Switzerland has already suffered three defeats and recovered from them

PublishedOctober 14, 2024, 5:02 p.m.

In 2022, at the heart of internal tensions, the national team lost its first three Nations League matches. And then, the executives took the wheel.

Can Switzerland do worse on Tuesday against Denmark in St. Gallen? She has three consecutive defeats (Denmark, Spain and Serbia). Embarrassing. But the national team has already experienced this, not so long ago. It was in June 2022, during the previous edition of the League of Nations.

Back in time. Switzerland began by losing 2-1 in Prague against the Czech Republic. Then, in the process, she took the water in Portugal (4-0). Before losing 1-0 against Spain in Geneva.

You have to remember the context. It was the beginning of Murat Yakin’s troubled times with the national team, less than a year after his arrival at the head of the selection. Internally, it was the first mess. There were others which arose from this period.

In the Czech Republic, Granit I’m better off lower down.”

We understand the unease. A lot of information filters through: relations between Yakin and the executives, Xhaka in the lead, are really not in good shape. The subsequent defeat against Portugal doesn’t help matters, with a central defense, made up of Fabian Frei and Fabian Schär, which is overwhelmed. And then, on its return to Switzerland, the national team lets Spain play for a half.

It’s at the break that everything changes: in the locker room, Xhaka, Akanji and the others decide to take matters into their own hands, to be a little more assertive. Switzerland wakes up on the field, and Yakin loses control a little.

To resume it, he acts internally: three days after Spain, Switzerland must play again against Portugal, again in Geneva. Between the two meetings, there is a famous card game, two days before the match: Jordan Lotomba and Kevin Mbabu (in particular) hit the card in the lobby of the Hôtel de la Réserve.

Not far away, at the bar, other internationals are having a drink. Yakin kindly sends the card players back to their room, not the others. And then, Lotomba and Mbabu are relegated to the stands against Portugal.

Murat Yakin emerges from all this stronger: because Switzerland ends its negative series, by beating the Selecção 1-0 (goal from Seferovic). The leaders were at the level, assuming their role, and Yakin can breathe. He can also thank his executives, who will allow the national team not to sink.

Switzerland will indeed avoid relegation to League B, because after three defeats, it has three victories. The next two come in September: it will win 2-1 in Spain, with Xhaka and Akanji who do not hesitate to carry the team on their shoulders, before concluding quietly against the Czech Republic (2-1).

What you need to understand: Switzerland has had a bad start. And what did she learn from it? That it is its executives who “decide” when they want to restart the machine. We have to hope that – this time – it’s not too late, anyway. Or else, there will be reason to question the responsibilities of each person.

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