Switzerland says it can handle early pressure in World Cup amid reports of dressing room tension

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Switzerland is already behind schedule just one game into the World Cup. Coach Murat Yakin says his team still has plenty of time to get where it wants to go.

The Swiss realize they're under pressure when they take on overachieving Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday at SoFi Stadium in both teams' second match of group-stage play.

No. 19 Switzerland is widely favored to advance as the highest-ranked and most accomplished team in its group, but Die Nati shockingly blew its opening match in Northern California last weekend. Qatar salvaged a 1-1 draw by scoring in the fourth minute of second-half extra time.

That means Switzerland must get strong results from its next two matches to avoid an embarrassing finish for a team that still believes it has a chance to win its first knockout-stage World Cup match since 1938.

“I am optimistic,” Yakin said Wednesday night through an interpreter. “I trust my players. We have a seasoned team, and they know how to handle stress very well. ... Of course we expected a different start. We have to stay focused, but the way we played was certainly positive. We can’t buy anything with that yet, though.”

Some of that stress might be in the dressing room: Swiss media outlets reported this week that some players are unhappy with veteran captain Granit Xhaka, who sharply criticized his team — himself included — in private and in public after the opening match.

Xhaka's high-strung approach to his sport is well known from his club career in England and Germany. Swiss midfielder Remo Freuler didn't confirm the reports of dressing room strife, but said intensity shouldn't be a topic of contention at a World Cup.

“Yes, Granit is someone who expresses himself very freely, and he might be expressing critiques, but it is also very important,” Freuler said. “He is very open and he talks freely about those things. If you are too sensitive, then maybe football is not for you, because we have to examine these things and we have to be critical.”

Switzerland’s only goal against Qatar was from the penalty spot despite having 68% of the possession, putting seven shots on goal and generating chances equaling 3.20 expected goals. The Swiss realize they allowed Qatar to hang around for far too long, and it cost them dearly.

“We saw it’s very important to stay focused until the end of the match,” Yakin said. “The way we played was good if you look at the statistics, but it doesn’t buy you anything because we lost two points.”

A strong result against Bosnia is almost certainly necessary to keep alive Switzerland's dreams of World Cup success, since the Swiss' next match is against Canada in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Bosnian team also expects a healthy fan turnout in Los Angeles.

Die Nati has lost seven straight knockout matches at the World Cup, and even getting to the knockout rounds in North America is no sure thing yet.

Bosnia opened the tournament last weekend by holding co-host Canada to a draw, putting on yet another strong performance after its charmed run to just the second World Cup berth in its history. The Dragons upset Wales and Italy in March to clinch their unlikely qualification.

“We have tremendous respect for Switzerland, but we’ve shown in the past that we can come out on top against strong opponents,” Dragons coach Sergej Barbarez said. “I hope we will confirm our form at the moment.”

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

Switzerland's head coach Murat Yakin reacts during a press conference one day ahead of the World Cup Group B soccer match between Switzerland and Bosnia Herzegovina in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (Peter Klaunzer/Keystone via AP)

Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka, left, talks with midfielder Remo Freuler during the first half of an international friendly soccer game against Australia Saturday, June 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Switzerland's, from left, Breel Embolo, Noah Okafor and Granit Xhaka argue during a training session for the national soccer team, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in San Diego, ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament. (Peter Klaunzer/Keystone via AP)

Switzerland's Remo Freuler, right, speaks next to head coach Murat Yakin during a press conference one day ahead of the World Cup Group B soccer match between Switzerland and Bosnia Herzegovina in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (Peter Klaunzer/Keystone via AP)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Christian Yelich and Jackson Chourio homered and the Milwaukee Brewers scored seven runs in the first four innings in a 9-4 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday night.

Chourio's two-run shot in the fourth gave him six homers in his last seven games.

One night after making his major league debut, Milwaukee's Cooper Pratt got his first hit and scored his first run in the second inning. Pratt also singled home a run in the eighth for his first RBI.

Cleveland wasted a grand slam from Daniel Schneemann as Gavin Williams (9-4) allowed a career-high seven earned runs in five innings. Williams had given up seven runs just once before, in a 9-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 24, 2023. Only five of the runs were earned in that 2023 appearance.

Williams was bidding for his 10th win of the season, which would have enabled him to match Milwaukee's Aaron Ashby for the major league lead.

But he struggled right from the start.

Yelich led off the first inning by connecting on a 3-2 pitch and delivering a 387-foot shot to left center. Two outs later, Williams issued back-to-back walks to William Contreras and Jake Bauers before Sal Frelick doubled home both runners.

Milwaukee made it 5-0 in the second as Yelich singled home Pratt and scored on Brice Turang's double.

After not putting any runners on base in the first three innings, Cleveland got back into the game in the fourth. Milwaukee’s Brandon Sproat loaded the bases on two walks and a single before Schneemann sent a 2-2 pitch over the right-field wall to cut the Brewers’ lead to 5-4.

Sproat left with a right hamstring cramp later in the fourth inning.

Chad Patrick (4-3) struck out seven and allowed one hit in 3 1/3 innings of shutout relief to help preserve Milwaukee's lead. Cleveland got just three hits all night.

Parker Messick (6-3, 2.86 ERA) was set to start for Cleveland against Shane Drohan (3-2, 3.59) in the series finale Thursday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Cleveland Guardians' Daniel Schneemann drops his bat after hitting a grand slam during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Cleveland Guardians' Gavin Williams reacts after giving up a two-run home run to Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Christian Yelich hits an RBI single during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Christian Yelich hits a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio gestures as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)