Contents
National team coach Murat Yakin is relaxed about the start of the European Championship qualifiers on Saturday away against Belarus.
On Saturday, the Swiss national team will start qualifying for the 2024 European Championship in Germany. Coach Murat Yakin’s team will play their first game away against Belarus. Because the opponent is not allowed to play home games in their own country due to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the game will take place in Novi Sad in Serbia.
On Friday evening, the Nati flew from Basel to Belgrade. From there it goes to Novi Sad. There will be no more training at the venue. That’s not a problem for coach Yakin: “The boys have so many games in their legs. You’re used to it. We will keep the program as short as possible and just be focused on the match day.”
It takes a lot of patience, we have to worry about the ball and get up front as quickly as possible.
With Belarus, an opponent waiting for Switzerland, who focuses on the defensive, appears very compact. What is Yakin’s plan for Saturday? “It takes a lot of patience, we have to worry about the ball and get up front as quickly as possible. Good passes are needed so that we can develop superiority situations.”
In the offensive zone you also need the necessary luck against a very defensive opponent. But the direction is clear: “We’ll try to make it 1-0 as quickly as possible and then keep the game under control,” explained Yakin.
Widmer demands a dominant appearance
Silvan Widmer also knows about the defensive orientation of the Belarusians. The full-back also warns of their counterattack strength and standard situations. But he is confident: “We have to try to be dominant from the start. Then I’m convinced that we will get the three points.”
Yakin will have to do without Breel Embolo on Saturday and Tuesday in the home game against Israel in Geneva. The striker had to leave the national team because of knee problems. Despite this weighty absence, Yakin isn’t worried about his team’s offensive quality.
Yakin spoiled for choice in the storm
“We now have good opportunities there. Especially in the storm we saw that we also have strong players at national level who have already been able to show internationally how valuable they are,” Yakin said.
The 48-year-old has yet to say who will score the goals against Belarus. “Noah Okafor is definitely a good option. With Cedric Itten and Zeki Amdouni we also have two other players who have been performing well and scoring goals lately. I’m sure I have a chance or two.”