Switzerland recall Zakaria for Nations League matches

16.09.2022 - 14:39 channelnewsasia.com

ZURICH : Switzerland recalled midfielder Denis Zakaria to their squad on Friday for this month’s Nations League matches and handed Cedric Itten and Dan Ndoye a chance to make a case for their World Cup selection.Switzerland meet Spain in Zaragoza on Sept.

24 and the Czech Republic in St. Gallen three days later as they look climb off the bottom of their Nations League group and prepare for the World Cup.The Swiss have be drawn in Group G at the tournament in Qatar where they will face Brazil, Cameroon and Serbia.Coach Murat Yakin has included Zakaria for the first time since qualifying for the World Cup last November.

The 25-year-old, who has yet to play for Chelsea after moving on loan from Juventus, has struggled with injury this year.Striker Itten also last played for the Swiss last November and has won a recall along with Ndoye, who was called up one year ago but is yet to win his first cap.The Swiss face relegation if they finish bottom of League A Group 2 in the Nations League.“We really want to stay in the top league.

Every player knows what's at stake. Everyone who belongs to the national team also wants to go to the World Cup. We will approach these two games with the appropriate motivation and focus,” Yakin said in statement on Friday."Spain and the Czech Republic are teams that play at a very high level.

Juventus Chelsea Denis Zakaria Cedric Itten Manuel Akanji Yann Sommer Murat Yakin Manchester Qatar Spain Switzerland Serbia Brazil Cameroon Czech Republic county Valencia

Portugal, winners of the inaugural Nations League in 2019, needed just a point in Braga to finish top of Group A2 but dropped to second as Morata tapped in Nico Williams' header on 88 minutes. "When we had to stand up, we did," Morata told TVE. "If we had lost, it had to be giving everything we had on the pitch, and that's what we did." Spain join the Netherlands, Italy and Croatia in the finals which are scheduled for June next year.

Switzerland 2-1 Czech Republic: Strikes from Remo Freuler and Breel Embolo keep Swiss in Nations League elite

Switzerland retained their place in League A of the Nations League by beating Czech Republic 2-1, who were relegated. Jaroslav Silhavy’s Czech side created plenty of chances in the first half, hitting the woodwork twice but they found themselves 2-0 down when the Swiss scored two quickfire goals.

Nations League: Spain defeat to Switzerland sets up Portugal showdown

Portugal went top of Group A2 with a comfortable 4-0 win in the Czech Republic as Diogo Dalot struck twice with Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Jota also on target. Spain have little time to iron out their flaws ahead of the World Cup in two months' time and a familiar combination of poor finishing and soft defending from set-pieces cost them against the Swiss in Zaragoza. "Our first half was as imprecise as any since I've been in charge," said Spain boss Luis Enrique after a first defeat in nine games.