Switzerland draw 0-0 in Slovenia and return to Nations League A with a game to spare

A point that secures promotion

Switzerland drew 0-0 with Slovenia at the Stadion Ljudski vrt in Maribor on Friday, 13 November, a result that secured first place in the group and a return to League A of the Nations League. According to 20 Minuten, the draw ended a run of four consecutive wins. Murat Yakin fielded a side without Granit Xhaka and Johan Manzambi, and the match was the 70th of Yakin's career as coach. Switzerland held 72% of the ball, but Slovenia pressed the man on the ball aggressively and posed the greater danger on the counterattack. Blick described the goalless result as a fair one.

Chances and the disallowed goal

Dan Ndoye headed wide from close range in the fifth minute, the first chance of the match. Slovenia's best moments came on the break, and Danijel Sturm was involved in a Slovenian goal that was ruled out for offside in the 29th minute. Gregor Kobel made his first save in the 29th minute and later stopped a shot on his own goal line in the 64th minute. Jan Oblak, the Atletico goalkeeper, stopped a Ndoye effort from a narrow angle in the 44th minute. In the 80th minute Ndoye had the match's biggest chance, a cross from Zeki Amdouni, who had come on about 20 minutes earlier, but he missed the target by a few centimetres. Shortly before the end, Amdouni's own solo run also ended just wide of the goal.

Referee problems and personnel

Belgian referee Jasper Vergoote lost his radio link to the assistant referees in the first half, and the match stopped for several minutes. According to 20 Minuten, both teams' staff ran balls onto the pitch to keep the players occupied during the break. SRF noted that the offside call on the Slovenian goal showed the officials were still working correctly despite the technical problem. Denis Zakaria started in midfield and earned his 70th cap. Breel Embolo returned to the starting line-up after the association had left him out in September, and Blick rated him the weakest Swiss player before he was replaced after 59 minutes by Zeki Amdouni. Samuel Ballet, a 25-year-old who plays for Amed SK in Turkey, made his Switzerland debut when he replaced Dan Ndoye in the 87th minute, and Djibril Sow earned his 60th cap in place of Michel Aebischer.

Final group game

Switzerland close the group on Monday, 16 November, against Scotland in St. Gallen, with kick-off at 20.45 according to 20 Minuten. SRF reports that Scotland beat North Macedonia 2-1 at home in the same group, with John McGinn scoring twice. Watson reports that Remo Freuler, who played his 99th international match in Maribor, is set to reach 100 caps on Monday. The Nati already hold first place in the group and promotion, so the St. Gallen match is the last of the campaign.