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Switzerland national football team
Nations League | League A
Nov 15, 2024 at 7.45pm UK
St. Jakob-Park
Serbia national football team

Switzerland
1 - 1
Serbia

Amdouni (78')
Xhaka (35'), Embolo (51'), Comert (54')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Terzic (88')
Terzic (25'), Zivkovic (51')

Preview: Switzerland vs. Serbia - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Friday's Nations League clash between Switzerland and Serbia, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Switzerland will be playing for their top-tier status when they host Serbia on Friday evening, after a sluggish start in League A Group 4 left them staring relegation in the face.

After picking up just one point, the Swiss can no longer make the top two and will be automatically demoted if they fail to win in Zurich, while their opponents still harbour hopes of making the UEFA Nations League's knockout phase.


Match preview

Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka pictured on September 5, 2024© Imago

Having twice let a lead slip at home to Denmark in their most recent outing, Switzerland saw their aim of reaching this season's Nations League quarter-finals thwarted - and the wait for a first win since Euro 2024 went on.

Murat Yakin's side went ahead two times in St Gallen - through Remo Freuler's opener and a Zeki Amdouni penalty just before half time - but they ultimately had to settle for a point, which is their only one so far in Group 4.

Previously, Die Nati had lost away to the Danes, followed by defeats against Spain and Serbia in October, so they are in acute danger of slipping into League B as the group stage reaches its finale.

Their task is quite simple, as anything other than victory on Friday night would seal demotion; winning will bring their survival fight down to the last matchday, as finishing third would secure a playoff against second-tier opponents.

Even then, reigning European and Nations League champions Spain await in Switzerland's final fixture, which will take place in Tenerife next Monday.

A divisive figure whose waning reputation was restored at the Euros, Yakin will be keen to avoid writing a relegation on his CV, as he hopes to stay put in the hotseat and lead his country towards the 2026 World Cup.

Serbia head coach Dragan Stojkovic on June 25, 2024© Imago

Serbia may have failed to make it out of their group at Euro 2024, while the Swiss strode through to the quarter-finals, but they have enjoyed a more positive Nations League campaign thus far.

Dragan Stojkovic led his squad to a commendable goalless draw against Spain on the opening matchday, before overseeing a 2-0 defeat in Denmark and last month's home win over Switzerland - the latter being sealed by an Aleksandar Mitrovic strike on the hour mark.

Although the Eagles were utterly dominated in their return fixture against La Roja, losing 3-0 in Cordoba after having just one-third of the ball, they can still seek a place in the newly expanded knockout phase.

Three points behind second-placed Denmark, victory at Zurich's Stadion Letzigrund would take the race into next week's final round; however, Serbia will be unable to go through if they lose and Denmark avoid defeat - or if they draw and the Danes beat Spain.

Such is the nature of UEFA's new format, they could yet be relegated by letting Switzerland surpass them, or by finishing third and then losing a playoff.

Switzerland Nations League form:


Switzerland form (all competitions):


Serbia Nations League form:


Serbia form (all competitions):



Team News

Switzerland defender Manuel Akanji on June 29, 2024 (IMAGO)© Imago

Facing a severe selection headache in defence, Murat Yakin must do without Fabian Schar - who retired from international football after the Euros - Nico Elvedi and Manuel Akanji, with the latter missing this month's action due to an adductor injury.

For the first time in eight years, none of the trio will be in Switzerland's starting lineup, meaning the only centre-backs in a 24-man squad are uncapped pair Aurele Amenda and Albian Hajdari.

Midfielder Eray Comert may be asked to drop into the hosts' back line, as versatile veteran Denis Zakaria is also sidelined, in addition to Bologna winger Dan Ndoye.

While Granit Xhaka will captain Die Nati from midfield, Serbia's skipper is all-time top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has found the net 59 times in 96 appearances for his country and has been in fine form with Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal.

Another Saudi-based star, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has been left out, while his brother, goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, withdrew.

The latter's Torino teammate Ivan Ilic is ruled out by a knee injury sustained during the recent Derby della Mole against Juventus, but Dragan Stojkovic can at least welcome back Juve striker Dusan Vlahovic, who was unavailable in October.


Switzerland possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Widmer, Hajdari, Comert, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Amdouni, Rieder, Aebischer; Embolo

Serbia possible starting lineup:
Petrovic; Erakovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Nedeljkovic, Maksimovic, Grujic, Terzic; Samardzic; Vlahovic, Mitrovic


SM words green background

We say: Switzerland 2-2 Serbia

Though Switzerland defeated Serbia at both of the last two World Cups, they lost when these nations most recently met and are enduring an injury crisis.

While the Eagles do not travel well, their front line should cause a makeshift Swiss defence plenty of problems on Friday, when a draw would consign the home side to relegation.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Game History

How you voted: Switzerland vs Serbia

Switzerland
51.6%
Draw
26.6%
Serbia
21.7%
184
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Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on March 26, 2024
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League A1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal642014
Q Croatia Croatia62228
3 Scotland flag Scotland62137
4 Poland Poland61144

League A2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France641113
Q Italy Italy641113
3 Belgium Belgium61144
4 Israel Israel61144

League A3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany642014
Q Netherlands Netherlands62319
3 Hungary Hungary61326
4 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina60242

League A4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain651016
Q Denmark Denmark62228
3 Serbia Serbia61326
4 Switzerland Switzerland60242

League B1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic632111
2 Ukraine Ukraine62228
3 Georgia Georgia62137
4 Albania national flag Albania62137

League B2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England650115
2 Greece Greece650115
3 Ireland Rep. Ireland62046
4 Finland Finland60060

League B3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Norway Norway641113
2 Austria Austria632111
3 Slovenia Slovenia62228
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan60151

League B4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Wales flag Wales633012
2 Turkey Turkey632111
3 Iceland Iceland62137
4 Montenegro Montenegro61053

League C1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Sweden Sweden651016
2 Slovakia Slovakia641113
3 Estonia Estonia61144
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan60151

League C2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania550015
2 Kosovo flag Kosovo540112
3 Cyprus Cyprus62046
4 Lithuania Lithuania60060

League C3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland632111
2 Bulgaria Bulgaria62319
3 Belarus Belarus61417
4 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg60333

League C4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Macedonia N. Macedonia651016
2 Armenia Armenia62137
3 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands61326
4 Latvia Latvia61144

League D1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q San Marino flag San Marino42117
2 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar41306
3 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein40222

League D2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Republic of Moldova Moldova43019
2 Malta flag Malta42117
3 Andorra flag Andorra40131


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