Switzerland went up with a 0-0 that stopped for seven minutes over a VAR radio fault

Switzerland drew 0-0 with Slovenia in Maribor on Friday and secured first place in Nations League B Group 1, and with it promotion back to League A. The point came in a match that was stopped for about seven minutes early on, when the radio link between the referee and VAR failed.

According to the Swiss Football Association, Murat Yakin's team had 72% possession, 13 shots to Slovenia's eight, four on target to two, and 780 passes to 306. None of it produced a goal. The best chance came in the 80th minute, when substitute Zeki Amdouni set up Dan Ndoye, who was left free but miscued.

It was the same result as 13 months earlier, when Switzerland drew 0-0 with Slovenia in Ljubljana in World Cup qualifying. A win would have been a fifth straight competitive victory, something Switzerland had not managed under Yakin. Friday was his 70th game in charge.

"We needed more movement up front today," Remo Freuler told SRF. "Offensively, today wasn't our best day." Yakin called it "a mature performance," adding that Slovenia "didn't allow us any chances."

Switzerland played without captain Granit Xhaka and Aston Villa midfielder Johan Manzambi, both injured, and Yakin made five changes from the 3-0 win over North Macedonia in October, Swiss daily NZZ reported. Ruben Vargas, who had joined camp late with a stomach illness, was among those left out.

The defense held anyway. Switzerland have conceded one goal in five group games, with 11 scored, and their 13 points can't be caught. Young fullbacks Zachary Athekame and Sascha Britschgi drew praise from Le Temps, and Samuel Ballet made his international debut.

Switzerland dropped out of League A in 2024 and are back at the first attempt. Finishing top also gives them a playoff safety net in qualifying for the next European Championship.

That leaves Monday's game against Scotland in St. Gallen with nothing at stake for the Swiss. Ricardo Rodriguez came off the bench late on Friday for his 149th cap, which sets up his 150th in front of a sold-out home crowd.

For Scotland, the same game is everything: they need a win and a favor from North Macedonia against Slovenia. Switzerland can rotate. Scotland can't afford to.