Denis Zakaria and his teammates showed that they were capable of causing problems for Italy, such as on November 12, 2021 in Rome during qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
Claudio Thoma/Freshfocus
Everything took place in 2021. The misfortune, the crazy happiness, the incredible surprise afterwards. A trajectory that reflects the current Swiss generation, which is closely linked to the Italian team through three matches that speak volumes. It is not useless to revisit these three meetings of 2021 because they are full of lessons. On the eve of a round of 16 which will seal the reunion between Italians and Swiss, Saturday evening in Berlin, we must have these memories in mind.
The slap of the Euro
On June 16, 2021, the Swiss team left the field with their heads down after a heavy setback against Italy, future European champion.
Freshfocus
On June 16, Switzerland played their second match of the Euro in Rome against Italy, after a sluggish draw against Wales. It was a collective fiasco. Only Xhaka struggled and that was of course not enough. The football lesson was a 3-0 slap, Petkovic’s gang was as transparent as ever, they no longer had any style or confidence: nothingness.
In a grotesque burst, some misguided souls will point out Xhaka or Akanji’s haircut (they had dyed their hair blond) to express an arrogance that did not exist, unless they were combing far-fetched justifications. However, there was only a team that had had a bad game and paid cash for it.
What came out of this shipwreck? A Switzerland which then beats Turkey, before eliminating France in the round of 16 and only losing on penalties to Spain in the quarter-final. In other words: an achievement and an immense mark of character. After the slap, head held high and the assurance of having to become one to exist.
Basel’s miraculous draw
Yann Sommer, here in front of Leonardo Bonucci, shone in the Swiss goals in Basel.
Freshfocus
On September 5, 2021, Switzerland returns to Italy. She launches the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup against the Nazionale in Basel. This is the first official match with Murat Yakin on the bench (after a friendly against Greece). Switzerland plays with four defenders, the will of the new coach. It will be 0-0.
It is at the cost of an ultra-defensive organization that the miracle, since it is one, occurs. It must be said that several starters are missing, like Xhaka (Covid) or Shaqiri (injured). Basically, that day, it was Seferovic in front and everyone else behind. Immobile and Insigne miss mountains, Jorginho misses a penalty, Sommer is a hero.
What stands out from this 0-0? A Switzerland which dared nothing, which did not play, which pocketed a miraculous point. Yakin even dared to call Fabian Frei (who was not on duty) to start him. Not enough to build a future in all cases.
Rome’s promising 1-1
The Nati had opened the scoring in Rome. They left with a point that was enough for their happiness.
Freshfocus
On November 12, 2021, Switzerland returns to Rome and the Italian team. It’s the return match of the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup. With courage, Switzerland dares to take its chance. It is organized to hinder the Transalpines and also to quickly project a break. For this, Yakin started Noah Okafor. He will be at the origin of Widmer’s goal. It will be 1-1, which will allow Switzerland to finally move ahead of Italy in this group.
Xhaka, injured this time, is still not there. But the first period is very good. Switzerland opened the scoring (11th), Italy equalized (36th). Things then get complicated, until Italy gets a penalty. As in Basel, Jorginho comes forward. As in Basel, he misses. New miracle. In these two matches, Switzerland is varnished.
What comes out of this 1-1? A first period which sees an ambitious Switzerland and rewarded for it. An improvement, therefore.
Rigor and initiative are required
The non-match of Euro 2021 against Italy is not even to be taken into account: Switzerland only knows that if 90% of its players get through, there is a spanking at the finish. It already knew it and it still applies for the 8th final on Saturday evening, even against this Squadra Azzurra which no longer has anything to do with the future European champions of the time.
Basel’s 0-0 is also uninteresting. Switzerland did not exist in this meeting, organized only to block Italy. What she didn’t even manage to do: Insigne, Immobile and Berardi will have missed mountains, when it wasn’t Yann Sommer who moved them. Nothing relevant to draw up an idea for Saturday evening.
The 1-1 of Rome, on the other hand, says things. On the possibilities that are opening up with a proactive Switzerland. Combined with the defensive organization observed against Germany, coupled with collective intensity, these perspectives show a path to follow.
Since the return this year to 3-4-3 (the style of the team leaders), there is a system that is modeled around hybrid positions (the style of Yakin). And a well-organized Switzerland that dares to project itself.
The pattern is clear. Italy in 2024 is a far cry from what it was in 2021, but Switzerland will need constant discipline on Saturday night in Berlin. We must not forget that. Today’s Italy is not a dream, but it does dream, and it is never as strong as in these moments, when it is condemned to all the pillorying, before finding its colours again.
