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Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso came closest to equalizing when his powerful drive in the 70th minute hit the cross bar. Spain had 63 percent of possession, and had eight shots on goal to Switzerland's three.
But when Spain did find the target, they encountered Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio, who made a string of saves.
Spain's misery was compounded when Andres Iniesta was substituted in the 77th after a hard tackle from Stephan Lichtsteiner. Del Bosque said the midfielder was not seriously hurt.
Switzerland was knocked out of the last World Cup on penalties by Ukraine in the round of 16 without conceding a goal in the tournament. The Swiss have now gone 490 minutes without conceding a World Cup goal.
Switzerland achieved its first victory in 18 attempts against Spain despite missing injured captain Alex Frei and midfielder Valon Behrami.
Spain was lifted before kick off by the return from injury of Iniesta, but the Barcelona midfielder could not provide the spark to ignite his country's attack.Del Bosque brought on Liverpool striker Fernando Torres in the 62nd minute, but he too could find no way through the Swiss wall of defenders.
David Villa was Spain's most dangerous forward, but the top scorer from the European Championship in 2008 repeatedly saw his efforts blocked or go wide.Villa passed Lichtsteiner in the 10th minute, but goalkeeper Diego
Benaglio dived at his feet to snuff out the chance. Then his free kick deflected wide off the wall after Stephane Grichting pulled down Iniesta just outside the penalty area.
In an indication to Spain's sputtering forward play, it was center back Gerard Pique who came closest to breaking the stalemate when Iniesta's through ball in the 24th minute set him free and he sent a low shot that Benaglio saved.
Villa showed the frustration creeping into Spain's game when he flung both arms into the air after Iniesta had sent a shot high over the bar shortly before halftime.
A minute later, it was Villa who was guilty of failing to finish a nice move when he made room for himself on the left by cutting inside the sliding tackle of substitute Steve von Bergen, but saw his attempted lob drift well wide of the goal.
The pattern was repeated after the break as Spain laid siege to the Switzerland goal but could not find the net.
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