UEFA Nations League: Swiss Out to Right a ‘Wrong’ in Geneva

Switzerland vs Spain

This UEFA Nations League meeting in Geneva brings back memories for me of a clash from last summer.

It was one of the highlights of Euro 2020 but, unfortunately, not for the right reasons as far as this observer was concerned.

Let me take up the story:

“An exciting contest was, quite frankly, marred by a laughable decision to send off Switzerland’s Remo Freuler 13 minutes from time.

Sure, the midfielder was slightly late reaching the ball in a challenge with Gerard Moreno but reach the ball he did and won it fairly too.

The surprised look on his face was justified as he protested his innocence and, even after a VAR check, the red card brandished by referee Michael Oliver somehow stood.

The player was naturally crestfallen as replays showed the tackle had not endangered his opponent in any way (despite what some pundits may believe).

If the laws of the game deem challenges like this – a challenge the player had to make – a red card offence, then it really is a sad state of affairs.

That was my view now and it remains my view almost 12 months on.

So can the Swiss, bottom of their group after the first two matches ended in defeat, gain a modicum of revenge and create their own UEFA Nations League 2022 highlights?

Talking Points

They could certainly do with a victory in a group containing Portugal and the Czech Republic who each top the standings with four points from their first two matches.

A 2-1 defeat to the Czechs last Thursday was swiftly followed by a hammering at the hands of Portugal on Sunday night, opponents that Spain drew with last week.

Both have virtually fully-fit squads going into the match with no injury concerns for the hosts and only centre-back Aymeric Laporte, fresh from his Premier League title success with Manchester City, ruled out of the encounter for Spain.

Luis Enrique’s team went close to winning the UEFA Nations League last year and are looking to go even further this time.

One to watch out for could be Gavi, who netted his first international goal against the Czech Republic last week and could be rewarded with another start.

It remains to be seen if the Swiss can produce an improved showing from recent days at the end of a long and tiring season for all players.

Will Yann Sommer replicate his brilliant goalkeeping form against Spain in their UEFA Nations League match? — Switzerland’s goalkeeper Yann Sommer saves the ball during their UEFA Euro 2020 quarter-final match against Spain

There is also the wider thought of how important actually is this competition with the World Cup less than six months away and some managers presumably needing matches to work out their best squad.

Watch out also for one of my favourites, Yann Sommer. A reliable backstop and one of the stand-out players in the Swiss squad at the World Cup in 2018, the 33-year-old conceded just two goals in eight matches during qualifying for Qatar 2022.

History

In 23 meetings over virtually a century (since 1925), Switzerland have only defeated Spain once.

That came in the 2010 World Cup when a Gelson Fernandes goal gave them a 1-0 group stage success at the 2010 World Cup.

Of course, that did not deter Vicente Del Bosque and his side went onto become world champions to add to the European title they had clinched two years earlier (and retained in 2012).

After that, Switzerland failed to qualify for the knockout stages.

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They met twice in the autumn of 2020 in the Nations League.

Spain edged out the Swiss in Madrid, courtesy of a Mikel Oyarzabal goal, swiftly followed by a 1-1 draw in Basel where Moreno netted a late equaliser after Remo Freuler had fired the hosts in front.

The contest I remember was a 1994 World Cup last-16 clash in America which Spain won 3-0, courtesy of goals from Fernando Hierro, current boss Enrique and Aitor Begiristain.

As a teenager, I recall being angered by Hierro’s goal as a recent rule change allowed it to stand, despite a Spanish player being in a clear offside position.

Their clash last summer was their first-ever meeting at the European Championships, a 1-1 draw after extra-time before Spain won 3-1 on spot-kicks.