Swiss hail 'great job' without Xhaka & Embolo
The Swiss national football team defeated North Macedonia 3-0 in a Nations League match while managing the absence of key players Granit Xhaka and Breel Embolo. Both players are currently sidelined due to separate off-pitch investigations and personal matters.
Why it matters
Demonstrates team depth and resilience in international football competitions amidst high-profile roster controversies.
Switzerland feel they did "a great job" of compensating for the loss of captain Granit Xhaka and key striker Breel Embolo as they head to Hampden to face Scotland on the back of an impressive 3-0 win in North Macedonia.
Sunderland midfielder Xhaka was omitted from their squad last week, having reportedly confessed to using a fake certificate to avoid a mandatory vaccination during the Covid pandemic. The 34-year-old is under investigation by Swiss prosecutors.
Then, on the eve of their Nations League opener in Skopje, the Swiss Football Association announced Atlanta United striker Embolo had informed it "about the matter concerning his private life that became public in the media today".
The 29-year-old, who moved to Major League Soccer in August from Rennes , had been suspended for Saturday's opener anyway after his red card against Argentina .
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