This is how Nati’s starting eleven against Ukraine should look

Tonight, the national team returns to the field for the first time in almost ten months. At the start of the Nations League, Switzerland will face Ukraine away from home. Vladimir Petkovic will be forced to make some changes compared to recent appearances.

With a 6: 1 in Gibraltar, the Nati bought the ticket to the EM 2020 on November 18, 2019, which will now take place a year later than planned thanks to Corona. At the time, the following eleven players were in the Swiss starting lineup: Sommer, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodríguez, Benito, Lang, Xhaka, Zakaria, Vargas, Fassnacht and Itten.

For the Nations League opener against Ukraine and Germany, Petkovic is missing five potential regular players with Fabian Schär, Denis Zakaria, Remo Freuler, Xherdan Shaqiri and Admir Mehmedi, and Cedric Itten is also a strong back-up in center. from the storm.

Who is on the field against Ukraine? “Bluewin” predicts Nati’s starting XI:

Jonas Omlin has already played his first game of the new season with Montpellier. And he had contrary to Yann Sommer there is no summer vacation either. However, it would be a huge surprise if Vladimir Petkovic allowed Omlin to make his Nati debut right at the start of the Nations League. Especially since the summer with Gladbach he has been back in training camp for a month and should be in shape for the first serious fight.

In EM’s classification, Petkovic almost always relied on the string of three or five on defense. So it can be assumed that Nati will also play against Ukraine in a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3. With Nico Elvedi, Manuel Akanji and Becir Omeragic are just three nominal central defenders, the latter being for the first time with the national team. So shall Ricardo Rodriguez Probably like in the last two international matches for Switzerland the left back was used.

Who makes the left wing? Petkovic has several options: Loris Benito, Steven Zuber, Renato Steffen or Ruben Vargas. Against the strong Ukrainians, the national coach presumably relies on the defensive variant. This is called Benito. The burgundy professional has the advantage over his competitors that he has already started the season again. Right should Silvan Widmer preference over Kevin Mbabu and Michael Lang. The Basel pro is still in full swing and recently showed very strong performances.

In the center is the new captain Granit xhaka naturally established. But who will have a chance in the absence of Denis Zakaria and Remo Freuler? Judging from the strength of the shape, the choice should be in Michel Aebischer fall, even if the newly crowned double YB winner only has five minutes on his legs. But his competitor Djibril Sow has never been in the starting eleven at Petkovic either. Newcomer Simon Sohm will hardly be cornered.

Petkovic has many options in the storm. Haris Seferovic He should be placed in the middle of the storm, even if Albian Ajeti had recently shone with two Joker goals against Celtic. Christian Fassnacht is the only offensive man who has been used in competitive matches in recent weeks. Still has Breel Plunger nose in front. The professional Gladbach could be used on the right wing, but also as a hanging tip. He also has a good chance of a place in the starting eleven. Steven Zuber.