The severe and unexpected blow in Basel

There was enthusiasm for the Kosovo national football team on the eve of the start of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. 

There were many reasons for this.

Kosovo was on a five-game winning streak. The midfield was strengthened with a player with potential, who is making a career in the Bundesliga, Leon Avdullah. The forwards were in shape. It was known that Kosovo would have great support against Switzerland in Basel. Half of the stadium on Friday night was filled with Kosovo supporters. Coach Franco Foda said that the group was consolidated and that in Kosovo all players can be replaced. So also the two main “wings”, Milot Rashica and Edon Zhegrova. 

The team already has experience in qualifying rounds. The organization around it is considered to be of the highest level. Many of the players play in top European leagues. The midfield, where Kosovo has had trouble for many years, is now made up of Bundesliga players.

As if all this wasn't enough, Switzerland was coming off a disappointing run in the Nations League. Switzerland had a generational change and only Granit Xhaka remained among the key players.

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As at the beginning of every qualifying campaign, there were plenty of other reasons that filled Kosovo's supporters with confidence.

But, in the end, everything is decided on the green field. And there were only the Swiss players. A 4:0 victory for them. A heavy, and for many even embarrassing, 4:0 defeat for Kosovo.

Enthusiasm was not enough. On the field, Granit Xhaka was the undisputed leader. He organized every action of Switzerland and with full competence led the team, of which he is the captain, to a convincing victory. In terms of tactics, the Swiss coach, Murat Yakin, taught Franco Fodas. However, the Kosovo coach did not have a leader like Xhaka on the field.

The victory was actually secured in the first half. The second half was a formality. 

Avdullahu, from whom expectations were probably excessive, had a difficult debut. Elvis Rexhbeçaj also had unsuccessful matches in midfield. Aro Muriq did not make any saves, while the numerous mistakes of the defense consisting of Amir Rrahmani, Lumbardh Dellova, Mërgim Vojvoda and Leart Paçarada were maximally exploited by the opponents. Vedat Muriqi, Muharrem Jashari, Ermal Krasniqi and Florent Muslija were the others who started in one of the most difficult matches in Kosovo so far. The four goals conceded in the first half prove this.

Suddenly, the dream of the World Cup seems very distant. The performance on the field proved why Switzerland, according to the main parameters, the division into pots for the draw and the FIFA ranking, is the favorite of the group, and Kosovo is the outsider.

Friday night's performance in Basel proved that coach Franco Foda, the team's managers, and the FFK leadership still have a lot of work to do to create a team that can rival Switzerland, one that shows quality when it matters most.

The 4:0 defeat becomes even more serious if we consider the fact that the previous three matches with Switzerland ended in draws. 

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So, when a big step forward was expected, at least in terms of results, a giant step backward was taken.
There are doubts whether the national team will recover in time. The next challenging match is on Monday, the one with Sweden at "Fadil Vokrri". So Foda will only have one training session with the complete group, considering the fact that the day after the match, the starting players are usually released.
Sweden drew 2-2 in Slovenia on Friday night and will be looking to take advantage of Kosovo's poor start. Individually, the Swedes are clearly better than Switzerland. They have some of the most expensive players in the world.

Kosovo and Foda are currently facing only problems. The most optimistic hope that they will be overcome overnight. But in football at this level, things rarely work that way.