Switzerland is not in the best shape before its last two matches of the year. Many questions arise for Murat Yakin.
If its status as top seed for the draw for the preliminary round of the 2026 World Cup was not 99% assured, Switzerland would be heading into its last two games of the year with fear deep in its bones. . With the detestable certainty of reliving, like last year, an autumn as sad as an endless winter.
With a defense to reinvent after the withdrawal of Manuel Akanji and an attack deprived of the two supporters of the leading striker at the Euro Ruben Vargas and Dan Ndoye, Murat Yakin does not, it is true, approach the League of Nations matches. Nations on Friday in Zurich against Serbia and on Monday in Tenerife against Spain in the best possible conditions. The strange feeling of having to climb Everest in flip-flops must cross his mind.
Maintaining League A practically requires a victory by three goals against Serbia and a draw or a success in Spain. The coach fully appreciates the magnitude of the task. This is why he made it clear last Thursday to the press “that relegation would not be dramatic”. Just to prepare the ground…
The shadow of Fabian Schär
He cannot ignore that Ricardo Rodriguez, his last strong man in defense, is not a starter in La Liga with Betis Sevilla. The coach has not finished regretting the international retirement of Fabian Schär, which he did not expect and for which he was not prepared.
Do Eray Cömert and Aurèle Amenda have the shoulders to assert themselves as the new bosses of defense during these next two meetings? Their performances in recent weeks at their respective clubs – Valladolid and Eintracht Frankfurt – leave doubts creeping in.
A chess player rather than a gambler as he likes to point out, Murat Yakin is not one step ahead this time. The coach must endure a situation that escapes him after the formalization on Monday of Manuel Akanji’s withdrawal. Even if he has only provided minimal service since the Euro, the Zurich player is, like Granit Xhaka, simply irreplaceable.
As against Denmark in St. Gallen, Murat Yakin certainly intended to field a four-man defense, the system he prefers but which he abandoned at the start of the year to facilitate Fabian Schär’s return to business. With the presence in his list of Kevin Mbabu, Ulisses Garcia and the neophyte Miro Muheim, he once again has on hand players who can play the role of pistons if we return to a line of three.
Quid d’Ardon Jashari?
The other “problem” that Murat Yakin will face lies in the management of the Ardon Jashari case. Brilliant with FC Bruges, the Lucerne half has not played in the team since his introduction in the 89th minute during the disastrous round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup against Portugal. Does the person who claims to “feel 100% Albanian” still represent the future?
Is Murat Yakin ready to allow him to polish his weapons alongside his big brother Granit Xhaka, even if it means hurting the egos of Remo Freuler and Vincent Sierro? This is also one of the challenges of this November gathering, a gathering not really like the others.
This article was automatically published. Source: ats
