Switzerland still without a win in the Nations League

 

At the end of an entertaining evening in St. Gallen’s Kybunpark, a few moments and images, emotions and stories remain. Before the encounter with Denmark, three long-time pillars of the national team, Yann Sommer, Fabian Schär and Xherdan Shaqiri, will say goodbye. The trio’s best scenes from 305 international matches are shown above on the stadium screens: Summer’s penalty parade against Kylian Mbappé at the 2021 European Championship, Schär’s magistral passes, Shaqiri’s side-scroll goal against Poland at the 2016 European Championship. And down on the lawn, the three heroes of the past wave in a friendly manner Audience.

With Sommer, Schär and Shaqiri, three footballers who had a strong influence on the Swiss team retired as national players in the summer. Like Ricardo Rodríguez, who will not be in the starting line-up in a competitive game against Denmark on Tuesday evening for the first time since his debut thirteen years ago.

National coach Murat Yakin changed personnel and system after three defeats at the start of the Nations League; the Swiss lined up in 4-2-3-1. The three-man chain with which the selection at the European Championships impressed in the summer has proven to be less stable recently. And with the changed, more offensive orientation, the Swiss managed a significantly improved performance against Denmark compared to the 0-2 defeat in Serbia on Saturday, although that was to be expected after the sobering performance.

Finally Swiss “moments of happiness” again

The 2-2 draw against the Danes still leaves the Swiss with ambivalent feelings. They did show a reaction, as goalkeeper Gregor Kobel said. And they have to be angry again about a decision by the game officials because the supposed winning goal by the eye-catching Zeki Amdouni to make it 3-2 was canceled – the ball is said to have left the field at substitute Filip Ugrinic’s corner. Amdouni had a goal disallowed in exactly the same way in the 4-1 defeat against Spain in September.

So things aren’t going well for the Swiss team against Denmark either. On the one hand. On the other hand, up until Amdouni’s goal, it was primarily a match in which many things were different than in recent times. The Swiss experience “moments of happiness” just as coach Yakin wanted them. This time it is they who score the 1-0, which was by no means apparent. In the middle of the first half, the ball lands like in a pinball box at the feet of goal scorer Remo Freuler.

This time it is they who score in first-half stoppage time when Amdouni converts a penalty. This time Kobel finally managed a big save in the national team when he miraculously prevented Manchester United striker Rasmus Höjlund from making it 2-2. This time the opponent scores an offside goal. This time the Dane Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg is lying on the ground and Xhaka is urging the Swiss to keep the ball in play.

So for a long time there have been signs of an evening of liberation for the Swiss. The full-backs Ulisses Garcia and Edimilson Fernandes appear boldly on offense in two of the team’s problem areas and hit strong crosses. The gambler Amdouni is convincing and is the most noticeable Swiss, while Xhaka shapes the structure, although he makes a few unusual misplays.

Even a win against Serbia might not be enough

Above all, it is Captain Xhaka who is not concentrated enough when conceding both goals. Christian Eriksen benefits from the 1-1 draw when he quickly takes a free kick to the goalscorer Gustav Isaksen and surprises the Swiss. And Eriksen also benefits from the 2-2 draw, partly because Xhaka doesn’t do his defensive work consistently. These are two goals that shouldn’t happen in regional football.

The Swiss team is depriving itself of the reward for its efforts. Body language and intensity were right again against Denmark, after less than 100 seconds Xhaka had already shot powerfully at goal and striker Breel Embolo aggressively won a ball. But 101 days after the unfortunate elimination in the European Championship quarter-finals against England, Switzerland has definitely reached at least a crisis in results.

Because the Serbs lost 3-0 in Spain, Switzerland can at least catch up with Serbia with a home win in the direct duel in Zurich on November 15th – but in the final round three days later they will be away in Tenerife against the European champions Spain, while Serbia will be the Danes receives.

That’s why the international match for Switzerland ended disappointingly despite the atmospheric ambience in St. Gallen and despite the improvement in performance. They are the better team with more chances, but Nico Elvedi isn’t the only one showing orientation problems on the defensive. The best days of this selection may actually be over, and that’s something that comes to mind on Tuesday evening, and not just when saying goodbye to Sommer, Schär and Shaqiri. The balance from the last twelve months with two wins in thirteen competitive games is miserable, greatly improved by the wonderful weeks at the Euro in Germany.

The bitter record of goalkeeper Gregor Kobel

But no one in the Swiss camp would want nicer statistics in exchange for an earlier end to the European Championships. Football lives from moments, from images, emotions, stories. The Swiss are currently writing a few negative chapters. “We were punished severely in the last international matches,” says goalkeeper Kobel.

This applies to no one more than to him, who is considered one of the best in the world in his field, but has so far experienced nine relatively unsuccessful international matches. Since the European Championship, Dortmund’s Kobel has conceded ten goals in four appearances. And against Denmark he showed some insecurities with the ball at his feet. Even if he may be the better goalkeeper than Yann Sommer, one inevitably draws a comparison with his strong predecessor.

Switzerland will need an outstanding Gregor Kobel in the next few years in order to achieve its high goals and to be able to once again provide lasting moments and images, emotions and stories at tournaments.

In 2024, the national team will at least have it in their own hands to prevent relegation from the top Nations League league in November. It is also a question of honor. The coach Yakin says he has never been relegated in his long career as a player and coach.