Switzerland can seal qualification for Euro 2024 when they host Kosovo on Saturday. In the meantime, Kosovo needs to win every point they play the Swiss in order to maintain their narrow prospects of finishing in the top two.
Preview (Switzerland vs. Kosovo)
Switzerland is on the verge of qualifying for their third consecutive European Championships. They drew four of their previous five Group I games. They know that securing at least three more points from their next two matchups. It will guarantee their place at the competition in Germany the following year. Only Portugal (32) has scored more goals in Euro 2024 qualification than Murat Yakin’s team. They have scored 21 goals in eight Group I games. They have also scored twice in their first seven games before having to settle for a 1-1 draw with Israel.
Thanks to a header from Ruben Vargas in the first half, the Swiss looked certain to win at the Pancho Arena in Hungary. However, they were left to regret a number of missed opportunities, including twice hitting the crossbar. Shon Weissman scored an equalizer in the 88th minute to steal a point for Israel. Despite squandering two points against Israel, Switzerland has risen above Romania to win Group I on goal differential. They have just two full days to prepare for their penultimate qualifier against a Kosovo team that has previously vexed Yakin’s team.
After eight matches, Kosovo has only been a FIFA member for seven years. They are presently sitting in fourth place in Group I with 10 points. They are two points behind Israel in third, and six points behind Switzerland and Romania in the top two. Kosovo has never qualified for a major international championship. The team led by Primoz Gliha is aware that in order to qualify for Euro 2024, they must go to Basel and defeat Switzerland on Saturday. If they manage an upset, they will probably also need to defeat Belarus in their final game the following Tuesday.
Team News
Edgarson Fernandes of Switzerland is out after receiving a straight red card for a late challenge. It came in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time. Meanwhile, Fabian Schar is questionable for Saturday’s match after missing the midweek draw due to injury. Due to Fernandes’s injury and Jordan Lotomba’s lack of availability, Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji may be required to play on the right side of a back four with Ricardo Rodriguez, Nico Elvedi, and Cedric Zesiger.
Captain Granit Xhaka became Switzerland’s all-time record appearance-maker with his 119th cap. He will start in center-midfield, while attacker Xherdan Shaqiri will look to make a return. Vedat Muriqi, Kosovo’s all-time top scorer with 26 goals, was forced to leave the team due to a muscle injury he suffered during the team’s victory over Israel last weekend.
Two-cap Albert Rrahmani will probably start up front in lieu of Muriqi. He scored twice against Switzerland in the aforementioned 2-2 draw in September. Rashica, the captain, will provide support in attack and has contributed to six goals (three goals and three assists) in seven Euro 2024 qualifiers. While the three midfielders—Florent Muslija, Qendrim Zyba, and Florian Loshaj—are expected to stay in the starting lineup, Kreshnik Hajrizi is expected to try and unseat Ilir Krasniqi to join Firman Aliti and Lumberth Dellova in the back three.
Switzerland 2 – 1 Kosovo
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