Ricardo Rodriguez played a mere 20 seconds during Switzerland’s scoreless draw with Slovenia, moving the veteran defender to 149 international appearances.
The fixture finished in a 0:0 stalemate in Maribor, a result that secured the Swiss promotion to League A ahead of their upcoming match against Scotland in St. Gallen. Murat Yakin opted to deploy Sascha Britschgi at left-back rather than Rodriguez, who has been sidelined since mid-October due to a tendon tear.
Rodriguez Nears 150 Appearances Amid Defensive Changes
- International Milestones: Rodriguez stands on the brink of history, needing just one more cap to join Granit Xhaka as only the second Swiss player to reach 150 appearances.
- Defensive Rotations: The inclusion of 20-year-old Britschgi signals a decision under Yakin as matches unfold.
- Club Re-entry: Torino will monitor Rodriguez as he builds back following his recent recovery from a tendon tear.
Yakin Substitutes Rodriguez to Honor Upcoming Milestone
Referee Vergoote blew the final whistle moments after Rodriguez stepped onto the pitch for Fabian Rieder in the dying seconds of the game. Yakin explained the decision after the final whistle.
“I wollte ihm noch ein Geschenk machen.”
said Yakin, noting that his team controlled the match entirely and the result was already secured. Yakin added that Rodriguez is a deserving player who will soon reach an incredible milestone, making the brief appearance a straightforward gesture.
Samuel Ballet Earns First Senior Cap
Samuel Ballet experienced a contrasting evening, entering the match in the 87th minute for Dan Ndoye to claim his first senior cap for the national team. The 25-year-old winger acknowledged the difficulty of breaking through a deep defensive block.
“Ein Traum, der in Erfüllung gegangen ist. Das wollte ich schon so lange.”
said Ballet, describing the milestone to Blick.
Ballet said that breaking down an opponent sitting deep in a low-block remains a tough task for any attacking player with limited space. The debutant confirmed that his mother and sister will receive his match-worn shirts as part of the occasion.
| Player | Age | Action / Minute | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel Ballet | 25 | Subbed on (87′) | Senior international debut |
| Sascha Britschgi | 20 | Started at left-back | Defensive rotation choice |
Switzerland will face Scotland in St. Gallen on Monday.
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