Switzerland vs Kosovo prediction: EUROPE: World Championship – Qualification betting tips on match 2025-09-04 18:45.
[p]Aiming to qualify for a sixth consecutive FIFA World Cup, Switzerland begin their qualifying journey against Kosovo in the four-team Group B that also includes Sweden and Slovenia.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]After being relegated to League B of the UEFA Nations League (UNL) with the equal-worst record of all 16 League A teams (D2, L4), Switzerland rediscovered their winning ways with three friendly victories in March and June. The Swiss boast an excellent record in World Cup qualifiers (WCQs), losing only three games across their five most recent WCQ campaigns (W33, D16). With only the group winner directly advancing to the World Cup finals, Murat Yakin’s side will need to make the most of an undefeated run in home WCQs that stretches back to 2008 (W14, D5).[/p]
[p]Kosovo have the worst ranking (95) of all sides in the group and are beginning just their third WCQ campaign, but won’t be short of momentum to put up a fight. Eight wins across their last nine matches (L1) included a promotion from League C to B in the most recent UNL tournament. Although the level of opposition will be tougher, the Dardanians will hope to draw inspiration from that winning form. It’s their away record that’s of bigger concern as Franco Foda’s side have lost six of their last eight away WCQs (W1, D1) although the two exceptions did come in their final three trips of 2021.[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]There have been only three H2Hs and they all ended in scoring draws. Seven of the eight goals scored across those three games were recorded in the second-half.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]In six of Switzerland’s last seven matches, both teams scored goals.[/p]
[p]Switzerland conceded just two goals across their last ten WCQs (W6, D4).[/p]
[p]Kosovo have scored at least two goals in seven of their last nine matches.[/p]
[p]In five of Kosovo’s last six WCQs, exactly one first-half goal was scored.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Granit Xhaka hasn’t shied away from controversially displaying his Albanian roots in the past and should be at his feisty best here having assisted Sunderland’s last-gasp goal in a 2-1 win last weekend whilst also getting carded. Kosovo’s all-time top goalscorer Vedat Muriqi couldn’t prevent Mallorca’s 2-1 loss to Real Madrid at the weekend despite netting the match opener, while he also scored twice in a 2-2 H2H draw in September 2023.[/p]
[p]Back-up striker Cedric Itten is back in Switzerland colours for the first time in nearly two years. Kosovo have called up a number of first-timers, including Baton Zabërgja, Florian Haxha, and Veldin Hodža.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Going by historical record as well as recent form of the two sides, backing both teams to score looks like a winning pick.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Sridhar Bhamidi[/i][/p]