And if everything were summed up in one moment: the 42nd minute. Switzerland is happy to be leading, it’s extremely hot and everyone will be happy to go into the locker room with this goal in hand. Everyone? Not Granit Xhaka, the “winner” guarantee of this selection. The captain set off on his own, with a 60-meter sprint, to put pressure on Gianluigi Donnarumma… The others ended up following. That’s what setting an example is all about.
And then there’s also Ruben Vargas and Remo Freuler… The two Swiss scorers of the evening are certainly among the most talked about cases of this formation. The first served the second on the opening score. The Augsburg winger, named man of the match, invented an absolutely masterful 2-0. Beating this goalkeeper on his line, they are not many to have done it in their career. So at a moment like this, in addition! In the end, only one goal from Renato Steffen is missing, for the revenge of the rankless ones to be complete.
There are also these records, which the Helvetii have broken. A national brand, first of all, by Freuler. The No 8 became in Berlin the oldest Swiss scorer in a knockout match at a Euro, at 32 years and 75 days. The previous record? Mario Gavranovic during a certain Euro 2021 (31 years and 216 days), when Switzerland had taken out France and finally brought down its glass ceiling. Chance?
Moreover, his goal, at the end of a collective movement as only this team is capable of during this Euro, followed a sequence of 31 passes. This is quite simply a record at a European Championship for 44 years. I believe the numbers speak for themselves. No need to add a layer. So yes, this Italy – first shot on target in the 73rd… – is very, very limited. Whereas the limit of the Swiss is no longer really known. Enough to trigger an ola at the Olympic Stadium at the hour mark.
Let’s also not forget to bow out to Murat Yakin. The man who could no longer control his group and whose players panicked at the first headwind just a few months ago has become a rock star. He will greet his fans before the match, sure of himself, certain that nothing can happen to him. Crazy, because I don’t remember seeing a coach or a selector who has ever done that. But that’s Murat, you know. A Swiss hero.
And now what? We no longer know how far a team can go, so in control of events. The Berlin sky is the limit. But not on the night of the round of 16, if you see what I mean. Yes, I’m on fire! And then?
