Switzerland drop two points after stoppage-time Qatar equaliser

Stoppage-time equaliser costs you two points

Switzerland 1–1 Qatar. A cruel finish in the World Cup opener. Boualem Khoukhi headed home in the 94th minute to cancel out Breel Embolo's earlier goal and snatch a point for Qatar right at the death (8) (12). Miro Muheim scored an own goal in the chaos (8). The result leaves Group B wide open, all four teams are tied on one point after the first round of matches.

Xhaka: 'We're not ready to talk about a title'

Granit Xhaka didn't hold back after the final whistle. The captain said the team needs to "get back down to earth and face reality" and admitted Switzerland are nowhere near ready to talk about their best World Cup yet (2) (10). The message is clear, the performance wasn't good enough and the mentality has to shift fast.

VAR silence fuels the frustration

Switzerland's penalty, won by Remo Freuler and converted by Breel Embolo, is now the subject of a growing VAR storm. Former referee Keith Hackett called it "a huge error" and said Freuler was clearly offside before the foul by Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada (3). FIFA has not released any VAR images publicly, despite pressure, and even manager Murat Yakin weighed in on the confusion (4) (6) (7).

Fan reactions

Supporters are split, some are furious at FIFA for withholding the VAR images, others are simply stunned that Switzerland couldn't close out the game against a side playing only its second-ever World Cup goal (via Khoukhi). One thread captures it bluntly: 'The first surprise of this World Cup.' See the VAR debate on r/soccer