Swiss national team loses 1:4 against European champions Spain

In the end, the Swiss fell apart. Two passes from deep in their own half, one even from goalkeeper David Raya, were enough for the efficient Spaniards to score the goals to make it 3-1 and 4-1 in the 77th and 80th minutes through the outstanding Fabian Ruiz and substitute Ferran Torres. The Swiss defenders outdid each other with positioning errors and lapses, as they had done with the two goals conceded in the opening phase.

And so the false start to the Nations League is complete: 0:2 in Denmark, 1:4 against European champions Spain. Of course, Murat Yakin has a few arguments on his side when he says that the ball rolled in these two matches against Switzerland – and that there was a lack of luck in the game, including some very questionable VAR decisions. But the national coach will also have noticed that there is not enough personnel to compensate for absences such as those of the suspended Granit Xhaka and Nico Elvedi as well as the injured Dan Ndoye and Silvan Widmer.

What had been hinted at is becoming increasingly obvious: the surprising resignation of the experienced, strong defender Fabian Schär has hit Yakin hard. Grégory Wüthrich made an unsatisfactory impression against Spain, and not just by conceding several goals. With the exception of Manuel Akanji, the Swiss lack internationally viable defenders. “We are in a state of transition,” says Yakin, “and that takes time.”

When is a hands a hands?

The first half against Spain was full of stories for half an international season. And of course the VAR was the focus, because it always does that and certainly far too often. Video evidence in this form is a nuisance and an absurdity. It cannot be in the spirit of football if a possible offside position in the creation of a goal or a red card is looked at for minutes because of millimetres.

In any case, the Swiss struggled with the VAR again on Sunday evening in Geneva, as they did in Denmark. When the Spanish team scored an early 1-0 in the fourth minute, it was not clear whether Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel had really parried Joselu’s header behind the line with a strong reflex save.

Before the Spaniards scored the 2-0 goal quite early in the first quarter of an hour through Fabian, it could have been a foul on Michel Aebischer. In between, the Swiss had scored the 1-1 through Becir Omeragic, which was subsequently disallowed because Remo Freuler had committed a handball in his own half. The same thing happened to 17-year-old Lamine Yamal in his own penalty area shortly afterwards – but the VAR did not intervene.

And the question is again: When is a hands a hands?

There were a few more controversial actions in the first half, which at times was like a school playground. It was a wild game without any rigid tactical constraints, with unusual space on both sides at this level. This was also due to the red card given to Spanish central defender Robin Le Normand in the 21st minute for an emergency braking foul on Breel Embolo. The VAR needed several minutes to determine whether Embolo had previously been offside. It probably doesn’t know yet. Calibrated lines and goal-line technology were not available in Geneva.

At least the Swiss recovered from the shock of this spectacular opening phase and scored a goal before the break with relatively mundane means: corner from Ruben Vargas, header from Embolo, goal from Zeki Amdouni. The eye-catching Vargas drove the Swiss forward in the first half, Amdouni hit the crossbar with a free kick, but overall the actions of the European Championship quarter-finalists soon lacked determination and precision. The Swiss had little to offer, especially after the break. They did not create any more dangerous scenes and were unable to benefit from the 79 minutes of numerical superiority.

Insufficient defensive behavior

What was particularly missing from the Swiss game: a surprising idea, an unexpected inspiration, a Shaqiri moment. Xherdan Shaqiri has retired from the national team. Perhaps in the future, people will remember with nostalgia one day or another that over the last decade he regularly shone in such close encounters with a feint, a shot, a stroke of genius.

The Swiss team’s will was undeniable in the rainy second half, but their quality was lacking for long stretches. Like Amdouni, Vargas was noticeably declining, and their lack of match practice was evident. Embolo was worn out in many tackles at the front. Without the suspended Granit Xhaka, there was hardly any impetus from midfield, and no useful crosses from the flanks. And when the ball did go in the goal to make it 2-2, it had crossed the touchline before it hit. There was no need for VAR to determine that.

Perhaps the Swiss are actually lucky with the 1:4 defeat. In the first few minutes, when the Spaniards still had all their players on the pitch, they were overwhelmed by Yamal’s pace. The world football prodigy was replaced early on, as was Nico Williams, the other nimble winger.

After a rousing summer at the European Championships, the Swiss now face an uncomfortable autumn in the Nations League. Yakin’s team was brought back to earth in the atmospheric, sold-out Stade de Genève. The disillusionment was palpable. The next game is the thankless away game in Serbia in October and the home game against Denmark. National coach Yakin has to make a few fundamental considerations by then in order to give his team more stability again. The European Championship fairytale is a long way off.