Switzerland delivered a ruthless home performance in the 2026–27 UEFA Nations League, beating North Macedonia 3-0 at St. Jakob-Park in Basel with a display built on patience, width and clinical finishing.

Match overview

How the game unfolded

Switzerland started brightly and took the lead in the 18th minute through Breel Embolo, who latched onto a clever reverse pass from the left half-space, held off his marker and slotted a low finish beyond the goalkeeper. It was a goal that rewarded the hosts' early dominance in possession and set the tone for the rest of the evening.

North Macedonia responded with a compact defensive block and briefly slowed the game down, defending deep and looking to spring counter-attacks through their wide players. But Switzerland's patience paid off just after half-time. In the 52nd minute, Dan Ndoye received the ball on the right, cut inside onto his stronger foot and curled a left-footed effort into the far corner to double the advantage.

The third goal, on 79 minutes, came from a move that had been building all match. Switzerland worked the ball patiently from side to side before a low cross was met by Ruben Vargas at the back post for a simple tap-in. From that point the result was never in doubt, and the hosts managed the closing stages comfortably.

North Macedonia's best opportunity came in the 63rd minute, when a quick break ended with a shot deflected narrowly wide of the post. It was a brief scare for a Swiss side that otherwise controlled the match from start to finish.

Key moments

• 18' – Embolo opens the scoring with a composed low finish.
• 52' – Ndoye curls in a superb second from the right flank.
• 63' – North Macedonia's counter ends with a deflected shot wide.
• 79' – Vargas taps in at the back post to seal the win.
• 90' – Switzerland close out the match with a comfortable clean sheet.

Tactical story

Switzerland's approach was based on width and patient circulation. Their wing-backs pushed high, stretching North Macedonia's back line and creating the space in the half-spaces that Embolo and the attacking midfielders exploited. When the visitors dropped deeper to protect their box, Switzerland simply moved the ball quicker and attacked the far post.

Defensively, the Swiss pressed selectively rather than constantly, inviting North Macedonia to play into midfield and then winning the ball back with a compact block. That strategy limited the visitors to a handful of counter-attacking moments and kept the game's tempo firmly in the hosts' favour.

Standout players

Embolo's all-round centre-forward display was central to the result, holding the ball up effectively and bringing others into play. Ndoye was a constant threat on the right, and Vargas' late goal capped another energetic performance. In midfield, Granit Xhaka controlled the rhythm of the game, dictating where and when Switzerland attacked.

For North Macedonia, the goalkeeper made a string of saves to keep the margin at three, while their captain and central defenders worked tirelessly against a heavy weight of possession. It was a difficult night, but not one without signs of resilience.

What it means

The victory gives Switzerland a valuable three points and a strong goal difference in a group where promotion and knockout qualification can hinge on fine margins. For North Macedonia, the focus now shifts to the home fixtures ahead, where a more expansive approach will likely be needed to keep pace in the standings.