Sommer penalty save secures Switzerland the win

Yann Sommer and Nico Elvedi have secured survival in the UEFA Nations League with Switzerland. Ramy Bensebaini celebrated a win with Algeria. Joe Scally substituted on in the USA’s friendly against Saudi Arabia.

Switzerland beat Czech Republic

Yann Sommer’s penalty save contributed massively to Switzerland’s 2-1 win in their final game of their UEFA Nations League campaign. The home win helped the Swiss into third place in the table and secured their survival in League A.

Nico Elvedi and Sommer started alongside each other for the hosts. Remo Freuler (29’) and former Foal Breel Embolo (30’) put Switzerland in front, before Patrick Schick (45’) reduced the deficit on the verge of half time for the visitors. In the 60^th minute Elvedi was penalised in the box for a foul on Schick. Tomas Soucek struck the resulting penalty kick towards the left corner, but Sommer dived the right way and smothered the ball up on before there could be any follow up. It was already his fifth penalty save for Switzerland since November 2020.

“Penalties are always special situations. You prepare yourself for them. But it’s funny, we were totally unprepared for Soucek to step up and take it,” said Sommer. “Tomas Soucek looked at me for a long time. That is always an opportunity for me to get into the penalty taker’s head and unnerve them. Luckily, it worked,” explained Gladbach’s number one. In the closing stages, Switzerland narrowly got over the line. At the World Cup in Qatar, they face Cameroon, Brazil and Serbia in the group stage. Before the start of the tournament, they have one final friendly against Ghana on the 17^th November.

USA fail to score past Saudi Arabia

Joe Scally and the USA left Malaga with a 0-0 draw from their friendly against Saudi Arabia. In what was a largely uneventful game,  the USA lacked the necessary attacking punch. During the previous game against Japan, Joe Scally had to spend the entire game on the bench, but, yesterday, he got a run out for a good thirty minutes. Borussia’s central defender replaced DeAndre Yedlin in the 59^th minute. It was Scally’s third international cap – all have come in international friendlies. In the World Cup group stages, the USA meet Wales, England and Iran.

Algeria topple Nigeria

Algeria enjoyed another win with Ramy Bensebaini in the starting eleven. A few days after their 1-0 win over Guinea, Algeria won again, this time a 2-1 win over Nigeria. After Terem Moffi (9’) had put the visitors ahead, Riyad Mahrez (41’) and Youcef Atal (61’) turned the tables for the Desert Foxes. Bensebaini played the full 90 minutes. Unfortunately, Algeria narrowly missed out on World Cup qualification.

Germany U21s suffer defeat to England

Germany U21s without Luca Netz narrowly lost their second challenge game. Four days after the 1-0 defeat to France, Germany had to settle for another defeat against England in Sheffield (3-1). Felix Nmecha (35’) had put Germany ahead, but England turned the deficit around thanks to goals from Folarin Balogun (42’) and Conor Gallagher (47’). Cole Palmer’s goal (90+5) put the game to bed. While Luca Netz spent the entire 90 minutes on the bench, Jordan Beyer, who is currently out on loan at Burnley, came on in the 73^rd minute.