Switzerland started their World Cup campaign with a dramatic 2-1 win over Ecuador on Sunday afternoon. With the game heading for a draw at 1-1, Haris Seferovic rounded off a counter-attack deep into stoppage time to put the Swiss into pole position in Group E.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at which players impressed, and which ones did not.

Switzerland

Goal

Diego Benaglio: Made one or two decent saves, including one where he was wrong-footed by the wall. However, he also had a number of dodgy moments trying to punch crosses. On another day, he might have made a more costly mistake. (7/10)

Defence

Ricardo Rodriguez: Excellent as always. He is a bullish left-back, who possesses one of the best deliveries imaginable, and it was no coincidence that he set up both goals for his team. The Swiss defence had one or two nervy moments, but he was not involved in any of them. (9/10)

Steve von Bergen: His positioning was excellent for most of the game, and on one or two occasions he was called upon to cover his centre-back partner. Did nothing wrong. (8/10)

Johan Djourou: Was the more shaky of the two centre-backs, but did also make a couple of fine blocks. Could have been caught out with a red card if a tackle on Enner Valencia was closer to goal. (7/10)

Stephan Lichsteiner: Spent much of the game marauding forward and, particularly in the first half, was often his side's main outlet out wide. (8/10)

Midfield

Gokhan Inler: A quiet game by his standards, but mopped up well alongside Valon Behrami. We did not see enough of his creative passing, as he often opted for the safe ball. (7/10)

Valon Behrami: This would have been a six but for his impact in the winning goal along. He pulled off a brilliant tackle in the box, before starting the counter-attack that led to the goal. (7/10)

Granit Xhaka: Played as the more advanced of the three central midfielders, and the role does not really suit him. Was switched to the right in the second half, but again had little impact. (6/10)

Xherdan Shaqiri: Completely anonymous on the right in the first half, and was guilty of trying too much. However, in the number 10 role in the second he improved a lot. (7/10)

Valentin Stocker: Another player who did not have the impact that he was expected to. Was slightly better than Shaqiri in the opening 45, but was replaced at the break. (6/10)

Attack

Josip Drmic: Was Switzerland's most anonymous player, but might have had a goal to his name if not incorrectly ruled out. He did not do a good job of linking to the midfield. (5/10)

Substitutes

Admir Mehmedi: Had a really good impact in the second half, and immediately justified replacing Stocker with a goal just a few minutes after the restart. (8/10)

Haris Seferovic: Did not have much time to have an impact, but managed to score the winner with one of his few touches. Another good change by Ottmar Hitzfeld.(7/10)

Ecuador

Goal

Alexander Dominguez: Dealt with a lot of Shaqiri crosses in the first half, but spilled one or two later on. Probably could have done better with Switzerland's first. (6/10)

Defence

Juan Carlos Paredes: Did not get forward much, and had a bit of a risky tackle in the first half that he got away with. Was slightly off the pace. (6/10)

Jorge Guagua: Was his side's best defender by a long way. Used his strength brilliantly in the first half and also pulled off two very good last-ditch blocks. (8/10)

Frickson Erazo: Was the more quiet of the two centre-backs, but the two had a good understanding and he did not do a lot wrong all game. (7/10)

Walter Ayovi: Just about the best player on the park. He completely took Shaqiri out of the game in the first half, and bombed forward throughout the game as an attacking threat. (9/10)

Midfield

Antonio Valencia: Was very quiet by his standards. He had a few chances to deliver crosses in the second half, but most were overhit and as such his side of the pitch was not utilised much at all. (5/10)

Carlos Gruezo: Needs to work on his teamwork a little, as on one or two occasions he went for the spectacular when a pass was on. Young, however, and showed promise. (6/10)

Christian Noboa: Was one of the brighter players in Ecuador's early good spell, but went unnoticed for much of the second half and did not have much of an impact on the game overall. (7/10)

Jefferson Montero: On only two occasions did we see what he was capable of, with driving runs and shots from the left. Was kept quiet for most of the game, however. (7/10)

Attack

Enner Valencia: Definitely the better of the two Ecuador strikers. He was the one who linked the midfield and might have had another goal on another day. Took his header really well. (9/10)

Felipe Caicedo: Disappointing for a once very highly rated striker. He chased quite a lot, but never really got himself into the game and didn't have one sight of goal while he was on. (6/10)

Substitutes

Michael Arroyo: Showed plenty of spirit from an attacking midfield role when introduced, but might have done better from the late chance that was blocked by Behrami. (6/10)

Joao Rojas: Came on to run at Lichtsteiner late on, but was hardly given a sniff. Will be disappointed as he had 15 minutes to get into the game. (5/10)

Written by
Matt Domm