Murat Yakin's Switzerland Win All Four Matches, Reaching a Perfect 12 Points

Switzerland, under head coach Murat Yakin, completed a run of four wins from four matches, lifting their tally to a perfect 12 points and holding on to top spot in the group. North Macedonia are still without a single point and sit bottom of the table. In the group's other fixture, Slovenia beat Scotland 2-1 away from home, climbing to second place on 7 points, while Scotland remain on 4 points.

The 12-point milestone and a comfortable cushion

The result is more than a simple statistic. It reflects the remarkable consistency of a national team that had repeatedly been questioned over its ability to compete on the biggest stage. Four matches, four victories, twelve points out of twelve. Switzerland are turning their group into a one-sided race in which the gap to the rest keeps widening.

Mathematically, 12 points after four rounds means the Swiss have built a five-point cushion over second-placed Slovenia. With qualifying places limited, that margin effectively makes Murat Yakin's side the first name to be pencilled in from this group. In other words, Switzerland now control their own destiny and simply need to maintain their current rhythm to secure their objective early.

What stands out is that Switzerland have not won in just one way. In some matches they dominated possession and finished opponents off with short passing combinations through the middle. In others they sat deeper, waited for mistakes and punished them with lightning counter-attacks. That flexibility is the clearest fingerprint of Murat Yakin's tenure.

Murat Yakin's tactical signature

Murat Yakin, who has often faced questions at home about his ability to change the course of big matches, is answering those questions with results on the pitch. He has built a cohesive unit in which every player understands his task and nobody is allowed to stand outside the system.

Switzerland's foundation lies in midfield. Granit Xhaka remains the pivot, dictating play, distributing the ball and controlling the tempo. His ability to switch play with long diagonal passes allows Yakin's team to escape high pressing quickly and with minimal effort. When Xhaka has space, Switzerland's entire attacking structure runs far more smoothly.

Behind him, the defence is tightly organised with Manuel Akanji acting as the leader. His composure in one-on-one duels and his strong reading of the game make him a reliable shield in front of goal. Switzerland do not defend passively with numbers; they defend by controlling space and suffocating the opponent's decisive passes.

Up front, Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye complement each other. Embolo acts as the focal point, holding the ball, occupying defenders and creating space; Ndoye exploits that space with pace and direct dribbling. This clear division of labour makes Switzerland hard to read for opposing back lines.

Another notable trait is their threat from set pieces. In several matches Switzerland have opened the scoring from corners or free kicks, reflecting detailed work on the training ground. In modern football, as defences become better organised, goals from dead-ball situations are often the key to breaking a stalemate.

North Macedonia and the pain of zero points

At the other end of the table, North Macedonia are going through their toughest spell in years. After four rounds, the Balkan side are still without a point and sit bottom of the group. It is a paradox given the potential of this football nation, particularly after the standout generation built around Eljif Elmas that took North Macedonia to a major tournament for the first time in their history.

Their problems lie at both ends of the pitch. The attack lacks a striker of sufficient quality to convert the few chances created, while the defence repeatedly makes positional errors at decisive moments. Late concessions and dangerous turnovers just outside the box have become a familiar story.

Psychologically, going so long without a point creates an ever-growing burden. Players perform with tension, their touches lack confidence and their attacking patterns become easy to predict. To break the cycle, North Macedonia need a positive result in their next outing, even if it is only a draw.

Slovenia win 2-1 away at Scotland

The group's other fixture produced an impressive Slovenian performance. They secured a 2-1 away win over Scotland, a result widely viewed as the turning point of the group.

Scotland started with real energy in front of their home crowd. The hosts pushed their full-backs high and applied pressure through long balls and set pieces, traditionally Scottish strengths. Runs from Scott McTominay and Andrew Robertson caused plenty of trouble around the Slovenian box.

Slovenia, however, showed the resilience of a side that knows how to absorb pressure. Their defence dropped into a low block, marked tightly and were willing to commit tactical fouls to break up Scotland's rhythm. As the hosts pushed forward, space opened behind their back line, and that was precisely the territory Slovenia wanted to exploit.

The turning point came from their speed of transition. Slovenia needed only a few accurate long passes to move the ball from their own half to the final third. Benjamin Sesko, with his height and ability to hold the ball, served as the focal point, allowing midfielders to join the attack. Slovenia's goals were the logical outcome of a carefully prepared plan.

The defeat is a shock for Scotland. A side that had targeted automatic qualification now trails Slovenia by three points. More worrying is their inefficiency in front of goal: the chances created were far from scarce, but the goals did not match them.

Group standings after the round

With these results, the group has split clearly. Switzerland lead outright on 12 points from four wins. Slovenia are second on 7, three points clear of Scotland. Scotland sit third on 4 points, while North Macedonia have none and occupy last place.

This split creates two parallel races. The first is for top spot, where Switzerland are all but assured of finishing first. The second is the battle for second place between Slovenia and Scotland, two sides separated by exactly one win.

For Scotland, a three-point gap is not insurmountable, but it demands near perfection in the remaining fixtures. They need wins, an improved goal difference and, above all, a victory over Slovenia in the direct meeting if they want to regain control of their fate.

For Slovenia, second place is fair reward for a well-prepared campaign. They do not have the most glamorous squad in the group, yet they are the best-organised collective behind Switzerland. The balance between Jan Oblak's experience in goal and Benjamin Sesko's youth up front gives them a reliable spine.

Why Switzerland are dangerous down the stretch

Three factors make Switzerland formidable in the closing rounds. The first is squad depth. Murat Yakin can rotate without a significant drop in quality, which matters enormously in a congested calendar.

The second is experience. Most of Switzerland's key men have been through multiple qualifying campaigns and major tournaments. They know how to manage a match, when to accelerate and when to slow things down. In decisive games, that know-how is often worth as much as a goal.

The third is psychological stability. Switzerland do not get dragged into media spats, they do not change philosophy after every match and they maintain the required focus. These are the hallmarks of a professionally run national team.

Of course, an unbeaten run brings its own challenge. The pressure of protecting a perfect record can make players more cautious than necessary. Yakin must balance safeguarding the advantage with keeping his squad sharp and hungry.

Scotland and the attacking puzzle

For Scotland, the biggest issue is not the defence but the attack. They create chances but lack a finisher who can convert them. In modern football, as back lines become better organised, wasting chances usually comes at a heavy price.

Scotland's coach will need to adjust his approach. Rather than relying solely on crosses from the flanks, the team should add more central combinations and individual dribbles. Scott McTominay's ability to arrive late in the box is an option that deserves greater use.

They must also improve their defence against counter-attacks. The goal conceded against Slovenia showed the team still struggles when opponents switch play quickly. If that is not fixed, a similar scenario could easily repeat itself.

What comes next

Looking ahead, Switzerland simply need to maintain their current level to complete their objective soon. One more win would all but confirm qualification, allowing the final two fixtures to become an opportunity to test squad options.

Slovenia will approach their remaining matches with greater freedom. Second place gives them control of their fate, provided they avoid unexpected defeats against lower-ranked opponents. The direct meeting with Scotland will be the decisive fixture.

Scotland are forced to shift into a more attacking mode. That is both an opportunity and a risk, because an open approach can produce goals but also expose space behind. How the coach balances those two elements will determine Scotland's fate.

North Macedonia, despite having very little left to play for in terms of qualification, still need to compete for pride and for their own future. Their first points, if they come, would carry far greater psychological value than their table value. It would also be a way to build a foundation for the next cycle.

Conclusion

After this round, the picture is relatively clear. Switzerland, coached by Murat Yakin, lead with 12 points from four wins. Slovenia climbed to second on 7 points thanks to a 2-1 victory away at Scotland. Scotland dropped to third on 4 points, while North Macedonia remain without a point at the bottom.

Notably, Switzerland's record is not down to luck. It is the product of a clear tactical system, a squad that understands each other and a coaching staff that prepares specifically for each opponent. If they sustain this consistency, the Swiss can aim for bigger targets on the international stage.

Meanwhile, Slovenia are proving that a well-organised collective can overcome teams with more individually gifted players. Scotland and North Macedonia face their own problems: one with finishing efficiency, the other with confidence that has run dry. Plenty of matches remain, but the early signals suggest this group is beginning to take shape.