Euro 2024 starts this Friday. Switzerland will enter the fray on Saturday against Hungary. We take stock with former assistant coach Michel Pont.
It is of course Germany, the host country, which will kick off the festivities by facing Scotland on Friday evening. As for Switzerland, in the same group as its German-speaking neighbor, it will play its first match on Saturday at 3 p.m. against Hungary.
And all eyes will be on this Nati who we are still struggling to understand. After a slump last fall, performance in 2024 was rather good. During preparation for the Euro in recent weeks, Murat Yakin’s men notably beat Estonia 4-0 and drew 1-1 against Austria. With the draw against Denmark and the victory against Ireland earlier in the year, Switzerland is therefore undefeated in 2024.
For Michel Pont, former assistant coach of the Swiss team, the ball is in the players’ court to achieve a good performance during this Euro.
As we have said, on paper, the statistics are rather positive. “Estonia were taken very seriously. It’s never easy to win 4-0. We’re not Brazil or Argentina and if we don’t give our all, we’ll struggle against n “no matter any opponent, analyzes Michel Pont And with that in mind, I think the match was excellent.”
The match against Austria still created some slight doubts. But nothing to alarm the Genevan. “Yes, it wasn’t flamboyant, there were a lot of changes. The first half was very good in my opinion.” On the other hand, there is one point which worries the ex-technician.
Breel Embolo, like Denis Zakaria, was taken on the trip as a “joker”. As a reminder, Embolo suffered a torn cruciate ligament last August. Zakaria injured his hamstring in May.
Murat Yakin’s basic plan was therefore to start with 24 (3 goalkeepers and 21 outfield players) if the two AS Monaco players were able to enter the field from the first match. And to select 26 players if their condition did not allow them to be operational immediately. Murat Yakin finally had to settle for this second option. With the hope, at least for Breel Embolo, that the striker and midfielder will be available during the tournament.
Get over the controversies
At the dawn of this Euro, it is impossible not to think back to the epic of 3 years ago. Remember, June 28, 2021. The Nati eliminated France in the round of 16 thanks to a save by Yann Somme on a penalty from Kylian Mbappé. The commentators were fired up, the streets of Switzerland resonated with the sound of car horns parading, flags fluttering out of the windows.
An adventure that created a lot of excitement. But which also saw the Swiss team have some slumps. Such an exceptional event can of course have an impact on the team according to Michel Pont.
The last few months have indeed been eventful. We particularly remember the criticism of Granit Xhaka’s tactics and training towards his coach. The relationships between the players and Murat Yakin therefore constitute a delicate balancing act. In public opinion too. The specialist press at one point outlined the question of whether or not to retain the coach. So does this Euro 2024 represent the last chance competition for Murat Yakin?
And because in football, and in major events, controversies are never far away, Murat Yakin’s choices for his final list of players have raised questions. Particularly given the number of French-speaking people, like Kevin Mbabu who had already not been selected for the last World Cup in Qatar. The coach, who for example preferred Leonidas Stergiou to the Genevan, justifies these choices for tactical and strategic reasons. But is there a little something “un-romantic” in this team?
Euro 2024 therefore starts this Friday. We can’t help but end with a prediction. “It’s been a Euro and a World Cup that I’ve put a small coin on England because they’ve had a lot of offensive potential for some time, says Michel Pont. So I’m putting a coin on England for a third time , with a final against France.”
Switzerland’s first match on Saturday against Hungary. It will be at 3 p.m.
