The Swiss national football team wins 1-0 in Dublin. It is the first win for Murat Yakin’s team since mid-September.
Xherdan Shaqiri (center) shines early as a scorer with a free kick, but remains pale afterwards.
Peter Klaunzer / EPA
those./(sda) Exactly 80 days before the start of the European Championships in Germany, the Swiss national team returns to victory. In Dublin, Murat Yakin’s team won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Xherdan Shaqiri.
When he returned to the starting line-up in the 23rd minute, the 32-year-old offensive player curled a free kick with his left foot into the far corner of the goal. It was the first goal for Switzerland after 246 goalless minutes – and Shaqiri’s 30th in the national team’s uniform.
Average performance
This goal, which is worth seeing, will not stop the discussions about Shaqiri’s fitness and suitability for the starting eleven. Noah Okafor replaced him after 76 minutes. Apart from the crucial scene, the performance of the technician Shaqiri remained average – just like that of the entire Swiss team.
After all, the 1-0 win in Dublin broke a winless streak of five games. The Swiss footballers had not won since mid-September. There were few goal scenes. Captain Granit Xhaka almost increased the score before the break, but his long-range shot hit the post. The action was preceded by a defensive error by the Irish.
Mvogo looks good
Yakin had changed the starting line-up to seven positions compared to the one from last Saturday in the 0-0 draw in Copenhagen and had Vincent Sierro make his debut from the start and Dereck Kutesa during the game. However, the experimental team rarely had any chances in Dublin. When the guests appear dangerous in the final third, it is usually via Dan Ndoye’s left side.
After the goalless draw in Denmark, the defense once again didn’t allow a goal, although it had new positions in three positions with Eray Cömert, Nico Elvedi and Yvon Mvogo in goal. Mvogo, who replaced the ailing Yann Sommer, looked good.