Regardless of the outcome of the round of 16 between Switzerland and Algeria, Fabian Rieder’s incredible and improbable miss deserved an article. But we must admit that it would have been much more difficult to write it if the Nati had been eliminated. With the Swiss victory against the Fennecs (2-0), this failure has become anecdotal. Except that he has become the laughing stock of football fans.
Let’s put the context back into perspective. Murat Yakin’s men quietly lead 2-0 against those of Vladimir Petkovic. They are calm and master their subject. The clock shows 80 minutes and 46 seconds when Denis Zakaria’s cross, author of an excellent match, arrives on the left foot of Fabian Rieder.
His good footing, it must be remembered. The goal is open and Luca Zidane, the Algeria goalkeeper, is in bad shape. The 3-0 doesn’t make a difference. Except no. Fabian Rieder missed his job. The Bernese crossed his shot too much and Zinédine’s son managed to make an important save to maintain a bit of hope in the Algerian ranks.
At that moment, all the Swiss supporters certainly cursed the Bernese. Especially since the Nati had suffered at the end of the match against Canada, had conceded the equalizer in added time against Qatar and had often cracked the gong in the past.
“The miss of the tournament”
Fortunately for Switzerland and its player, none of this happened. Fabian Rieder will, however, have to endure mockery from around the world in the coming days as the video of his failure is making the rounds on social networks.
“Rieder made Luca Zidane look like Gianluigi Buffon at the top of his game,” wrote one user. “The failure of the tournament”, for its part, reacted the media TSN. If the Bernese is self-deprecating, he will know how to laugh at his failure and quickly forget it. Which should be simpler with the qualification in hand.
