ZURICH. Switzerland made it three wins from three in the Nations League on Saturday night, beating Slovenia 2-1 to stay top of group B1 with a perfect record. Dan Ndoye struck shortly before half time to make it 2-1, and that is how it stayed.
The goal was the winger’s reward for a first half in which Switzerland played with the confidence of a team that has forgotten how to lose this autumn. Slovenia, organised and patient, had made the hosts work for every metre, and their goal carried its own small piece of history: it was the first Gregor Kobel has conceded in Switzerland colours since his heroics at the World Cup.
The Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper was otherwise as commanding as he has been all campaign. Behind him, Michel Aebischer kept his place in midfield after playing the full ninety minutes of the 3-0 win against ten-man Scotland in Glasgow, and the Union Berlin newcomer again justified Murat Yakin’s faith.
Nine points, one more to come
The World Cup quarter finalists now sit top of group B1 with nine points from three rounds, the campaign having begun with the away win in Skopje and continued in Glasgow. It is exactly the return Yakin demanded when the squad gathered, and it has been achieved with a casualty list that would have excused far less: four senior players were already injured when the campaign opened.
“We said we wanted maximum points from this window,” Yakin said afterwards. “We have nine, and Tuesday is the last step. Nothing is decided yet, and that is how we will prepare.”
Tuesday brings North Macedonia, still looking for their first goal of the competition, and a fourth consecutive win would put Switzerland within touching distance of promotion to League A before the group concludes in November. The visitors were beaten in Skopje on the opening night and arrive knowing that anything less than a goal, at last, ends their realistic hopes.
For the Nati, the autumn has so far been an exercise in professionalism: three games, three wins, one goal conceded. The harder tests of the group are behind them. The trap, as Yakin noted without being asked, is believing that Tuesday will take care of itself.