Yakin names 28-man Swiss squad with Xhaka and Embolo back and two debutants

Squad for the last two Nations League games

Switzerland coach Murat Yakin has named 28 players for the final two Nations League matches of 2026, two more than the usual 26. The team plays Slovenia in Maribor on Friday, 13 November, and Scotland in St. Gallen on Monday, 16 November, with kickoff at 20:45 each time. Yakin deliberately made the squad larger for the final camp of the year, and he framed it as also looking ahead to the 2027 European Championship qualifiers. A point in Maribor would secure the group win and direct promotion back to League A before the final match, and Switzerland has a perfect record from its first four games.

Xhaka and Embolo return

Granit Xhaka and Breel Embolo are back after missing the September and October window, when they were left out over their convictions for acquiring forged Covid certificates. The Swiss Football Association decided in late October that their return was responsible and justified, and it has since decided against imposing further sanctions. Xhaka keeps the captaincy, and Yakin said the question was never open for debate.

“I would not advise Granit to give up the captain's armband. He is our captain, a leader with 152 caps.”

Yakin said Xhaka had sent him a message before the matches he missed. He expects Xhaka to focus only on football once he reports for the camp on Monday.

Embolo's criticism of the association

Embolo gave an interview in which he criticised the football association's handling of the Covid affair during the last squad camp. Yakin was asked about it at the press conference in Muri bei Bern and said the content of the interview was already known. He added that the player was entitled to position himself that way.

“It is his right to position himself that way.”

Yakin said Embolo was disappointed not to be with the team, but that the side must look ahead and save its energy for the games. The rules set for the squad were also discussed, and Yakin said another conversation at one table is still needed.

Two debutants and open fitness questions

Silas Huber, a 21-year-old goalkeeper at FC Zürich, is named as the fourth goalkeeper, and Samuel Ballet, a 25-year-old winger at Amedspor in Turkey, is picked for the senior team for the first time. Ballet scored four goals and provided an assist for the Turkish side, according to 20 Minuten, and NZZ describes him as an option on the left attack. Huber had been the undisputed No. 1 for the Under-21 side, according to SRF. Winsley Boteli, the Sion striker, has not scored since the last squad camp and has missed a penalty in that time. Ruben Vargas is not in the squad, while Zeki Amdouni and Ricardo Rodriguez were called up despite injury concerns, and their fitness will be assessed during the camp. Denis Zakaria is back in the squad after injury.

Usual squad26

This squad28

Usual squad

26 players

This squad

28 players

Data from the article text