The big preview: UEFA Nations League

Switzerland

World Ranking – Eighth

Top scorer during Nations League – Haris Seferović – Five goals

Form – Three wins, one draw and two losses

Switzerland have been on a great run of late with two wins in their last three matches, though Vladimir Petković’s men did allow Denmark to secure a 3-3 draw after leading by three with six minutes left in their most recent fixture.

The match before that was a much easier stress-free game for the semi-finalists as they beat Georgia 2-0 to open their European Championships qualifying campaign with a win. Though if it hadn’t been for Rossocrociati’s mindblowing 5-2 win over Belgium then we would be talking about Roberto Martinez’s men in the Nations League semi-finals.

Before that, Vladimir Petković’s side entertained World Cup 2020 hosts, Qatar and lost 1-0 as forward Akram Afif scored with four minutes left to stun the European side to silence. Their other two games consisted of a win over a disappointed Iceland team and a loss to Belgium in the Nations League group stage.

How they got here –

The Swiss got their Nations League campaign off to the perfect start as they thrashed no-hopers Iceland 6-0, after six different players scored in a match where the hosts reduced the away side to only a single shot on target. Switzerland did lose 2-1 to group favourites Belgium in their next match as Romelu Lukaku scored a double in what looked like the match that could have ended the European sides chances of a Nations League semi-final place.

It was usual service for Vladimir Petković’s side from then on though as they travelled to Reykjavík and won 2-1 courtesy of goals from Haris Seferović and Michael Lang despite a late Alfreð Finnbogason goal, however their win here helped them believe that they could beat Belgium in their final game.

It did look like the impossible, especially after  Thorgan Hazard scored two within 17 minutes, however a Seferović wonder show which involved him scoring a hat-trick meant that Switzerland won 5-2 and secured qualification for the semi-finals of the Nations League.

Team news –

Vladimir Petković excluded a number of stars that featured for the Swiss national team during the group stage of this year’s Nations League. They include Frankfurt midfielder Mario Gavranović, Schalke striker Breel Embolo, midfielder Christian Fassnacht and defender Timm Klose.

Midfielders Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka remain in the final 23-man squad fresh off the back of their European exploits, Shaqiri winning the Champions League with Liverpool and Arsenal midfielder Xhaka playing the full 90 minutes as the Gunners lost 4-1 to Chelsea in the Europa League final in Baku.

23-man squad –

Goalkeepers: Yann Sommer (Monchengladbach), Yvon Mvogo (Leipzig), Jonas Omlin (Basel)

Defenders: Manuel Akanji (Dortmund), Loris Benito (Young Boys), Nico Elvedi (Monchengladbach), Michael Lang (Monchengladbach), Kevin Mbabu (Young Boys), Jacques-François Moubandje (Toulouse), Ricardo Rodríguez (Milan), Fabian Schär (Newcastle)

Midfielders: Edimilson Fernandes (Fiorentina), Remo Freuler (Atalanta), Xherdan Shaqiri (Liverpool), Djibril Sow (Young Boys), Renato Steffen (Wolfsburg), Granit Xhaka (Arsenal), Denis Zakaria (Monchengladbach), Steven Zuber (Stuttgart), Noah Okafor (Basel)

Forwards: Josip Drmić (Monchengladbach), Haris Seferović (Benfica), Albian Ajeti (Basel)

Matches ahead –

Portugal Vs Switzerland (Wednesday 5th June 2019)

Netherlands Vs England (Thursday 6th June 2019)

Semi-final loser 1 vs Semi-final loser 2 (Sunday 9th June 2019 2pm)

Semi-final winner 1 vs Semi-final winner 2 (Sunday 9th June 2019 7:45 pm)