Switzerland face Northern Ireland away from home in their first international match of the year. In the absence of Granit Xhaka and Manuel Akanji, Breel Embolo will wear the captain's armband.
20.03.2025, 21:22
20.03.2025, 21:25
SDA
His 74th international match will be a very special one for Breel Embolo: for the first time, the 28-year-old striker will lead the national team onto the pitch as captain. National coach Murat Yakin confirmed this at the press conference on the eve of the test match in Belfast: "Breel is a fantastic guy, a man of the heart. The fact that he will be captain tomorrow is also thanks to his many strong performances for the national team."
Embolo himself was humble. "The game will be something very special for my family and me. At the same time, it's an international match like any other in which I will try to do my job to the best of my ability."
Even during the training camp in Almancil, Embolo made an effort to integrate the many new players into the team. As he speaks both French and German, he also serves as a link. "I was very well received back then and wanted to pass that on," says Embolo.
One or two of the newcomers will be in the starting line-up on Friday. Yakin has not yet revealed any more. Due to the many absentees in defense, defenders Lucas Blondel and Stefan Gartenmann in particular should have a good chance. But Isaac Schmidt, Albian Hajdari and Super League high-flyer Alvyn Sanches are also hoping to make their debut in the national team kit.
Remo Freuler, who would have been another candidate for the captaincy, had to miss the final training session due to illness. His participation is questionable. The same applies to full-back Miro Muheim, who had traveled to the training camp with a slight ailment but took part in the final session again.
Yakin has fond memories of the opponents. He played his second and third games as national coach against Northern Ireland. He also remembers sending the Northern Irish several packets of chocolate after their successful qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar because they had snatched a point from Italy in their final group game. However, no gifts are to be expected on Friday at 20:45 Swiss time.
Possible line-ups
Northern Ireland - Switzerland
Belfast - SR Al-Hakim (SWE).
Northern Ireland: Pierce Charles; McConville, McNair, Brown; Hume, Saville, Shea Charles, Spencer; Galbraith, Price; Marshall
Switzerland: Kobel; Blondel, Gartenmann, Zesiger, Rodriguez; Zakaria, Sierro; Ndoye, Rieder, Vargas; Embolo.
Comments: Switzerland without Akanji, Elvedi and Xhaka (not in the squad), among others.
