Of course, Italy was sometimes dismal. But in the end, there is one irrevocable observation: on Saturday in Berlin, Switzerland delivered one of the most accomplished performances in its history.
Of course, Italy was sometimes desolate. But in the end, there is one irrevocable observation: on Saturday in Berlin, Switzerland delivered one of the most accomplished performances in its history.
Victorious 2-0 over defending champion Italy in the last 16 of the Euro, Murat Yakin’s team fully justified its status as the tournament’s “secret” favourite.The story is not over yet“, rightly underlines the coach who wants to believe that the best is yet to come.
Led by two world-class players, we are talking about Manuel Akanji and Granit Xhaka, Switzerland has demonstrated unfailing esprit de corps and solidarity since the start of the tournament. “Everyone accepted their role“, notes Murat Yakin. There are the key players like Yann Sommer, Ricardo Rodriguez, Fabian Schär and Remo Freuler behind the two leaders, a luxury joker like Xherdan Shaqiri and the others who can, like the rabbit out of the magician’s hat, make the team win. We think of Kwadwo Duah and Michel Aebischer against Hungary, Fabian Rieder against Germany and Ruben Vargas against Italy.
A goal as a symbol
Author of seven goals since the start of the tournament by seven different scorers, Switzerland exudes remarkable collective strength. On Saturday, the magnificent opening score came after a sequence of 31 passes. This goal has symbolic value. Switzerland will perhaps never have an individual who can make all the difference, a Kylian Mbappé, a Jude Bellingham or a Jamal Musiala, but it can, under the leadership of Granit Xhaka, draw dream actions for polished football who can also pay.
After an autumn which was as sad as an endless winter, Murat Yakin and Granit Xhaka made peace with the brave for a result undoubtedly beyond all their hopes. Everyone took a step towards the other. The coach understood the need to play with a three-way defense, an option that he rejected so forcefully in 2022. As for the captain, he understood that Murat Yakin could be, despite all their dissensions, the man of the situation. He also knows that Murat Yakin, much more than his predecessor, could be capable of uniting an entire country behind his national team again. The communion that we are experiencing in Germany between the coach, the players and their fans is unique. Murat Yakin’s pre-match half-lap of honor alone is a delight that we will never tire of.
A rich man’s problem
The next one is scheduled for Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in Düsseldorf for the quarter-final. Eliminated three years ago by Spain at this stage of the competition in a match lost on penalties that they had played without the suspended Granit Xhaka, Switzerland is now faced with a problem of… rich. With the return from suspension of Silvan Wdimer, Murat Yakin will be faced with a heartbreaking choice. If he really wants to line up the Aargau player on the right flank, who should come out of the eleven? Vargas, the man of the match against Italy with his goal and his assist, Rieder, so valuable in recovery and so inspired with his left foot or Dan Ndoye, the man who can play everywhere? Or someone else?
>> Also read: “Switzerland’s control was incredible. Tactically, their performance was a model of its kind”
ats/adav
