Switzerland relocate training camp to Belek after St. Gallen hotels booked
Coach Murat Yakin says Belek’s facilities and alternative options convinced Switzerland to prepare in Turkey after St. Gallen accommodation was unavailable.
Switzerland's national team arrived in Belek, Turkey, for a preparatory camp ahead of their Nations League opener against North Macedonia — a move prompted by fully booked hotels in the Swiss alternative of St. Gallen.
Coach Murat Yakin praised the set-up in Belek, noting the quality of the training environment and the options available around the resort. The Swiss delegation has access to two training pitches and are staying in what Yakin described as a high-class hotel.
"The quality of infrastructure is very important. The facilities are top-class, and if something is not right, there are 100 other options. Turkey has everything we could wish for," Yakin said.
Why Belek, not St. Gallen
Yakin explained that the Football Association had considered keeping the camp in Switzerland — specifically in St. Gallen — but local accommodation was unavailable.
"But this time, all hotels in the region were fully booked because of fairs," Yakin said, which led the coach to base his squad in Turkey ahead of the match in Skopje.
For the record, the match between North Macedonia and Switzerland, from the 1st round in League B, group 1, is scheduled for 26.09.2006 at the National Arena "Todor Proeski" in Skopje with kick-off at 20:45. The group also includes Slovenia and Scotland.
Photo: press material from the event
