English
Español
Français
Português
Deutsch
Italiano
NederlandSwitzerland will continue their preparations for the 2022 World Cup when they welcome Kosovo to the Stadion Letzigrund on Tuesday.
The visitors, meanwhile, will be looking to take a positive result into the UEFA Nations League campaign, which starts in June.
Match preview
© Reuters
Switzerland return home for Tuesday's match after losing 2-1 against England on Saturday, despite Breel Embolo giving his country the lead in that encounter.
However, a Luke Shaw strike before half time levelled the friendly contest at Wembley before Harry Kane struck from the spot in the 78th minute to condemn Switzerland to a narrow defeat.
Despite ending up on the losing side, there were still plenty of positives to take from Saturday's contest as Switzerland continue to build up to the 2022 World Cup after they finished ahead of Italy in qualifying to book their place in Qatar.
As well as focusing upon the biggest tournament in the world, Switzerland are also preparing for the latest UEFA Nations League campaign which begins in June with Murat Yakin's side drawn in a tough group that contains Portugal, Spain and Czech Republic.
With Kosovo ranked 109th in the world, Switzerland will be confident that they can head into the UEFA Nations League with a win on Tuesday.
© Reuters
The visitors, on the other hand, will not be in Qatar after they finished at the bottom of a qualification group that featured Spain, Sweden, Greece and Georgia.
Although they may not have a World Cup to look forward to, Kosovo are preparing for League C of the UEFA Nations League, with Tuesday's visitors dreaming of promotion to League B.
As Alain Giresse's side turn their attention to their friendly encounter with Switzerland, they will look to draw inspiration from their last two internationals.
A 1-1 away draw against Greece completed their World Cup qualifying campaign, while they thrashed Burkina Faso 5-0 on Thursday which equalled their biggest ever official win.
Kosovo took a two-goal lead into half time thanks to goals from Fidan Aliti and Astrit Selmani before Mergim Vojvoda, Milot Rashica and Toni Domgjoni all netted in the second period to wrap up the impressive victory, and the result ensured that they carry momentum into their meeting with Switzerland in Zurich.
- L
- W
- W
- W
- W
- L
- D
- W
- W
- D
- W
- L
- W
- W
- L
- W
- L
- W
- L
- L
- L
- L
- D
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Yakin is expected to use the friendly as an opportunity to take a look at a number of players ahead of the UEFA Nations League and the World Cup.
Kevin Mbabu was brought on to replace the injured Silvan Widmer in the first half against England, and the Wolfsburg man is set to be given a place in the starting lineup for the meeting with Kosovo.
The 26-year-old could be joined in the starting XI by Andi Zeqiri, Noah Okafor, Djibril Sow, while Mario Gavranovic is expected to lead the line for the hosts.
Kosovo, meanwhile, are expected to make changes to their side despite picking up a comfortable 5-0 victory in their last outing.
Arijanet Muric will return between the posts, while Napoli's Amir Rrahmani and Kasimpasa's Florent Hadergjonaj will come into the backline.
There will also be a place in the starting lineup for Kosovo's all-time top scorer Vedat Muriqi, who is set to feature in the front line on Tuesday.
Switzerland possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Mbabu, Elvedi, Comert, Rodriguez; Sow, Aebischer; Okafor, Zuber, Zeqiri; Gavranovic
Kosovo possible starting lineup:
Muric; Vojvoda, Rrahmani, Aliti, Hadergjonaj; Berisha, Loshaj; Bytyqi, Rashica, Rashani; Muriqi
We say: Switzerland 3-1 Kosovo
Tuesday's encounter will be the first meeting between the two nations, and with Switzerland ranked 14th in the world, we think that the hosts have too much quality in their ranks which will help them claim a comfortable victory over Kosovo in midweek.
