Stuttgart – Dan Ndoye expressed his satisfaction with his performance and growing comfort within the Swiss national team following a thrilling, yet ultimately unsuccessful, friendly match against Germany on Saturday. Despite a 4-3 defeat, the game provided valuable minutes for Ndoye and allowed coach Murat Yakin to assess his squad ahead of upcoming challenges, including a Tuesday evening clash with Norway.
The match, played in Stuttgart, saw a flurry of goals, with both sides showcasing attacking intent. Although the result wasn’t what Switzerland hoped for, the opportunity for players to gain experience and build cohesion was a key takeaway for Yakin. For Ndoye, the game was particularly significant as a chance to build on his previous goal against Germany at Euro 2024.
“Du temps a passé depuis le premier but que j’ai marqué contre l’Allemagne, à l’Euro 2024,” Ndoye said, as translated from French. “Pouvoir être décisif face à une équipe pareille fait toujours plaisir. Quand j’ai l’opportunité de jouer, je donne toujours le maximum. Je n’ai pas énormément de minutes en club, mais j’ai montré aujourd’hui que j’ai des qualités. Je me sens super bien avec la Suisse et j’ai envie de profiter de ces moments-là.” (“Time has passed since I scored my first goal against Germany at Euro 2024. Being able to be decisive against such a team is always a pleasure. When I have the opportunity to play, I always deliver my all. I don’t get a lot of minutes at my club, but I showed today that I have qualities. I perceive really good with Switzerland and I want to enjoy these moments.“)
Ndoye’s comments highlight his commitment to the national team and his determination to develop the most of every opportunity. His limited playing time at the club level makes appearances for Switzerland all the more valuable, providing a platform to showcase his abilities and build confidence.
Head coach Murat Yakin acknowledged the team’s shortcomings in the defeat, but also expressed satisfaction with the overall performance and the opportunity to experiment with different strategies. “Nous avons commis un peu trop d’erreurs, connu trop de déchet défensif,” Yakin stated. “Mais je suis plutôt satisfait de ce que j’ai vu, des essais effectués. Maintenant, place à la Norvège mardi soir (17h45 sur RTS 2).” (“We made too many mistakes, had too much defensive waste. But I am rather satisfied with what I saw, with the tests carried out. Now, on to Norway on Tuesday evening (5:45 PM on RTS 2).”) The upcoming match against Norway, scheduled for 17:45 CET on Tuesday, will provide another chance for Switzerland to refine their approach and prepare for future competitions.
The match also saw a goal from Joël Monteiro, who described his elation at finding the back of the net. “Concernant mon but, je ne sais pas quoi dire, c’est l’instinct. Je frappe et voilà… Sur le moment, je ne remarque pas vraiment que c’est but. C’est une sensation indescriptible pour moi qui viens de loin. C’est incroyable. Mon parcours m’a forgé mon caractère et je ne le changerais pour rien au monde.” (“Regarding my goal, I don’t know what to say, it’s instinct. I shoot and that’s it… At the moment, I don’t really realize it’s a goal. It’s an indescribable feeling for me who comes from far away. It’s incredible. My journey has forged my character and I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.”) Monteiro’s journey to this point underscores the power of perseverance and the rewards of dedication.
Breel Embolo, also reflecting on the match, acknowledged the team’s disappointment with the result, but also highlighted the strong performance of Germany’s Florian Wirtz, who scored twice and provided two assists. “On n’est pas contents, car on n’a pas su tenir le score. Il faut aussi dire que Wirtz a fait une super soirée avec 2 buts et 2 passes décisives. Nous n’avons pas montré notre meilleur visage,” Embolo said. (“We are not happy since we were not able to hold the score. We must also say that Wirtz had a great evening with 2 goals and 2 assists. We didn’t show our best face.”) Embolo emphasized the demand for improvement and a stronger showing in upcoming matches, including the fixture against Norway.
Switzerland will now turn their attention to their upcoming match against Norway on Tuesday evening. The game, scheduled for 17:45 CET (Central European Time), will be a crucial opportunity for Yakin’s side to bounce back from the defeat and fine-tune their preparations as they continue their journey toward future international competitions. Fans can follow the match live on RTS 2.
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