Switzerland coach Murat Yakin admitted his side had “lost two points” after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Qatar in their World Cup Group B opener on Saturday.
The Swiss controlled much of the match in the San Francisco Bay Area, enjoying the majority of possession and creating the better chances, but were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal.
“We wanted to be dominant and attacking. We created very good chances, but unfortunately we weren’t efficient enough,” Yakin said.
“Maybe we weren’t smart enough or precise enough in the final moments. At the end of the day, unfortunately, we lost two points.”
Yakin was particularly disappointed with the manner of Qatar’s equaliser, believing his side should have managed the closing stages better after surrendering possession unnecessarily.
“It was just unnecessary that we lost the ball and allowed the chance,” he said. “It really hurts.”
The Swiss coach refused to blame his substitutes for the late collapse, insisting responsibility was shared across the entire team.
“We are one team, one unit. Maybe I need to look at myself and my decisions,” he added.
Despite the setback, Yakin remained encouraged by Switzerland’s overall performance, saying his side’s attacking approach had created enough opportunities to win the match.
He also defended captain Granit Xhaka, describing the midfielder as “a true leader” and a key figure within the squad.
Switzerland now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Yakin confident his experienced team can bounce back.
“We want to have a very good World Cup,” he said. “I am convinced that we will do better in the upcoming matches.”
