Nations League against Denmark – More bite, more emotions – and a system change? – Sports

Before the Nations League game against Denmark on Tuesday, Murat Yakin and Granit Xhaka appeared in front of the media.

Almost 6 weeks after the start of the Nations League campaign, the Swiss national team’s opponent on Tuesday evening will be Denmark again. Looking back, Murat Yakin’s team got off to a disastrous start in Copenhagen. The party, in which emotions ran high more than once, was lost 2-0 after conceding two late goals.

“The defeat in Copenhagen hurts,” said Granit Xhaka, reflecting on the reunion in St. Gallen. “We didn’t have to lose, we weren’t any worse, maybe even better,” says the captain. But Xhaka also knows “that football is a results sport”. And the national team is missing one after 3 games.

Difficult game for Xhaka in Serbia

Not only Xhaka, but also coach Yakin emphasized at the media conference on Monday afternoon that Switzerland was not on the wrong track despite the three ongoing defeats. “We don’t do too much bad, sometimes we were punished hard,” said Xhaka, meaning that they don’t score goals at the front while conceding them too easily at the back.

“Sure, we can be a bit more aggressive.” For example, when we conceded the first goal against Serbia, we lost a duel. “This shouldn’t happen,” said Xhaka. The 32-year-old would have liked more bite and more emotions during the guest appearance in Serbia. “But for me it was brutally difficult,” he said, given the history. Goal number 1 is to change this against Denmark.

What does Yakin pull out of the hat?

The national team coach did not want to reveal whether Yakin had changed anything in the line-up or even the system. “We still have the final training and an idea will emerge from that. “We will see on Tuesday whether now is the time to change the system,” said the Nati coach at the media conference.

Yakin definitely has to make one change: Silvan Widmer is suspended after his second yellow card. In Leskovac, Yakin replaced the right winger at halftime, moved Dan Ndoye back and brought on Fabian Rieder. Another option would be to bring in all-rounder Edimilson Fernandes from the start. Possibly also as a right-back in a back four.