Germany left reeling by brilliant Swiss

Switzerland created a major upset by storming to a sensational victory against Germany in Minsk, a result that leaves the five-time champions in danger of missing out on a last-four berth for the first time in six years.

Endless problems
Full of confidence after their 4-1 defeat of Belarus, Yannick Schwery's charges outplayed their German counterparts for long periods, with strike duo Ana Maria Crnogorcevic and Ramona Bachmann posing endless problems. Crnogorcevic set the ball rolling with her second of the tournament on three minutes, before strikes from Bachmann and captain Danique Stein – who was also celebrating her birthday – sealed the rout after the break. The win leaves Switzerland on the brink of qualification, while Maren Meinert's side could be eliminated even if they beat Belarus on 19 July.

Swiss pressure
Returning striker Bachmann created the game's first opening, speeding on to Jehona Mehmeti's pass and drawing a sharp save from Desiree Schumann. From the resulting corner, Crnogorcevic timed her run perfectly to head in Mehmeti's near-post cross. Trailing for the second time in three days Germany again reacted, Jessica Wich rifling over before setting up skipper Marina Hegering to nod fractionally wide.

Relentless pace
Yet the most eye-catching football was coming from the team in red, and in particular Bachmann. The Umeå IK forward bamboozled the defence on 12 minutes before laying the ball to Samira Susuri who fired over. Bachmann was unlucky not to score herself just before the half-hour, rattling the post with a thunderous strike after Mehmeti's visionary pass. Despite the stifling heat, the pace was relentless and both sides created chances aplenty. Indeed, Wich should have drawn Germany level on the brink of half-time but the diminutive No7 fired wastefully over.

Exceptional Bachmann
This decidedly was not to be Germany's day. Marie-Louise Bagehorn's 55th-minute header looked a certain goal before Mehmeti brilliantly cleared off the line, and from that moment Switzerland seized control. Schumann foiled Crnogorcevic in a one-on-one, but the second goal arrived on 65 minutes, the exceptional Bachmann running at the defence before curling a precise, left-footed shot inside the post. Mehmeti struck the crossbar for the rampant Swiss before Stein sealed Germany's fate on 81 minutes, rifling in a stunning free-kick from over 25 metres out.