Spain will get close to securing a spot in the finals of the Nations League if they manage a victory over the struggling Switzerland team at home.
La Roja sits at the top of the table with a point more than their rivals Portugal in second while the Swiss are in real danger of getting relegated sitting at the bottom gaining only three points.
SPN vs SUI Match Details:
Date: Saturday, 24 September 2022 / Sunday, 25 September 2022
Time: 20:45 (CET) / 00:15 (IST)
Venue: Estadio de la Romareda, Zaragoza
SPN vs SUI Match Preview:
Spain arrives at the Nations League games in September in a jolly mood with not lost a game since their defeat in the final of the competition at the hands of France last season. The 2-1 loss in November last year was followed by six victories in eight games and only drawing two games in June against Portugal and the Czech Republic. In that time, La Roja have found the back of the net 15 times and conceded only four goals. The absence of a scoring striker is still a cause of concern for Spain but their potent wingers often dilute the issue. Mainly Pablo Sarabia’s five goals with two in the Nations League this season has helped the side a lot. Netting goals should not be a problem for Spain in their next game knowing Switzerland have conceded in all of the games this year bar the 1-0 win over La Roja’s rivals Portugal in their last game. Luis Enrique’s men have to do it all in the Iberian derby next provided they win their game and Portugal does the same in their affair against the Czechs in the other match if they want a place in the finals. Simultaneously, Spain have two more things in mind leading up to the game to maintain an unbeaten record and secure a comfortable margin of victory for their preparation for the World Cup in Qatar. The kind of opposition faced over there is similar to what they face in the Nations League this season with Costa Rica, Japan and fellow European nation Germany waiting for them in Group E. Enrique’s continued reliance on the players he thinks suit perfectly to his plans should pay dividends in the September games as well as in the event in November. The players have to repay the faith of their manager by performing at their level best in the next couple of games so that this current group of players with the injured players back could make a permanent place in the squad to Qatar.
Switzerland have not enjoyed their scintillating form of last year in getting to the quarterfinals of the European championship by beating world champions France and under new management securing the automatic qualification to the World Cup in Qatar ahead of Euro winners Italy. The dream run has ended since their advancement to the November event with a 4-0 win over Bulgaria in their last qualifying game. The Swiss year started 2022 with a loss to England and 1-1 draw against Kosovo in the March friendlies joined by their dismal start to this Nations League campaign. The consecutive defeats to the three opponents in this group with only goals scored and seven goals conceded did not sit down well but they have steadied them a bit with a 1-0 win over Portugal in the last game to end their losing streak. Haris Seferovic scored the only goal of the game in just 57 seconds after kick-off for their first win and clean sheet of the year. Coach Murat Yakin’s boys’ problems have been glaring errors in defending the box, more unusually from their number one Yann Sommer. He has gone on to reconsider his form at the club level but lingering issues remain in the back four. The win in the last game in June might be an indication of things improving under the current boss but consistency is required as the next pair of games in September are the only playing time this squad will have together before the World Cup. Paired in a tough group with Cameroon, Serbia and top-ranked nation Brazil, positive results this month are of urgent need. Switzerland have not won in their last five meetings with Spain although only suffered defeat in the last match. Another one here will put them in a direct battle to avoid relegation with the Czech Republic in the last game provided they lose to Portugal. Otherwise, the Swiss will be relegated to League B.
Recent Form
ESP: Unai Simon; Daniel Carvajal, Eric Garcia, Pau Torres, Jordi Alba; Gavi, Sergio Busquets, Koke; Pablo Sarabia, Alvaro Morata, Ferran Torres
SWT: Yann Sommer; Silvan Widmer, Nico Elvedi, Manuel Akanji, Ricardo Rodriguez; Remo Freuler, Granit Xhaka, Djibril Sow; Xherdan Shaqiri, Haris Seferovic, Breel Embolo
SPN vs SUI Team News
Spain have injuries to key players those having the possibility to be on the plane for the World Cup in November. Aymeric Laporte and Mikel Oyarzabal are injured while Ansu Fati and Thiago Alcantara are left out due to their recent injury troubles. Real Betis’s Borja Iglesias and Athletic club’s Nico Williams have been called up to the national team for the first time. Veteran left-back Jordi Alba has been named in the squad despite his losing his place to Alejandro Balde at FC Barcelona although he is expected to retain his spot over the youngster in the national team.
For Switzerland, they are unable to call up talented forward Noah Okafor to their ranks because of his dental issues. Okafor has started this season at Salzburg brilliantly scoring five goals in eight matches and in back-to-back Champions League games against Milan and Chelsea. His absence will be filled up by Haris Seferovic who will partner with Breel Embolo and Xherdan Shaqiri in the attack. Goalkeeper Yann Sommer is in terrific form with Monchengladbach in Bundesliga and the 33-year-old is likely to win his 75th cap for his nation ahead of Jonas Omlin even though his form fluctuated in the games in June. Ricardo Rodriguez is closing on a return from his illness while Eray Comert is injured with a groin strain.
SPN vs SUI Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Simon (8)
DEF: Carvajal (7), E. Garcia (9), Akanji (9), Elvedi (9)
MID: Shaqiri (6.5), Xhaka (9), Gavi (9)
FW: Morata (6.5), Seferovic (7), Sarabia (9)
Captain: Pablo Sarabia
Vice-captain: Gavi
