Switzerland will be without their captain Granit Xhaka for next week's Nations League match against Scotland at Hampden Park. The 33-year-old midfielder has withdrawn from the squad due to a pending criminal investigation into alleged forged Covid-19 certificates.
Xhaka released a personal statement addressing the matter. "In recent days, there has been much reporting about a matter from my past," he said. "I would like to address this personally. At the time, I was personally very uncertain and had serious concerns regarding the Covid-19 vaccination."
The Swiss Football Association confirmed the player will not take part in their upcoming training camp. Authorities in Lucerne are conducting the investigation, which could lead to proceedings for document forgery. This is not the first time Xhaka has missed international duty due to Covid-related issues; he also sat out fixtures in September 2022 after testing positive for the virus.
The absence of Switzerland's leader and most experienced player is a significant boost for Scotland ahead of the September 29 fixture. Steve Clarke's side are currently third in their World Cup qualifying group with three points from three matches, having lost their last two games against Brazil and Morocco.
Scotland will also be without several key players, including Che Adams, Lawrence Shankland and Scott McTominay, who are currently sidelined. The team's recent form shows three wins and two losses from their last five outings, a run of results detailed in our comprehensive stats pages. Switzerland, under new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli, have also lost forward Noah Okafor from their squad. Xhaka, who captains Sunderland at club level, was part of the side that defeated Manchester City 5-3 last weekend. The Swiss camp begins its preparations without their talisman as the investigation continues.
Read the full report at scotsman.com
