Rodríguez free‑kick and Elvedi strike send Switzerland past Scotland 3-0 at Hampden

Switzerland beat Scotland 3-0 at Hampden Park in a UEFA Nations League match on 29 September 2026 after Scotland centre-back Jack Hendry was sent off early; Ricardo Rodríguez scored from 19 yards and Nico Elvedi and Zeki Amdouni added the other goals.

Murat Yakin’s side moved to six points from their opening two Group B1 matches and had followed Saturday’s win in North Macedonia with this victory, despite recent allegations concerning vaccination certificates that had threatened to overshadow the international window. Switzerland have not yet played a home fixture in the group. Scotland’s new manager Sébastien Pocognoli endured a difficult night at Hampden as his team have managed only one goal in their last five games and the match was effectively over well before full time.

Switzerland controlled the early exchanges and Dan Ndoye was played through on goal before Hendry pulled him back; referee Nenad Minakovic initially booked Hendry and pointed to the spot but, after a lengthy VAR review, changed the decision to a free-kick and issued a red card. From 19 yards Ricardo Rodríguez struck the set-piece beyond goalkeeper Angus Gunn to give Switzerland the lead.

Pocognoli responded by removing Kieron Bowie and bringing on Stephen Welsh while attempting to maintain a three-man backline, but the Hampden crowd grew subdued as Scotland struggled to establish clear patterns of play. John McGinn had an appeal for a penalty rejected after claiming he was held at a Scotland corner, and Johan Manzambi, described as McGinn’s Aston Villa teammate, was lively for Switzerland, firing just wide after a dangerous cross and at times embellishing fouls and exchanging words with Oli McBurnie.

Nine minutes before half-time Gunn denied Ndoye, and the period closed with a yellow card for Pocognoli after he protested following McGinn’s foul. Switzerland’s second goal arrived when Scotland only partially cleared a corner; the ball reached Ndoye and his low cross was flicked home by central defender Nico Elvedi.

Pocognoli made a triple change during the match and substitute Oli McBurnie’s appearance brought his 18th cap without ending his international scoring wait. Yakin later withdrew Manzambi, and Switzerland continued to press; Zeki Amdouni’s shot beat Gunn as the goalkeeper failed to deal with it and the ball went into the roof of the Scotland net, prompting a mass exodus from the stands.

The result leaves Switzerland on six points and in a strong position in Group B1 with no home match yet played, while Pocognoli faces an important trip to North Macedonia as he seeks to stabilise Scotland after this defeat.