Macedonian opened the 2026/27 season of the UEFA Nations League with a home defeat by Switzerland.
photo by FFM: Elmas in a duel with Rieder
Coach Goce Sedloski opted for Stole Dimitrievski between the posts, in the defense Bojan Ilievski, Gjoko Zajkov, Visar Musliu and Sebastian Herrera, in midfield Tihomir Kostadinov, debutante Matej Gashtarov, captain Enis Bardhi and Elis Elmas, while up front Bojan Miovski and Elmin Rastoder.
The Swiss team came in Skopje with several cancelations. Defender Aurèle Amenda and midfielder Denis Zakaria got injured, attacker Breel Embolo decided to not play anymore while Murat Yakin is coach, while captain Granit Xhaka was removed from the squad due to faking a COVID-19 vaccination certificate in 2022.
The first was for the Swiss in the 8th minute when Amdouni missed the target. Macedonia could not threat the visitors’ goal and in the 22nd minute Ndoye stood the ball up for Amdouni, who nod it down for Freuler to sweep home into the bottom-left corner. The Swiss continued to attack and three minutes later Manzambi had a shot saved by Dimitrievski.
The 27th minute was underway when Ndoye fired a shot but Dimitrievski made a great save. In the 39th minute he made another great save, tipping Manzambi’s fierce long-range strike over the bar at full stretch.
Four minutes before the break Switzerland scored a second, a low cross from the right was delivered by Athekame and it got through to Amdouni who netted home.
At half time Sedloski introduced Elezi and Mitrovski instead of Kostadinov and Rastoder. Just two minutes after the break Gashtarov was shown a direct red card for a foul on Manzambi. However, VAR intervened and the German referee changed his decision to a yellow card. a bit later Meljichi came vin to make his debut appearance instead of Zajkov, while Omeragić substituted Miovski.
Switzerland sealed the win in the 74th minute as Zeki Amdouni celebrated a brace. He took a pass from Athekame on his left foot, then weaved around a defender and found the bottom corner with a placed finish. Seven minutes later Amdouni had a chance for hat-trick, but Dimitrievski denied his effort. The match ended 0:3.
This was the first ever encounter between Macedonia and Switzerland. Of the 55 UEFA members, Macedonia now has never faced only Greece, France, Northern Ireland and San Marino.
In the other match in our Group 1 in League B, Slovenia and Scotland shared the points in a goalless draw.