieder roaming slightly higher.
Their average positions map from the game shows the fluidity with some of their movements. All five of Xhaka, Freuler, Aebischer, Rieder and Breel Embolo are extremely clustered.
Switzerland were looking to use fluid rotations in central areas to open up spaces between the Bosnia-Herzegovina block.
Bosnia-Herzegovina initially set up in a 4-4-2 off the ball, leaving spaces between their full-back and centre-back for Switzerland to exploit with late arrivals between the lines.
Both Xhaka and Freuler would look to interchange positions making them more difficult to mark, getting plenty of touches to dictate the game from deep.
Aebischer switched between dropping deep to connect with Xhaka and Freuler, and drifting higher between the lines, where he would interchange positions with Rieder, causing disruption to the Bosnia-Herzegovina defensive line.
With both full-backs advancing to provide width, Dan Ndoye was able drift inside and operate in the left half-space at times, adding another element of fluid movement in those central channels.
While these rotations continued throughout the game, Bosnia-Herzegovina did attempt to tweak their defensive shape, giving them better access to their man-to-man references.
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Bosnia-Herzegovina’s out-of-possession shift
Bosnia-Herzegovina started the game in a back four, with Nikola Katic and Tarik Muharemovic as their centre-back pairing, and Amar Dedic and Sead Kolasinac flanking them on the right and left, respecitvely.
However, with Switzerland using their full-backs to provide width, Bosnia-Herzegovina struggled to contain the Swiss players between the lines, using their rotations to bait Ivan Sunjic and Benjamin Tahirovic forwards and exploit the space behind them.
So Sergej Barbarez decided to shift into a back five at the first hydration break, moving Amar Memic over from right-midfield to left wing-back, with Kolasinac then becoming the left centre-back in a back five.
By making these tactical adjustments, the three central defenders were able to be more aggressive in the central channels when players received between the lines, making it harder for Switzerland to destabilise their 5-3-2 block with their rotations.
As Switzerland began to struggle, unable to find their way through which allowed Bosnia-Herzegovina to grow into the game, it was a well-timed hydration break that gave Murat Yakin a chance to change things up.
Swiss super subs
Switzerland decided to roll the dice with the scoreline at 0-0 in the 72nd minute, making a triple change in the hydration break in the second half.
Ndoye, Rieder and Aebischer made way, with Djibral Sow, Ruben Vargas and 18-year-old star, Johan Manzambi entering the fray.
And it was two of the substitutes that broke the game open and got the winner for Switzerland, with Vargas driving down the left and delivering a ball to the back post.
Bosnia-Herzegovina were unable to get it clear, heading it back into danger where Manzambi snapped into action, connecting with the volley and wrapping it goalwards with too much power for the keeper.
Manzambi then played a big part in Muharemovic’s sending off for Bosnia-Herzegovina, drifting into a central area from the left, receiving between the lines and playing a through ball for Embolo, which forced Muharemovic to bring him down as the last man.
From here, Switzerland took over and smelt blood, going on to grab another three goals, with Vargas scoring the second, Manzambi adding the third and Xhaka converting the fourth from the spot.
After their impact from the bench, both Vargas and Manzambi will be hoping to start Switzerland’s final group game, taking on Canada next Wednesday.
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