Switzerland conceded a draw against Serbia in Zurich (1-1). Murat Yakin’s men are guaranteed to finish last in their group and are relegated to League B of the Nations League.
After Zeki Amdouni opened the scoring in the 79th minute, she was crucified 9 minutes later. She, in fact, conceded the fatal equalizer on a break of more than 80m. The success was the work of Aleksa Terzic. Launched by Dusan Vlahovic, the Salzburg player did not give Gregor Kobel the slightest chance, thus deprived of his first clean sheet in the selection even though he thought he had finally got it.
With 2 points in 5 games, this relegation follows an implacable logic. The failure is obvious. It’s up to Murat Yakin to learn all the lessons before the preliminary round of the 2026 World Cup which Switzerland will begin next June. Monday’s match in Tenerife against Spain in a match now without stakes between La Roja which secured first place in the group after its 2-1 success in Copenhagen against Denmark and this Swiss team which will only play for Honor now resembles a chore in the sun.
An improbable central hinge
A 4-4-2 with an improbable central hinge composed of Eray Cömert and the neophyte Aurèle Amenda: Murat Yakin continued in the same vein as last month in St. Gallen against Denmark. The three-way defense, a system which worked perfectly at the Euro but which was never the coach’s cup of tea, has apparently come to an end.
Once again established as a right-back, Edimilson Fernandes was at the origin of the first two chances for the Swiss team, notably with this tight cross that Noah Okafor could not recover while the Serbian defense was beaten (28th). With Fernandes, but also Zeki Amdouni and Fabian Rieder, Switzerland’s game leaned especially towards the right. But despite a good strike from Amdouni (43rd), the Serbian lock was not to give in before the break.
Twentieth neophyte of the Yakin era, Aurèle Amenda experienced a big scare in the 41st. The Bienne player let Dusan Vlahovic slip away after a lost duel at midfield. But fortunately for him, Eray Cömert was able to emerge to deflect the Juventus striker’s shot for a corner. Failing to offer all the assurances, the Biennois and the Basel residents, despite everything, held the shock. And that’s all we asked of them.
Kobel’s first feat
After the break, Cömert could thank his goalkeeper. Gregor Kobel diverted, in fact, a penalty from captain Aleksandar Mitrovic awarded for a foul by the Basel player on the same Mitrovic. With his foot save, Kobel signed, on the evening of his 10th selection, his first real feat in the jersey of the Swiss team.
Galvanized by the prowess of their goalkeeper, the Swiss regained control in this meeting. In the 59th, Amdouni missed the inevitable on a serve from Okafor during an action again initiated by Fernandes. In the 65th minute, Murat Yakin tried to breathe new life with the introductions of Dereck Kutesa, Joël Monteiro and Andi Zeqiri for Okafor, Rieder and a very disappointing Embolo. It was therefore with six French-speaking people on the ground that Murat Yakin sought his salvation. He thought he had found it with Amdouni’s goal, a perfect strike after a header from Remo Freuler.
>> Also read:: Aurèle Amenda holder
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