- In the European Championship qualifier against Romania, Switzerland conceded 2 goals in the 89th and 92nd minute and had to settle for a 2-2 draw.
- With that, the Nati loses its clean sheet, but still leads Group I with 10 points from 4 games.
- Zeki Amdouni is worried about the two Swiss goals.
- Belarus 2-1 Kosovo and Israel 2-1 Andorra are the other two results in Qualifying Group I.
What was hinted at in Andorra on Friday really flew in the face of the Swiss national team in Lucerne against Romania. Again they had dominated a modest opponent for a long time and led 2:0, again they had not been able to pull through the performance over 90 minutes and conceded the connection hit. But while they still won 2-1 in Andorra, they ended up with a sobering 2-2 against the Eastern Europeans.
The two goals they conceded came in the 89th and 92nd minute and gave the Swiss defense a bad report. First, Remo Freuler was not close enough to Valentin Mihaila on a cross, who shortened it with a direct acceptance. A little later, the Swiss were even countered and Mihaila put together the brace.
Nevertheless, Switzerland came within a hair’s breadth of victory. But substitute Nati debutant Uran Bislimi from FC Lugano only hit the crossbar in the 98th minute. In direct return, Renato Steffen prevented the possible third “lucky punch” for Romania with a tactical foul. But it would have been too much of a good thing for the guest. Because with the 2:2 they were already very well served. Goalie Yann Sommer only had to fend off a harmless ball before the two late goals.
Usury opportunities in Switzerland
The Swiss have to be accused of not having scored a third goal after the 2-0 lead at the break. Against ultra-defensive Romanians, Murat Yakin’s team, who played in a good mood and appeared dominant, could have scored more goals before the break. But you didn’t do this, the opponent stayed within striking distance and ended up winning an unexpected point.
Amdouni scores twice and is substituted early
For a long time it looked as if Zeki Amdouni would become a celebrated man in Lucerne. The FCB striker once again demonstrated his brilliant form in the first half and scored both Swiss goals. In the 28th minute, he made it 1-0 using a template from the lively Ruben Vargas.
The 2-0 in the 41st minute was particularly worth seeing, because the goal was preceded by great work by Xherdan Shaqiri. In his 114th international match, the 31-year-old played a dream ball into Amdouni’s run from behind the center line with his left instep, which defeated Horatiu Moldovan between the legs. 3 minutes later, the FCB attacker just missed a flawless hat trick.
Amdouni has already scored 5 goals in 5 appearances with the A-Nati. He scored in all 4 qualifying games. Yakin took him off the field in the 58th minute to save him for the upcoming European Championships with the U21 national team. Incidentally, a minute earlier, the Romanian coach had replaced Mihaila, who later scored twice…
This is how it goes
After Belarus 2-1 against Kosovo and Israel 2-1 against Andorra, Switzerland is 2 points ahead of Romania and 3 points ahead of Israel in Group I after 4 matches. For the Nati, the EM qualifiers will not continue until September. On 9.9. she plays away in Kosovo. 3 days later Andorra is welcomed in St. Gallen.