Switzerland take the lead twice, but miss out on the reward for their efforts. There is now a threat of a siege in the League of Nations – a logical consequence of negative development.
Remo Freuler scored the first goal in the match between Switzerland and Denmark.
At the end of an entertaining evening in St. Gallen’s Kybunpark, a few moments and images, feelings and stories remain. Before the encounter with Denmark, three pillars of the national team, Yann Sommer, Fabian Schär and Xherdan Shaqiri will recover. The trio’s best scenes from 305 international matches are shown on the stadium screens above: Summer’s penalty shootout against Kylian Mbappé at Euro 2021, Schär referee passes, Shaqiri’s side-scrolling goal against Poland at Euro 2016 and down on the green, the three heroes of the wave that has been passed in a friendly way Spectators.
With Sommer, Schär and Shaqiri, three footballers who had a strong influence on the Swiss team retired as national players during the summer. Like Ricardo Rodríguez, who will not be in the starting line-up in a competitive game against Denmark on Tuesday evening for the first time since he started thirteen years ago.
National coach Murat Yakin changed the personnel and system after three wins at the start of the Nations League; The three-man chain that influenced selection at the European Championships over the summer has been less stable recently. And with the changed, more offensive focus, the Swiss managed a much improved performance against Denmark compared to the 0-2 win in Serbia on Saturday, although that was to be expected after the performance sobering.
Finally the Swiss “moments of happiness” again
The 2-2 draw against Denmark still leaves the Swiss with mixed feelings. They showed a reaction, as goalkeeper Gregor Kobel said. And they must again be angry at the match officials’ decision as Zeki Amdouni’s supposed goal-winner to make it 3-2 was disallowed – the ball is said to have left the field at Filip Ugrinic’s substitute corner. Amdouni’s goal was similarly disallowed in the 4-1 win against Spain in September.
So the Swiss team is not doing well against Denmark either. On the one hand. On the other hand, up to Amdouni’s goal, it was mainly a game in which many things were different than in recent times. The Swiss experience “moments of happiness” just as coach Yakin wanted them to. This time it was they who scored the 1-0, which was seen at all. In the middle of the first half, the ball lands like a pinball box at the feet of goal scorer Remo Freuler.
This time it was they who scored in stoppage time in the first half when Amdouni converted a penalty. This time Kobel made a great save for the national team when he miraculously prevented Manchester United striker Rasmus Höjlund to make it 2-2. This time the opponent scores an offside goal. This time the Dane Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg is lying on the ground and Xhaka is urging the Swiss to keep the ball in play.
So for a long time there have been signs of an evening of freedom for the Swiss. Full-backs Ulisses Garcia and Edimilson Fernandes look bold in two of the team’s problems and hit strong crosses. The gambler Amdouni is determined and the most impressive Swiss, while Xhaka creates the structure, although he makes a few unusual mistakes.
Even a win against Serbia might not be enough
Above all, it is the captain Xhaka who is not concentrated enough and conceding both goals. Christian Eriksen takes advantage of the 1-1 draw when he takes a quick free kick to scorer Gustav Isaksen and surprises the Swiss. And Eriksen also benefits from the 2-2 draw, partly because Xhaka doesn’t do his defensive work consistently. These are two goals that should not happen in regional football.
The Swiss team is reaping the rewards for its efforts. Body language and intensity were right again against Denmark, after less than 100 seconds Xhaka had already gone strong on goal and striker Breel Embolo won the ball powerfully. But 101 days after the unfortunate elimination in the quarter-finals of the European Championship against England, it is certain that at least Switzerland have overcome the crisis of results.
As the Serbians lost 3-0 in Spain, Switzerland can at least catch up with Serbia with a home win in the direct duel in Zurich on November 15 – but in the final three days later they will play in against the European champions in Spain. Tenerife, although Serbia will receive Danes.
That’s why the Swiss international game ends in disappointment despite the atmospheric environment in St. Gallen and despite the improvement in performance. They are the better team with more chances, but Nico Elvedi is not the only one who has problems with his bias towards the defenders. The best days of this selection may be over, and that’s something that comes to mind on Tuesday evening, and not just when Sommer, Schär and Shaqiri are saving up. The balance over the last twelve months has been poor with two wins in thirteen competitive games, greatly improved by Germany’s impressive Euro weeks.
Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel’s bitter record
But no one in the Swiss camp would want nicer statistics in exchange for an earlier end to the European Championships. The life of football from moments, images, feelings, stories. The Swiss are currently writing a few negative chapters. “We were punished a lot in the last internationals,” says goalkeeper Kobel.
This applies to no one more than him, who is considered one of the best in the world in his field, but so far they have experienced nine decent international games without success. Since the European Championships, Kobel Dortmund has conceded ten goals in four games. And against Denmark he showed some uncertainty with the ball at his feet. Even if he is the best goalkeeper than Yann Sommer, one inevitably draws comparisons with his formidable predecessor.
Switzerland will need a great Gregor Kobel in the next few years to achieve its lofty goals and to be able to once again provide lasting moments and images, emotions and stories at tournaments.
In 2024, at least, the national team will have it in their own hands to prevent relegation from the top tier of the Nations League in November. It is also a matter of honor. Coach Yakin says he has never been absent in his long career as a player and coach.