- The Swiss national team lost 1:4 to European champions Spain in the Nations League in Geneva.
- The national team fell behind 0-2 in front of a sold-out crowd and was unable to correct this deficit despite being in the majority for a long time.
- In the other match of Group A4, Denmark beat Serbia 2-0 for the second time in three days.
Just as national team coach Murat Yakin was putting everything on the line by substituting Kwadwo Duah and Joel Monteiro, Spain struck with icy coldness. Twice, the European champions’ recipe was a simple one: long ball, goal. First, Fabian Ruiz scored in the 77th minute after a clearance from goalkeeper David Raya and a cross from Ferran Torres to make it 3-1. Three minutes later, the assist provider from Becir Omeragic ran away and left Gregor Kobel no chance in a 1-on-1.
It was the Swiss’s price for having been unimaginative in attack for long stretches in the heavy rain – and that against only 10 Spaniards. Robin Le Normand was sent off after 20 minutes for an emergency tackle on Breel Embolo. The subsequent free kick by Zeki Amdouni only hit the crossbar.
The absence of the suspended captain Granit Xhaka was noticeable everywhere. The national team had more of the game and more possession (66:34%), but especially after the break they only had chances from corner kicks. In the 48th minute Amdouni celebrated, but Ruben Vargas’ corner had already left the touchline. In the 67th minute, starting debutant Gregory Wüthrich was free to head the ball, but his shot went over the Spanish goal.
Early goals decisive
The defeat against the European champions was not only due to offensive inoffensiveness, but also to defensive vulnerability. Particularly in the opening phase, when the team was still at full strength, the Swiss defense was repeatedly faced with problems.
- 4th minute: Kobel parries a header from Joselu. A few seconds later, the BVB keeper is on the spot again against Joselu. However, the header from the striker, who had sneaked away behind Wüthrich, was already behind the line.
- 13th minute: Lamine Yamal sends Nico Williams on his way. The winger outwits Wüthrich and scores. Fabian Ruiz puts Kobel’s rebound in the net to make it 2-0.
In between, Switzerland also had something to celebrate. However, according to referee Irfan Peljto, the supposed 1:1 against Omeragic was due to a rule violation in the build-up because the ball hit Remo Freuler’s hand. So the only Swiss success was Amdouni’s goal to make it 1:2 (41′). The Benfica striker was in the right place at a corner and pushed the ball over the line for his 8th goal for the national team.
Shortly before half-time, Yakin’s team was unlucky again with a referee’s decision when Yamal touched the ball with his hand in his own penalty area. This time, however, the contact was not enough in Peljto’s eyes to award a penalty. However, blaming the referee for the defeat would be too easy – unlike the unfortunate 0-2 defeat in Denmark. This time, there was simply a lack of quality, and Yakin will have to go over the books for the next games.
Denmark with 2nd victory
Four days after the 2-0 win against Switzerland, Denmark also won their home match against Serbia with the same result. What the spectators in Copenhagen saw in the 61st minute was worth the price of admission alone. Defender Victor Kristiansen crossed into the penalty area, where Yussuf Poulsen put the ball in the goal with an overhead kick. The striker from Bundesliga club Leipzig had already brilliantly set up Albert Grönbaek’s 1-0 in the 36th minute. The hosts scored with the first two shots on goal from the harmless Eastern Europeans, who had forced a 0-0 draw at home against Spain on Thursday.
This is how it continues
The second Nations League tranche is scheduled for October. The national team will first play away against Serbia in Leskovac on October 12th, and three days later they will host Denmark in St. Gallen for the return match.
