The Swiss national football team, led by coach Murat Yakin, will face crucial Nations League matches against Slovenia and Scotland with a 28-player squad that sees the return of captain Granit Xhaka and forward Breel Embolo. The squad, announced for the final two matches of the year, includes two new faces and is designed to secure promotion to League A while also preparing for future qualifiers.
As reported by 20 Minuten, Yakin has expanded the roster for the November window, a move intended to manage injuries and build depth ahead of the 2027 European Championship qualification. The team’s position in the Nations League is strong, with four wins from four matches putting them in control of their group and on the verge of a direct promotion.
Returns from Suspension Boost Squad
The squad’s most notable features are the returns of Xhaka and Embolo, who missed the previous international window in September and October due to their involvement in a fake Covid certificate scandal. According to GMX, the Swiss Football Association (SFV) decided not to impose further sanctions on the pair after the incident, clearing the way for their selection.
Five players who were unavailable for the last camp are back in the fold. Joining Xhaka and Embolo are Miro Muheim, Ruben Vargas, and Denis Zakaria. Their return provides Yakin with a full-strength squad as the team looks to solidify its group lead.
Yakin has also brought in two new players for the first time to the national team. Silas Huber, the 21-year-old goalkeeper and regular starter for FC Zürich, has been named as the fourth keeper in the squad. The other debutant is 25-year-old winger Samuel Ballet, who plays for the Süper Lig club Amedspor. Ballet’s inclusion comes after he scored four goals and provided one assist to help his club sit second in the Turkish top flight, a rise NZZ describes as an “astonishing development.”
Coach Yakin Addresses Key Topics
In his press conference, Yakin addressed the sensitive topics surrounding the returning players and the new faces in the squad. On Breel Embolo, who had publicly expressed his frustration with the SFV’s handling of the Covid affair, Yakin acknowledged the need for a conversation but emphasized the focus on the player’s performance on the pitch.
“He has expressed himself again. We are all familiar with the content. It is his right to take this position. What is more important to me is how he reacts on the field,” Yakin stated, as reported by 20 Minuten. “We know what we have in him. I can only judge him from a sporting point of view. But it is clear, Breel was disappointed that he was not with us. We have to look ahead and gather the energy for the games.”
Regarding Granit Xhaka, Yakin confirmed that the captaincy was never in doubt. “It was never a discussion for me, he is our leader,” the coach said. He noted that he spoke with the team’s leadership council, including Manuel Akanji, who served as captain in Xhaka’s absence, and that Akanji supports Xhaka continuing in the role. “It would only have been a problem if Manu had wanted to stay captain. But he sees Granit as captain,” Yakin explained, reinforcing the decision.
Yakin also commented on Xhaka’s mindset since the incident. “He apologized and was very insightful. Before the start of the previous games, he wished us a lot of luck,” Yakin said. “As I know Granit, once he is in the camp next Monday, there will only be football for him. I know that when Granit is on the field, he can focus 100 percent on football.”
On the new players, Yakin praised both Huber and Ballet. “We of course observe our young goalkeepers. He has shown good performances so far,” Yakin said of Huber. He spoke highly of Ballet, noting: “He has impressed with good performances recently, I am happy that he can be there. We spoke yesterday, he can play on the wings and replace Vargas and Ndoye.”
Injury Concerns Shape Expanded Roster
The selection of 28 players is a deliberate expansion by Yakin. As GMX and NZZ report, the larger squad accounts for several players returning from injury, including striker Zeki Amdouni and defender Ricardo Rodríguez. Amdouni, who has deputized well for Embolo recently, is still recovering from a knock, while Rodríguez is also being managed back to full fitness. The expanded roster also serves a dual purpose of building a broader player pool for the demanding European Championship qualification campaign in 2027.
The team’s schedule is demanding but promising. Their first match is away to Slovenia in Maribor on Friday, November 13. A victory or even a draw in that game would be enough to secure the group title and promotion to League A before the final match. They will then host Scotland in St. Gallen on Monday, November 16.
The stakes are high, and the team’s confidence is evident. “We have created a good starting position and want to close it out,” Yakin stated, according to Watson. “We know what awaits us in Maribor. We are approaching the task with great self-confidence and want to finish the job.”
Lugano Players Miss National Call-Up
While the squad is large, some notable players were not selected. Most prominently, FC Lugano, the runaway leaders in the Swiss Super League, has no representatives in the current squad. Yakin explained that the competition for places is simply very high, reflecting the depth of talent available to him.
The Swiss team enters this final window of the year with strong momentum. After a successful World Cup in the summer, where they reached the quarter-finals, the team has carried that form into the Nations League, scoring 11 goals and conceding just one in their first four matches. The focus now is on converting that momentum into a confirmed promotion and building a squad capable of challenging for major trophies in the years to come.
