Pure spectacle in Basel The Nati lose a crazy game against Germany

Patrick Lämmle

27.3.2026

No chance for Kobel: Wirtz flicks the ball into the crossbar.
Imago

For the Swiss national team, the World Cup year begins on Friday evening in Basel with a 3:4 test match defeat against Germany. The fans were treated to a great spectacle.

27.03.2026, 19:40

27.03.2026, 23:11

After four matches in which the Swiss remained unbeaten against Germany, they had to leave the pitch as losers again in the test match in Basel. They were defeated 3:4.

The final goal of the game was scored by Florian Wirtz, the best man of the match. The Swiss know that you should never let the Liverpool attacker get that close to the ball on the edge of the penalty area. Nevertheless, he was able to pick out the corner of the goal in the 86th minute and beat Gregor Kobel for the second time.

First defeat since November 2024Vargas and Manzambi drop off - the Nati scores for the spectacle against Germany

The 55th duel between the neighboring countries thus ended with Switzerland's 37th defeat. And it was a logical outcome after Switzerland had little of the game in the second half and were rather fortunate to equalize. The conclusion can be drawn quickly: For the majority of the first half, the teams acted as equals, but Switzerland then threw themselves off their rhythm by making so many changes.

Ndoye and Embolo against club frustration

In the first half, the teams played as they would have done at the World Cup with the players available. It was to be a first acid test with a view to the finals in the summer. And indeed, the game developed at a high tempo, with the Swiss initially being forced into their own half.

Although the first quarter of an hour clearly belonged to Germany, it was 1:0 for Switzerland in the 17th minute. Because right-back Joshua Kimmich had moved far into the center, Dan Ndoye suddenly enjoyed a lot of space. He moved into the penalty area, took the ball on his left foot and caught the goalkeeper in the near corner. He did the same as he did at the European Championship two years ago: Back then, he gave Switzerland the lead in their clash against Germany.

It was the first of four goals in the first half. Switzerland took the lead twice, but Germany equalized each time. Breel Embolo was responsible for the second Swiss goal. After an exemplary cross from Silvan Widmer, he beat Jonathan Tah - who had scored his first international goal to make it 1-1 - and headed home. With 23 international goals, the 29-year-old is now the sole 9th highest scorer in the national team.

Ndoye and Embolo, of all people, scored for Switzerland: both had a difficult time at their clubs recently and were increasingly only used as a substitute. However, Yakin was not deterred by this, stuck with the pair and was rewarded for his efforts.

Germany fight their way back

The fact that the Swiss did not go into the break with a lead was doubly annoying. Firstly, because Fabian Rieder had the 3:1 on his feet in the 43rd minute. However, his long-range shot rebounded off the crossbar. Secondly, because Nico Elvedi made an inadequate clearance shortly before the break. On the counter-attack, Serge Gnabry was sent into the deep and lobbed the ball over Gregor Kobel into the goal.

The Swiss goalkeeper was beaten twice more in his 20th international appearance. In the 61st minute, the Swiss were surprised once again by a quickly taken corner. Wirtz took the measure and scored from a lateral position right into the far corner of the goal.

By this point, Yakin, who had announced his intention to make as many of the eleven possible changes as possible, had already made four substitutions. Among other things, he had brought on Denis Zakaria at right-back and replaced captain Granit Xhaka with Ardon Jashari. The Germans, initially unchanged, took control of the game and deservedly took the lead for the first time thanks to Wirtz's skillful shot.

The equalizer then came out of nowhere. In the 79th minute, substitute Joël Monteiro was played in just outside the penalty area, held his ground and curled the ball into the net. The YB attacker, who was called up as a backup for Embolo, did some advertising of his own. Even if it wasn't enough for a draw in the end.

Now against Norway

The second test match for the Swiss will take place on Tuesday. They will face another top European team in Oslo. With eight wins in eight games and a goal difference of 37:5, Norway have qualified for the World Cup with aplomb. The players will then turn their attention to the final spurt in their respective championships. The national team's next appointment will be in May, when Murat Yakin will present the squad for the World Cup.

The ticker to read

Switzerland

Completed

3:4

(2:2)

Germany

Dan Ndoye - 1:0 (17.)
Breel Embolo - 2:1 (41.)
Joël Monteiro - 3:3 (79.)

(26.) 1:1 - Jonathan Tah
(45.+2.) 2:2 - Serge Gnabry
(61.) 2:3 - Florian Wirtz
(85.) 3:4 - Florian Wirtz

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END

SWITZERLAND - GERMANY 3:4

The game is over, Switzerland lose 3:4. Murat Yakin has made ten changes, he could have made eleven.

86.

Wirtz scores a dream goal to make it 4:3

Once again, a Swiss "clearing action" ends up with the opponent. Gross serves Wirtz, who is completely free from around 16 meters and flicks the ball into the right-hand corner.

79.

Monteiro scores to make it 3:3

Somewhat out of the blue, the Nati equalize at 3:3. Muheim plays into the center to Monteiro, who asserts himself between Tah and Goretzka. The YB shot-stopper simply pulls the trigger and scores with a powerful shot to make it 3-3. It is the third Swiss goal with the third shot on target. And Baumann doesn't make the best of traps.

78.

Cömert comes on for Elvedi, Sierro for Freuler and Aebischer for Ndoye.

75.

Debutant Karl has plenty of space on the right and advances into the penalty area. At the right moment, he passes back to Goretzka, but his shot is blocked.

67.

In a duel in the sixteen, Manzambi extends his elbow and hits Kimmich hard in the face, who immediately slumps down and remains lying there with a bleeding wound. Manzambi should actually be sent off for this tackle.

63.

After making four changes at the break, Yakin now makes another triple substitution: Amenda comes on for Akanji, Sanches for Rieder and Monteiro for Embolo. Germany make two changes: Woltemade comes on for Havertz, Sané for Karl.

61.

Wirtz scores to make it 3:2

Wirtz is played on after a corner and curls the ball into the crossbar from the corner of the sixteen. Unstoppable. A stroke of genius

59.

Germany clearly dominate the game in the final minutes and narrowly fail to score with two long-range shots.

55.

Once again, the Germans combine beautifully, but Goretzka misses a great chance.

52.

Good counter-attacking opportunity for Switzerland, with Manzambi holding his own and advancing into the penalty area. However, the Freiburg youngster fumbles the ball a little and misses the right moment to play or finish.

47.

Stiller tees up Gnabry, who takes a shot from an acute angle, but Kobel is on hand to clear for a corner.

46.

The game continues ...

... and there are several new faces on the pitch. Yakin makes four changes. New to the game: Zakaria (for Widmer), Muheim (for Rodriguez), Jashari (for Xhaka) and Manzambi (for Vargas).

HALF-TIME

SWITZERLAND - GERMANY 2:2

This game is extremely entertaining. Ndoye dribbles past his opponent and scores to make it 1:0, and a little later Tah equalizes from a corner. The Germans also had an answer after Embolo's pike header. Gnabry equalized shortly before the break after Rider had hit the crossbar. Great cinema for the football fans.

45.+2'

Gnabry equalizes before the break

Gnabry makes it 2:2 before the break with a technically fine move! The goal was preceded by a misplay from Elvedi. This gives Wirtz some space, which he uses creatively and serves Gnabry with a brilliant pass into the deep, who outwits Kobel with a lob.

43.

It clatters against the woodwork. Tah tips the ball to Vargas, which lands directly into the feet of Rieder, who shoots straight from around 20 meters. Baumann stretches in vain, but the crossbar saves.

41.

Embolo scores with a pike header to make it 2:1

Silvan Widmer has plenty of time to cross the ball into the middle. There he finds Embolo, who beats Tah and scores with a pike header to make it 2-1. Well done from the Swiss.

37.

Next good opportunity for Kai Havertz. After beautiful direct play from Wirtz and Goretzka, the ball ends up with Havertz, but he chases the ball over the goal.

32.

Florian Wirtz forces Kobel into a save with a powerful shot. The BVB goalkeeper clears for a corner. It doesn't get dangerous after that.

26.

Tah equalizes for Germany

After a short corner kick, Wirtz crosses the ball from the left half of the pitch to the second post. Tah is lurking there, but Widmer doesn't cover him closely enough and his header catches Kobel in the near corner.

20.

The visitors immediately look for a direct response. Raum delivers a low cross that forces Kobel to intervene. Kobel's clearance forwards ends up with Havertz, who slips as he finishes and puts the ball over the goal.

17.

Ndoye scores to make it 1:0

Dan Ndoye leaves his opponent standing and smashes the ball into the goal via the post with his left foot from an acute angle.

16.

Switzerland now have a sniff at the opening goal. However, the Swiss forward just misses a cross in the center of the attack.

14.

And it's about to get dangerous again. Gnabry gets his shot away at the far post, but it hits Tah, who is in his line of fire. Luck for Switzerland.

13.

Havertz finishes from close range after a one-two with Wirtz. Kobel is on hand to clear for a corner.

10.

The Swiss do something for the possession statistics and let the ball circulate in their own ranks, but without gaining any space.

Kimmich smashes the ball into Ndoye's head from close range. Painful, but once shaken off, the game continues.

Akanji initiates the first chance of the game with a hair-raising misplaced pass. It's dangerous, at least to begin with. Granit Xhaka blocks a shot with his arms outstretched.

The ball is rolling ...

Germany kick off, but the ball is in the Swiss ranks seconds later.

The teams enter the pitch

Everything is set for a wonderful evening of football. The players are on the pitch, the national anthems are played ...

Sold-out crowd in Basel

The match in Basel is sold out, over 34,000 fans will provide a great atmosphere in St. Jakob-Park. Kick-off is at 8.45 pm.

The line-ups are here

Murat Yakin is relying on his tried-and-tested squad for the start. But the national team coach has already announced in advance that he will use as many players as possible. A total of eleven changes are possible.

The Switzerland line-up: Kobel; Widmer, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Xhaka, Freuler; Vargas, Rieder, Ndoye; Embolo.

How Switzerland start against Germany
uefa.com

The Germany line-up: Baumann; Kimmich, Schlotterbeck, Tah, Raum; Stiller, Goretzka; Sané, Gnabry, Wirtz; Havertz.

This is how Germany start against Switzerland.
uefa.com

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Granit Xhaka has never lost to Germany

Nati captain Granit Xhaka doesn't see Switzerland as the favorites against Germany. Who wins the game is ultimately irrelevant, as it is only a friendly. Although that's not entirely true. "When you're wearing the national team jersey, you can't see a game as a test match. Every goal and every good result gives us confidence for the tournament in the summer. That goes for Friday too," said Xhaka at the press conference the day before the game. "Germany will certainly have respect for us, but we have to play our game, step on the gas and earn the win."

Eleven substitutions per team are possible

For Yakin, one wish has come true, as he said at the press conference before the game against Germany: "At last, almost everyone can be on the pitch for a preparation game." Thanks to an adjustment by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), eight changes can now be made in test matches, although the number can be increased to eleven if the two teams agree. This has been decided by Switzerland and Germany. Murat Yakin in particular wants to take advantage of this, as he said the day before the game.

In order to achieve great things in the summer, and that is undoubtedly the goal, it is now a matter of fine-tuning.

90.+4.

End of 2nd half

85.

Goal for Germany, 3:4 through Florian Wirtz (Pascal Groß)

Florian Wirtz

Midfielder

Assist: Pascal Groß

Midfielder

80.

Substitution in Germany

Pascal Groß

Midfielder

80.

Substitution out Germany

Angelo Stiller

Midfielder

80.

Substitution in Germany

Anton Stach

Striker

80.

Substitution out Germany

Leon Goretzka

Midfielder

79.

Goal for Switzerland, 3:3 through Joël Monteiro (Miro Muheim)

Joël Monteiro

Striker

Assist: Miro Muheim

Defender

78.

Substitution in Switzerland

Vincent Sierro

Midfielder

78.

Substitution out Switzerland

Remo Freuler

Midfielder

78.

Substitution in Switzerland

Eray Cömert

Defender

78.

Substitution out Switzerland

Nico Elvedi

Defender

78.

Substitution in Switzerland

Michel Aebischer

Midfielder

78.

Substitution out Switzerland

Dan Ndoye

Striker

63.

Substitution in Germany

Lennart Karl

Midfielder

63.

Substitution out Germany

Leroy Sané

Midfielder

63.

Substitution in Germany

Nick Woltemade

Striker

63.

Substitution out Germany

Kai Havertz

Striker

62.

Substitution in Switzerland

Aurele Amenda

Defender

62.

Substitution out Switzerland

Manuel Akanji

Defender

62.

Substitution in Switzerland

Alvyn Sanches

Striker

62.

Substitution out Switzerland

Fabian Rieder

Midfielder

62.

Substitution in Switzerland

Joël Monteiro

Striker

62.

Substitution out Switzerland