This is not the performance of the century. However, it is welcome after the disastrous round of 16 of the World Cup. In just three days, Switzerland has taken the right course towards Euro 2024.
Victorious 5-0 from Belarus on Saturday in Novi Sad, Switzerland did not miss their reunion with their public. In Geneva, they beat Israel 3-0 to share the lead in Group I of the Euro 2024 preliminary round with Romania. Without insulting the Kosovo of Alain Giresse, these two formations should easily keep their hand until the end of this campaign for a qualification without history and without fear.
After four games without the slightest victory between 2004 and 2009, this first victory against Israel in an official match underlines how much Switzerland has grown over the past fourteen years. Murat Yakin collects the fruits of the labor of his two predecessors so that such a match is no longer a trap match.
Even without Xherdan Shaqiri and without Breel Embolo, the team can make their individualities speak to force the decision. Thus, a Remo Freuler will have made the right gesture to bring the first two goals. Whoever scored the winning goal last December against Serbia was the man of the match.
Switzerland took its time
Signing a perfect hat-trick three days earlier does not guarantee you a starting place: Renato Steffen, the hero of Novi Sad, experienced this misfortune to give way to Zeki Amdouni in an eleven again articulated in 4-3- 3. Faced with a tougher opponent than Belarus but just as timid with no real chance to his credit Amdouni and his teammates took their time before giving their full measure.
After a penalty caused in the 29th minute by Cedric Itten but ultimately refused by the VAR, Switzerland came out of its drowsiness thanks to a school action for the opener of the 39th. Found by Denis Zakaria, Amdouni sent a cross that Remo Freuler extended with a header towards Ruben Vargas. The Lucernois beat goalkeeper Omri Glazer to the limit for his fifth success in selection.
Two wingers for a breath of fresh air
Already very to his advantage in Novi Sad, Vargas was, three minutes after his goal, at the origin of a rupture which could have allowed Amdouni to double the bet. But the Genevan stumbled on Glazer. On these two actions, the two men were able to justify the confidence of the coach. Even if everything was not perfect, especially with Amdouni, the life they bring to the wings breathes new life into the team.
They demonstrated it as soon as the recovery with the 2-0 which was as beautiful as the 1-0. Itten deflected for Vargas whose cross was again for Freuler. The Nottingham midfielder saw his shot blocked by Glazer, but as the story of this match had to be beautiful, Amdouni followed well to score his twelfth goal of the year, probably the easiest. Five minutes later, Silvan Widmer drove home the point with an unstoppable header on a service from Zakaria. The match quickly turned into a demonstration to the delight of the 14,819 spectators present, including a certain Roger Federer.
/ATS
