Switzerland vs Spain
UEFA Nations League action continues this weekend when Luis de la Fuente’s Spain have another chance to get a first win after a goalless draw away to Serbia.
Their hosts in Geneva are hoping to get off the mark too after falling to a 2-0 defeat away to Denmark. It looked like Murat Yakin’s side were heading for a goalless stalemate in Copenhagen too, until a catastrophic last 10 minutes saw them concede two goals and finish the game with nine men.
We can expect a highly competitive game on Sunday between two teams that have been banging in form this year. The Euro 2024 winners and quarter-finalists are ready to put on a show, and both are in search of that first victory.
Talking Points
Yakin is two men down
Switzerland’s opener against Denmark was a good chance for Yakin’s men to pick up at least a point, but his team hit the UEFA Nations League 2024 news headlines for all the wrong reasons.
As the second half began, the Swiss were in good shape, but then a rash moment from Nico Elvedi and a VAR intervention changed the game.
The Danes thought they had won a penalty when Elvedi ploughed into Denmark striker Kasper Dolberg, but after a VAR reviews, the foul was adjudged to be just outside the penalty area, and Elvedi’s yellow card was upgraded to a red.
Switzerland held out until debutant Patrick Dorgu climbed off the bench to score the opener on 82 minutes, and when Denmark captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg made it 2-0 in stoppage time, the Swiss were already down to nine men.
Skipper Granit Xhaka was already on a yellow after his complaints in the aftermath of Denmark’s opener, and he picked up a second yellow with three minutes remaining to book his early bath.
Xhaka is Switzerland’s most capped player of all time with 131 appearances, and he is a powerhouse in midfield, enjoying his best season for some time as a key player in Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga triumph last season. He’ll be sorely missed on Sunday, as will Elvedi.
But this is a team on the up under Yakin, only going out of the Euro 2024 quarter finals on penalties to eventual runners up England, and they will provide another stiff test for their next opponents.
A reset for Spain
The pre-tournament UEFA Nations League 2024 betting odds back La Roja as one of the few genuine contenders to win the title, but a trip to Serbia is never the easiest place to go.
After a run of nine consecutive victories including all six of their Euro 2024 matches, Spain finally drew a blank, but it was not for the want of trying. In a grumpy first 45 minutes, five players picked up yellow cards, including a sixth in 12 internationals for captain Dani Carvajal.
Spain rained 22 shots down on the Serbian goal, but the hosts’ keeper Predrag Rajkovic stood firm to keep out efforts from Ayoze Perez, Luka Jovic, and Carvajal.
Alex Grimaldo and teen superstar Lamine Yamal also came close, while winger Nico Williams had a heard tipped over by the Serbian stopper.
This is a star-studded team riding the crest of a wave and, when you add in the likes of Dani Olmo and Mikel Oyarzabal, it is something of a head scratcher that they failed to score against Serbia.
But everyone can have an off day, and Switzerland will be hoping Spain can have two.
History
As well as being 2024 European Championship winners, Spain are the defending champions of the UEFA Nations League, beating Croatia on penalties after drawing the final 0-0.
Switzerland put up a strong showing to finish third in Group A2, with a five-point buffer over the relegated Czech Republic and only one and two points behind Portugal and Spain.
Spain have the edge in the head-to-head meetings with two wins to one, and there have been three draws. The last time the two teams met, a Pablo Sarabia goal gave La Roja a 1-0 victory in Geneva in the 2022 Nations League.
Both teams have been in exceptional form in 2024. Spain won nine matches on the bounce and then drew in Serbia, while Switzerland were also unbeaten before their trip to Denmark, winning four and drawing five in 2024.
Betting Tip
With Switzerland weakened, the hosts’ price has drifted out to SBOTOP odds of 5.22, and the draw is at 3.88.
Spain will face another stiff test, but I think de la Fuente’s men will pass this one at 1.75 odds.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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