Switzerland vs North Macedonia: Nations League Preview

Switzerland's national team, under the guidance of coach Murat Yakin, is having an impressive Nations League campaign. With three consecutive victories, the red-clad team holds a significant advantage ahead of their clash with North Macedonia.

After being eliminated from the 2026 World Cup, Switzerland quickly regained their momentum with a 3-0 win against North Macedonia. Goals from Remo Freuler and Zeki Amdouni in the first half, followed by Amdouni's second goal after the break, solidified their dominance in that match.

This victory was not a one-off, as just three days later, Switzerland defeated Scotland 3-0 at Hampden Park, followed by a 2-1 win over Slovenia. With nine points from three matches, Switzerland leads Group B1, five points ahead of both Slovenia and Scotland. Continuing their winning streak could see Yakin's side promoted to League A, depending on the outcome of the Scotland vs Slovenia match.

On the other hand, North Macedonia is experiencing a disappointing year under coach Goce Sedloski. The 52-year-old is under significant pressure following a string of poor results in the Nations League. After their 0-3 defeat to Switzerland in the opening match and a subsequent 0-2 loss to Slovenia, former player Igor Gjuzelov publicly called for Sedloski's resignation, stating, "He should be honest with himself and resign immediately."

Despite hopes for a turnaround against Scotland, North Macedonia suffered another 0-2 defeat, marking a frustrating period for the team, especially as Scotland entered the match having failed to score in their previous four games. Gjuzelov expressed concerns over North Macedonia's lack of quality players and depth in the squad, suggesting that even if Sedloski were to leave, any successor would face a daunting challenge.

North Macedonia has not scored a single goal in 2026, with five losses in seven matches and no wins. Given their current form, the upcoming match against Switzerland poses a significant challenge for the home side.

Team News

Switzerland is likely to maintain the lineup that defeated Slovenia. Aston Villa's Johan Manzambi is expected to play behind striker Zeki Amdouni, with Dan Ndoye and Michel Aebischer supporting from the wings. In midfield, Ardon Jashari from AC Milan is projected to partner with Remo Freuler, backed by central defenders Nico Elvedi and Manuel Akanji.

For North Macedonia, Jani Atanasov will miss the match due to suspension after accumulating enough yellow cards. Matej Gashtarov and Luka Stankovski are likely to fill in the midfield, while Bojan Ilievski and Sebastian Herrera will provide support from the flanks. Captain Enis Bardhi may play behind Rangers striker Bojan Miovski, with Eljif Elmas also expected to feature in a supporting role.

Projected Lineups:

• Switzerland: Kobel, Athekame, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez, Jashari, Freuler, Aebischer, Manzambi, Ndoye, Amdouni.
• North Macedonia: Dimitrevski, Mladenovski, Musliu, Meljichi, Ilievski, Gashtarov, Stankovski, Herrera, Bardhi, Elmas, Miovski.

The match between Switzerland and North Macedonia is scheduled to kick off at 1:45 AM on October 7 (Vietnam time).