Will Ricardo Rodriguez make his…24th start in a final phase on Sunday?
Under the threat of suspension for the round of 16 of Euro 2024, the Zurich resident could see this unique series come to an end.
‘The choice is up to Murat Yakin’, says the man who writes the history of football without seeming to touch it as his character is so reserved. No other player on the Swiss team has played as many matches in the final stages as the Zurich native.
‘I am proud to present such statistics,’ he agrees. There is no secret. The main thing is to always stay fit. I also want to believe that the adventure is perhaps not yet over. »
A career choice to stop
Almost 32 years old – he will celebrate it on August 25 -, he undoubtedly still wants to get on the 2026 World Cup train. At the end of his contract with Torino, he also knows that his international future will be linked to his career choice. that he is about to stop. ‘I’m open to all suggestions,’ he smiles. However, I want my next club to meet certain criteria.’ Stay in Europe or go for a more ‘exotic’ adventure: that is the question.
But today, only this Euro 2024 counts. ‘I want to give everything. Try to make it to the final, he said. Of course, we would have liked to have 6 points after two matches before meeting Germany. But our balance sheet is defending itself. We picked out the points that needed to be taken. It was very good against Hungary. Against the Scots, I must admit that we were pushed around.’
‘Big enough to handle it alone’
On Wednesday in Cologne, Switzerland had to face a new situation with an individual marking on Granit Xhaka. The Germans will undoubtedly do the same to neutralize the captain of the Swiss team. ‘It’s up to us to find the spaces, to multiply the races to make Granit’s task easier,’ he underlines. But I also tell myself that he is big enough to manage on his own…’
We do not forget that the two men have been linked by an unwavering friendship for more than fifteen years. The two 2009 U17 World Champions both started in the A team in 2011, in June at Wembley against England for Xhaka, in October at Swansea against Wales for Rodriguez when he came on time game to compensate for the expulsion of Reto Ziegler. Since that Welsh night, he has not left the team. And apparently, he is far from wanting to walk out the door.
/ATS
