Things are not getting better for the Swiss football team in the Nations League. Already beaten by Denmark (2-0) then by Spain (1-4) in September, Murat Yakin’s selection lost on Saturday in Leskovac against Serbia (2-0). He is more than ever under threat of being relegated to the second division of the latest European competition. More seriously, perhaps, it risks losing its seeding place given the draw for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the lofty promises of a highly successful Euro 2024 no longer relevant, just over three months on the quarter-finals lost on penalties. against England.
When Nico Elvedi managed to sneak the ball into Gregor Kobel’s cage in stoppage time in the first half, the first reaction was to say that the Borussia Mönchengladbach defender had been unlucky for some time. The second was to remember that the two previous fights between Switzerland and Serbia played out more or less in the same way: in an electric atmosphere, with the Serbians leading the score, but the Swiss won in the end. But the situation of the World Cup 2018 (2-1) and 2022 (3-2) was not to be repeated this time.
There is no real danger
In the 61st minute of play, the brilliant centre-forward Aleksandar Mitrovic broke through to recover a ball on the left side of the attack, moved towards the center unhindered by the other defenders and adjusted Gregor Kobel’s top corner to the 2-0. . Cruel for the goalkeeper of Borussia Dortmund, who finally has the first place in the Nati that he needs so much in recent years, but who has won a series. We have to be fair: he can’t do much about the two goals he conceded and without the two desperate and decisive saves he made in the 48th and 66th minutes, the victory would have been even drier.
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Against a Serbian team that remained in five games without a win (three draws and two wins), Susse started as usual: well organized, serious, in control of the ball. It looked like Dan Ndoye, certainly in good form, would ignite the spark that would help find the fault. But as has often been the case in recent times, Murat Yakin’s men were ultimately unable to change pace to create a real threat in front of the opposition goal. Of real chances, there was hardly anything other than Breel Embolo’s cross shot, well attended by Silvan Widmer (32nd). Otherwise, the AS Monaco striker remained far too discreet, as well as missing the penalty that could have revived Switzerland’s affairs shortly after the 2-0. Zeki Amdouni barely weighed in on the defense. Dan Ndoye stood out less and less over time. As for the entries of Fabian Rieder, Andi Zeqiri or even Joël Monteiro, they had no impact.
The Swiss team is disappointed. After a very difficult fall in 2023, she was able to remobilize with a view to Euro 2024. Giorgio Contini as assistant coach benefited the group. The relationship between Murat Yakin and Granit Xhaka has eased. Confidence was restored. All hopes seemed justified. Then, for three games, the same pattern of sterile dominance, goals conceded and inability to react is repeated. She must break it on Tuesday in St. Gallen against Denmark, who were beaten 1-0 on Saturday in Spain, so that she will not let all the doubt that she thought she lost in 2023 again.