Sweet Caroline – Switzerland keep Northern Ireland promise with chocolate gift

In
one
of
the
sweeter
football
stories
of
the
week,
Switzerland
posted
a
video
to
social
media
on
Wednesday
showing
head
coach
Murat
Yakin
boxing
up
some
confectionery
treats
to
send
to
Belfast.

It
was
their
way
of
showing
their
gratitude
for
Northern
Ireland’s
goalless
draw
with
Italy
in
the
final
round
of
European
World
Cup
qualifying
group
games,
a
result
that,
combined
with
Switzerland’s
4-0
win
over
Bulgaria,
saw
Yakin’s
men
seal
their
place
at
Qatar
2022.

Ian
Baraclough’s
side
are
to
receive
9.3
kilograms
of
Swiss
chocolate
in
recognition
of
preventing
the
European
champions
from
scoring
for
93
minutes.

Switzerland
had
previously
promised
a
gift
after
initially
paying
tribute
in
their
post-match
celebrations
at
the
team
hotel
in
Lucerne,
where
they
sung
Sweet
Caroline,
the
1969
Neil
Diamond
hit
that
has
become
a
staple
song
at
Northern
Ireland
matches.

The
Euro
2020
quarter-finalists
drew
1-1
with
Italy
in
their
penultimate
qualifier,
in
which
Jorginho
missed
a
90th-minute
penalty
for
the
Azzurri.
That
result
ensured
they
were
able
to
finish
two
points
clear
at
the
top
of
Group
C
after
the
final
round
of
games.

Italy,
meanwhile,
must
now
contend
the
play-offs
alongside
teams
including
Portugal,
Sweden,
Wales
and
Russia.
The
draw
for
the
semi-finals
takes
place
on
Friday.