Swiss Cup: Etoile Carouge in the quarter-finals

A success by three goals will even be imperative if Murat Yakin and his players do not want to be faced with a sort of mission impossible on Monday in Tenerife. Beaten 2-0 by Serbia last month in Leskovac, the Suisse risks finding themselves obliged to beat Spain to avoid direct relegation in the event of a narrow success on Friday. “We still have our fate in our hands. We demonstrated two years ago that we were capable of winning in Spain,” says Murat Yakin, who of course remembers the 2-1 victory in Zaragoza on September 24, 2022. She had contributed to maintaining the Suisse in League A after, like this year, its three defeats in its first three matches.

Seventeen years without a victory

But before thinking about this challenge against the European Champion, the Suisse must deliver the goods to Zurich in a stadium where it has not known victory for…seventeen years, where it has also gone through the worst moments in its history, such as this 2-1 defeat against Luxembourg in 2008 “We have to play this match with great intensity. Also put a lot of verticality into our game,” underlines Murat Yakin. The coach will ask his players to play in the same vein as during the 1-1 against Denmark on October 15 in St. Gallen. “If Zeki Amdouni’s goal had not been disallowed by the referee, we would still have a chance to fight for second place in the group, remarks Murat Yakin. We were wronged not only in St. Gallen against Denmark, but also during our first two matches in Copenhagen and Geneva against Spain. We must not forget that.

This speech from Calimero is admissible. But it will no longer hold if the Suisse got his feet wet Friday night. Facing the Serbia in an atmosphere that we hope is peaceful, the team of Suisse will still have a lot to make up for. Like not having been able to ride the tremendous momentum of the Euro this fall. Like not having exploited an undivided domination in Leskovac during the first half against apathetic Serbs. At Letzigrund, the Swiss will this time have to provoke more one-on-one action to add some madness to their game. It’s up to Breel Embolo, Zeki Admoumi and also Noah Okafor, who will have playing time on Friday according to Murat Yakin, to play.

With Kobel and Okafor

The new chance offered to Noah Okafor – “I have always been one of his fans,” he says – and the tenure of Gregor Kobel in goal are the only cards revealed by Murat Yakin. We therefore do not know whether Basel will line up a four-man defense as against Denmark against a Serbian attack which will once again be able to count on the contribution of Juventus scorer Dusan Vlahovic. “The list of absentees requires us to find solutions, to show creativity,” remarks Murat Yakin. The one who, thanks to his results, is now the greatest coach in history, knows perfectly well that he is committing part of his credit this Friday. A consummate relegation before the final day would damage his image among his supporters who had continued to cheer him during his pre-match half-laps of honor at the Euro.