Euro 2024: Switzerland, heroic, eliminates Italy in the round of 16

The Swiss team is in the quarter-finals of the Euro! She beat Italy (2-0) and, better, by teaching them a lesson. As improbable as they may seem, these three statements are very real. Grandiose on Saturday in Berlin, the Nati offered one of the greatest matches in its history. Given the context and manner. His incredible German adventure will continue next Saturday in Düsseldorf.

Three years after its unforgettable victory against France in Bucharest, the national team will return to the quarter-finals of the European Championship. The doubts that surrounded him before the tournament are definitively swept away. Switzerland is always this team with fabulous consistency in major tournaments. But now she can boast of having reached a milestone. 2021 was not an overnight achievement.

Ndoye rather than Stergiou to replace Widmer

The story of the day perhaps begins in the 15th minute, when all of Switzerland found itself holding its breath at the same time. The national team had just entered its round of 16 in a wonderful way, confirming the idea that there was more than one move to play against this tormented Italy. It was there, at the end of the first quarter of an hour, that Granit Xhaka sat down on the ground at mid-court. Was the captain injured? Was the guide going to have to stop there, when everything was still to be written? No. A handful of interminable seconds later, he was back on his two legs. No worrying residual signals? No worrying signals!

In line with their draw against Germany, Switzerland gave the impression of being in control. It was without the ball against the Mannschaft, it was with possession against Italy. With impressive accuracy and energy in recovery. The scenario once again proved Murat Yakin and his choices right. The coach had announced that he would replace Silvan Widmer (suspended) with Leonidas Stergiou just a few minutes after the duel against Germany. Nice bluff. Dan Ndoye was “simply” moved back a notch. This also meant trusting Ruben Vargas. Intuition would pay off. But first, Remo Freuler got there.

Vargas, passer then scorer

In the tunnel which leads onto the pitch of the Olympic Stadium, the Bologna half appeared relaxed in front of the lights of the cameras. He needed it, some relaxation, when inventing his sequence of the 37th. Control in the race far from obvious, a perfectly struck volley from point blank range: Switzerland had found a way to beat Gianluigi Donnarumma. Faced with this Squadra Azzurra, it amounts to having done the hardest part.

And then there was Ruben Vargas’ intuition. The one to start him, and the one that crossed his mind and his right foot a few seconds after returning from the break. The Augsburg winger opened his foot, curled a brilliant shot under the crossbar: Switzerland led 2-0 (46th). And since that counts too, it was supported by the loudest fans in the stands.

England or Slovakia in the quarter-finals

Was a ticket for a Euro quarter-final really going to fall “so easily” into the pocket of the Swiss, this team whose ability to escape from its group before the competition was even doubted? This may sound crazy, but the answer is yes. It just took a bit of luck with what could have become the twist of fate of the match. This bell-shaped header from Fabian Schär which caught Yann Sommer on the wrong foot, but which ended up on the post (52nd). The way was wide open.

Next up, then, will be England or Slovakia, in a quarter-final that Switzerland will have to respect, but which it will certainly not have to fear. Until then, it has a week to prepare for it. And to savour, already a little, the incredible journey it has made.