Nations League: Even two victories do not put Nati safe from the play-off against relegation

Murat Yakin faces a challenge with Nati: saving the Nations League championship.

IMAGO/Steinsiek.ch

The Swiss national team can still remain in Group A of the Nations League. But the undertaking is arduous.

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With two games to go, Switzerland finds itself in the relegation zone of the Nations League group.
A victory against Serbia on Friday evening is a must if the national team wants to remain in group A.
In any case there is no possibility that the national team will surpass third place.
Furthermore, Switzerland could face opponents such as England or Austria in the relegation play-off in Group B.

The Swiss national team has certainly not shone so far in the Nations League. Four out of six matches were played and the team of Murat Sure is at the bottom of the table in its group with just one point.

Relegation to Group B of the Nations League is imminent. Nati are three points away from third place with two games to go. This difference must be made up for on Friday evening in the duel against Serbia.

The fact is that Switzerland must win against Serbia if they want to avoid relegation. Here are the possible scenarios.

Relegation is possible even with two wins

According to UEFA regulations, in the event of a tie on points, direct matches between teams with the same number of points are decisive. Denmark currently has seven points and Serbia four.

If Nati wins against Spain and Serbia and Denmark loses against Spain and Serbia, there will be three teams with seven points.

In this three-way fight with Denmark and Serbia, the national team would lose. With four points in head-to-head matches, Switzerland would have fewer points than Denmark (six points) and Serbia (four points).

If Switzerland doesn’t win against Serbia

With less than three points in the duel against Serbia, currently in third place, relegation to Group B is a fact. The match against European champions Spain would no longer have any influence on the final outcome.

If Switzerland wins against Serbia

After a victory on Friday evening, the Swiss would be level on points with Serbia. However, a victory with just one goal would put Yakin and his team still behind Stojkovic’s men. To overtake the Serbs in the standings before the final match, the Swiss must win by at least two goals.

2:0 win against Serbia

In case of a 2-0 victory against Serbia, Nati will find themselves in third place before the final day and consequently Monday’s matches would be decisive.

Switzerland can avoid relegation with these scenarios:

– gets more points than Serbia in the last match;

– Switzerland and Serbia win, Denmark collects at least one point against Spain on Friday and Switzerland wins against Spain with a goal difference equal to or better than Serbia’s against Denmark;

– Serbia and Switzerland draw their last matches. The Serbs score a maximum of two more goals than Switzerland;

– Switzerland loses to Spain and Serbia loses to Denmark with the same or better goal difference.

1:0 win against Serbia

Assuming the Swiss beat Serbia 1:0, they will have to score more points than the Balkans in their last match.

A sensational victory against Serbia

If Yakin’s attackers were to score in bursts, beating the Serbs by three or more goals, it will be up to Serbia to score more points than Switzerland in their last match to snatch third place – or, if they score the same number of points, they will have to achieve a better goal difference.

What does 3rd place mean for Nati

Third place is the highest result still achievable for Nati. In the play-off to stay in Group A, Switzerland will have to face a second-placed team from the Group B groups. These currently include Georgia, England, Austria and Wales.