Oran Pislimi is part of the Swiss national team for the first time – although he was still playing for Kosovo in the autumn.
The Swiss national team has been preparing for the European Championship qualifiers against Andorra and Romania since Saturday in Tenero. Together with Renato Steffen, Oran Bislemi probably had the shortest path to get here. Therefore, the national newcomer, who earns his bread and butter at FC Lugano, can feel right at home in his premiere in the sunny part of Switzerland.
He moved “cheerful, willing and hungry” to the patriotic camp. Bislemi, who slipped into the lineup with the injured Braille Embolo, has probably been on the radar of a few Nati fans before. The 23-year-old has only played in the Premier League since last season, but has quickly become a regular in midfield at Lugano. Murat Yakin has known Beslemy from their time together at Schaffhausen. He owes a lot to the national coach: “It was he who made the leap into professional football possible for me. I am still very grateful to him for that.”
The Bislemi team came as a bit of a surprise despite their shared past. The dual national of Switzerland and Kosovar earned two caps for his parents’ country last fall. Also in the spring he received a squad from Kosovo for qualification to the European Championship. But Bislemi refused. In a competitive match, the door to the Swiss national team would have closed forever.
In September against Kosovo
“I was born in Basel. Playing for Switzerland has always been a childhood dream.” His decision to put the Swiss cross on his chest in the future wasn’t “against” Kosovo, but “for” Switzerland. Bislemi may duel with his parental homeland in the fall. Kosovo is in the same qualifying group as Switzerland and invites you to a duel on September 9th.
The new Nati player’s focus remains on the upcoming matches against Andorra and Romania. On Sunday, the Natty team will have a general training session in Tenero, and on Thursday leave for Andorra, where the third European Championship qualifier will take place on Friday. Switzerland welcomes Romania to Lucerne on Monday before releasing the national players on their well-deserved summer break.
A snapshot of the Swiss matches in the European Championship qualifiers
date |
Discount |
place |
June 16th |
Andorra |
Andorra la Vella |
June 19th |
Romania |
Lucerne |
September 9th |
Kosovo |
Pristina |
September 12th |
Andorra |
Sion |
Oct. 12 |
Israel |
Tel Aviv – Jaffa |
Oct. 15 |
Belarus |
St. Gallen |
November 18th |
Kosovo |
Switzerland (to be determined) |
November 21 |
Romania |
Romania (to be determined) |
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