Switzerland captain Xhaka warns of low intensity after 1-1 draw with Australia

Switzerland finished its World Cup 2026 preparation with a 1‑1 friendly draw against Australia in San Diego. Granit Xhaka, the Swiss captain, said the team lacked intensity and must improve, warning that a continuation of the performance could see them exit early from the tournament. He emphasized the need for focus, stating, "We must pull ourselves together, otherwise we will be out after three matches."

Coach Murat Yakin responded that he would discuss the captain's concerns privately and cited factors such as travel, time‑zone adjustment and staggered player arrivals as contributing to the performance. He added that the squad would enter full World Cup mode after a short break and a training session on Tuesday.

Dan Ndoye opened the scoring, assisted by Xhaka, before Australia equalised. Zeki Amdouni started in place of the absent Breel Embolo, marking his first start since recovering from a cruciate ligament injury. The match featured limited spectators and highlighted the final week of tune‑up before Switzerland's opening World Cup match against Qatar on 13 June.