Gregor Kobel and Switzerland began their UEFA Nations League campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win away to North Macedonia on Saturday.
Remo Freuler broke the deadlock for La Nati in the 22nd minute before Zeki Amdouni doubled their advantage minutes before half-time as the Swiss were already home and hosed.
There was more misery to come for their hapless hosts though, as Amdouni popped up with a third from Zachary Athekame's ball again in the 74th minute.
With three points in the bag and a goal-difference of +3, Switzerland took the top spot in Group 1 of League B in the competition.
Kobel bags easy clean sheet
Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel started for the Swiss once again and completed full 90 minutes, bagging the eighth clean sheet of his international career. However, this could also be perhaps the easiest one he's ever had.
With North Macedonia struggling to break down Switzerland's well-drilled backline and midfield, Kobel was almost a spectator at various spells in the match. In fact, he didn't have to make a single save throughout 90 minutes as both of Macedonia's attempts were off-target.
Only against the USMNT in their 4-0 friendly win on 11 June 2025 had Kobel not faced a single attempt at goal while keeping a clean sheet. But this was a competitive fixture, which goes to tell you just how harmless the Lions were on the night in Skopje.
Switzerland, who made a historic quarter-final finish at the World Cup this year, were in cruise control with debutant Zachary Athekame shining on his debut with two assists while Nico Elvedi and Manuel Akanji formed an impenetrable brick wall at the heart of their defense.
Kobel showed another side of his game in the 21st minute when he received a backpass and North Macedonia looked to press him. The Dortmund keeper produced nerves of steel to dribble his way out of it and squaring it ahead as the 28-year-old possesses his ability to remain calm and collected under pressure and get the ball safely out of danger.
Scotland could be a sterner test for Kobel
Switzerland will continue their Nations League campaign away to Scotland in Glasgow on Tuesday in what seems like a more challenging affair on paper. Let's not forget, the Tartan Army had reached the World Cup after 28 years, and possess formidable attacking options such as John McGinn and Ryan Christie.
They were held goalless by Slovenia on Saturday, but are a different beast at home, winning four of their last five games while scoring four goals against two of the last three teams to visit Glasgow (4-2 vs Denmark and 4-1 vs Curacao).
Suffice to say, the Swiss can expect more offensive quality from their opponents in this game than the last, which could also mean that Kobel's interventions will be required at various points in the fixture.
Add us as a preferred source on Google