Switzerland seize control in Nations League as Rodriguez frees Elvedi

In the cavernous Hampden Park, the Swiss Nati turned a chaotic start into a 3‑0 triumph in the Nations League, leaving the Dezimierte Schotten helpless – Dank Rodriguez and Elvedi Schweiz. An early red card and a pinpoint free‑kick set the tone, while Dan Ndoye’s incisive passing unlocked the defence.

Early dismissal sets the tone

Eight minutes in, Dan Ndoye received a blistering diagonal Pass from Michel Aebischer and sprinted past Jack Hendry. The Scottish defender resorted to a foul just outside the penalty area, prompting referee Nenad Minakovic to overturn an initial penalty decision, award a free‑kick and issue a Rot card to Hendry.

Ricardo Rodriguez stepped up to take the resulting free‑kick, curling a sharp ball into the top corner. It marked his first goal for the Nati since May 2021, when he scored in a friendly against the United States, and it opened the Weg to dominance.

The Swiss pressed forward, with Ndoye and Aebischer linking up repeatedly. The decisive Pass from Michel Aebischer to Dan Ndoye unlocked the Swiss attack, while the ten‑man Schotten struggled to contain the on‑slaught.

In the 71st minute, after a Scottish clearance failed, Ndoye delivered a pinpoint cross that met Nico Elvedi. The centre‑half slotted home to make it 2‑0, his fourth goal for the Nati and arriving just hours before his 30th birthday.

Zeki Amdouni added a third before half‑time, striking in the 36th minute, and completed his brace in the 82nd, sealing the 3‑0 result. His finishes came from set‑piece situations, though the Swiss struggled to convert earlier chances.

Switzerland’s path forward in the Nations League

The victory gave the Swiss Nati a comfortable lead in the Nations League Group 1, while Slovenia later beat North Macedonia 2‑0 in the same round. Both matches were broadcast live on SRF 2 and the sport app.

Switzerland now have two home games at Luzern to complete the tranche, hosting Slovenia on 3 October and North Macedonia a week later. The fixtures will determine whether the Nati can secure promotion to the next league tier.

Despite the absence of Granit Xhaka and Breel Embolo, Murat Yakin’s side displayed composure and depth, reinforcing their status as a rising force in European football.