– A turning point for the Swiss team
Beaten 2-0 in Serbia, Switzerland is doing badly. The generational transition takes place in pain. Fatality or mishap?
Published: 10/13/2024, 8:01 p.m.
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With the three most capped players in the history of Swiss football – Xhaka, Shaqiri and Rodriguez – united at the same time, the Swiss selection has been eating its white bread for almost thirteen years. Today she is at a crossroads, obliged to find new impetus, and that is the whole problem.
Shaqiri, Sommer and Schär have already withdrawn from the group, tomorrow it will be Xhaka, Rodriguez or Freuler who will undoubtedly follow, we just have to hope that they can do it after having participated in the 2026 World Cup. But finding players of this caliber, of this importance, is already proving complicated.
Under the Vladimir Petkovic era, this group reached heights in total osmosis. With Murat Yakin, despite heavy internal tensions since 2021, he also responded, taking his responsibilities beyond the dissensions, this summer’s Euro being the ultimate demonstration: the worst was promised to Switzerland and Yakin after miserable playoffs in fall 2023, this is the best that came out of it.
This speaks of the strength and excellence of the best generation in history, but it also tells of the dizziness that it will leave behind in the twilight of its accomplishments. Since 2014, Switzerland has been at least present in the round of 16 of the Worlds and Euros in which it competes. We find this natural, the threshold of requirements increases, it is logical.
The turning point is here now. The new generation must rise to the occasion, over time, beyond the brilliance of an almost unexpected German Euro, in the grayness of a League of Nations that it is nevertheless in its infancy. New generation, new heroes expected. The next weeks and months will tell if they are ready and if Murat Yakin can guide them on this path.
Daniel Visentini has been a journalist for the Sport Center since 2018. He was the head of the Sports section of the Tribune de Genève for seven years. He closely follows football news, particularly that of Servette FC and the Swiss team.More info
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