Switzerland 3-0 Slovenia Player Ratings: Nico Elvedi 8.5/10 Rated as Swiss Blitz Secures Dominant 3-0 Victory

What a whirlwind. Switzerland absolutely dismantled Slovenia in a first-half blitz that effectively ended the contest before the halftime whistle even blew. The Swiss side came out with an intensity that Slovenia simply couldn't match. This WC Qualification Europe match was a showcase of clinical finishing and tactical superiority. The floodgates opened with a powerful header from Nico Elvedi off a corner. Before Slovenia could even regroup, they were picking the ball out of their net again. Breel Embolo, a constant menace, added a second, also from a set-piece, highlighting a glaring weakness in the Slovenian defense. The third goal, a slick finish from Dan Ndoye, was the culmination of a beautiful team move that left the visiting defense in tatters. It was a brutal, efficient, and frankly, breathtaking 20-minute spell.

The second half was a different story, more of a procession. Switzerland, comfortably ahead, managed the game with professional ease, content to control possession and see out the result. Slovenia, to their credit, didn't completely collapse and tried to create some chances, but the damage was long done. It was a statement victory for Switzerland, while Slovenia and their manager M. Kek have a lot to ponder after being so thoroughly outclassed. Here are the Switzerland vs Slovenia player ratings.

Switzerland Player Ratings vs Slovenia

Here are the Switzerland player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Gregor Kobel - 6.5: Had one of the quietest nights of his career. He only had one save to make, which he handled comfortably. What stood out to us was his calmness in distribution, starting attacks from the back. A clean sheet is a clean sheet, but he was rarely tested.

Defenders

Silvan Widmer - 6.5: A solid and energetic performance in his hour on the pitch. He provided good width on the right and was defensively sound. He didn't do anything spectacular, but he didn't need to. He was a reliable cog in a well-oiled machine before being substituted.

Nico Elvedi - 8.5: Our man of the match, without a doubt. He set the tone with a thumping header for the opening goal. Beyond the goal, he was a giant at the back, winning his duels and passing with incredible accuracy over 100 times. A truly complete performance from the centre-back.

Manuel Akanji - 7.5: The picture of composure next to Elvedi. He was instrumental in building play from the back, completing over 90 passes with ease. From our perspective, his positioning was flawless, and he never looked troubled by the Slovenian forwards. He made the game look simple.

Ricardo Rodríguez - 7.0: A typically classy performance. He was a constant outlet on the left, touching the ball nearly 100 times and always looking to progress play into the final third. He was caught out once or twice but his overall contribution to Switzerland's dominance was significant.

Midfielders

Remo Freuler - 8.0: A midfield masterclass. He was everywhere. He grabbed a well-deserved assist and created three chances, including two big ones. His energy and intelligence in the middle of the park were crucial in overwhelming the Slovenian midfield. An excellent, all-action display.

Granit Xhaka - 8.0: The captain conducted the orchestra beautifully. He dictated the tempo of the entire match from his deep-lying role, spraying passes left and right. His control and game management, especially in the second half, were textbook. He makes everything tick for this Swiss team.

Dan Ndoye - 8.0: A livewire performance capped with a goal. His pace and directness caused Slovenia problems all night. He was relentless in his pressing, recovering the ball eight times. A fantastic contribution, especially in that dominant first half.

Rubén Vargas - 7.5: Very lively and creative during his time on the pitch. He provided the assist for the opening goal from the corner. We noticed his constant movement and desire to take players on was a key part of the early onslaught. It was a shame his night was cut short by a substitution.

Forwards

Breel Embolo - 8.0: An absolute handful. He bullied the Slovenian defenders, won countless fouls, and used his physical presence to devastating effect. He fully deserved his poacher's goal. He was the focal point of the attack and did his job perfectly before being given a rest.

Fabian Rieder - 7.0: A very promising display. He linked up play intelligently and delivered the assist for Embolo's goal. He will be kicking himself for missing a big chance, but his overall creativity was a huge asset. A strong performance from the attacker.

Substitutes

Michel Aebischer - 6.0: Came on to help see the game out and did so without any fuss. Kept possession ticking over.

Johan Manzambi - 6.0: Showed a few nice touches but the game was already won when he was introduced.

Isaac Schmidt - 6.0: Filled in at wing-back and was solid enough for the final half-hour.

Denis Zakaria - N/A: Not on long enough to make an impact.

Simon Sohm - N/A: A late cameo appearance.

Manager

M. Yakin - 8.5: His game plan was executed to perfection. The decision to go for the throat from the first whistle paid off spectacularly. The focus on set-piece routines was clearly well-drilled and won them the game. A flawless night's work from the Swiss manager.

Slovenia Player Ratings vs Switzerland

Here are the Slovenia player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Jan Oblak - 5.5: What a miserable experience for a world-class keeper. Conceded three goals in the first half and could do little about any of them. He was completely exposed by his defense on set pieces and open play. A frustrating night for the captain.

Defenders

Zan Karnicnik - 5.0: A torrid evening. He struggled badly against the pace and movement of Ndoye and Vargas. He was booked for a cynical foul and looked out of his depth for large parts of the game. A night to forget.

Jaka Bijol - 4.5: Seemed to be at the heart of Slovenia's defensive collapse. He gave away the corner for the first goal and struggled immensely with the physicality of Embolo. He committed four fouls and looked rattled throughout. Easily the worst performer on the pitch.

Vanja Drkusic - 5.0: Like his partner, he had a difficult time. While he made a few clearances, he was part of a defensive unit that was completely disorganized, especially on set plays. Overwhelmed by the Swiss attack.

Erik Janza - 5.5: He tried to offer an outlet going forward but was mostly pinned back defending. He lost possession far too often and his delivery from wide areas was lacking. A hard-working but ineffective performance.

Midfielders

Adam Gnezda Cerin - 6.0: One of the few Slovenian players who can hold his head up. He was fighting a losing battle in midfield but kept trying to get on the ball and make things happen. His passing was tidy under pressure, but he was simply outnumbered.

Timi Max Elsnik - 5.0: The game completely passed him by. He was a passenger in midfield, unable to get a foothold against the Swiss press. It was no surprise to see him substituted after an anonymous hour.

Petar Stojanović - 5.5: Ran hard but with little effect. He was tasked with supporting the attack but spent most of his time chasing shadows defensively. Offered very little creative spark before being taken off.

Sandi Lovrić - 5.0: His evening was cruelly cut short by an injury just 21 minutes in. It's tough to rate him, but the team seemed to lose any semblance of structure after he departed. Unfortunate.

Forwards

Benjamin Sesko - 6.0: It was a lonely and frustrating night for the talented striker. He was completely isolated and starved of any decent service. We noticed he still showed flashes of his quality with a couple of smart touches but was given an impossible task.

Zan Vipotnik - 5.5: He worked tirelessly but lacked the quality to trouble the Swiss defense. He had two half-chances towards the end of the first half but failed to convert either. A lot of effort for very little reward.

Substitutes

Dejan Petrovic - 5.0: Came on for the injured Lovric and picked up a yellow card. Failed to change the tide.

Tamar Svetlin - 5.5: Added some fresh legs but couldn't impact the game.

Danijel Sturm - 5.5: Looked to be direct but the game was already gone.

David Brekalo - N/A: Late substitute.

Svit Seslar - N/A: Late substitute.

Manager

M. Kek - 4.0: His team looked unprepared for Switzerland's intensity. The defensive organization, particularly on set pieces, was shockingly poor. His side was tactically outclassed from the first minute to the last, and he had no answers from the touchline.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Nico Elvedi