Of course, Italy were disappointing at times. But at the end of the day, there is one indisputable fact: on Saturday in Berlin, Switzerland put in one of the most accomplished performances in their history.
This content was published on
Swiss coach Murat Yakin’s side defeated defending champions Italy 2-0 in the last-16 of the European Football Championship, fully justifying their status as the tournament’s “secret” favourites. “The story isn’t over yet,” says the coach, who believes that the best is yet to come.
Do you want to read our weekly top stories? Subscribe here.
Led by two world-class players, namely Manuel Akanji and team captain Granit Xhaka, Switzerland have shown an unfailing team spirit and solidarity since the start of the tournament.
“Everyone has accepted their role,” says Yakin. There are the key players like Yann Sommer, Ricardo Rodriguez, Fabian Schär and Remo Freuler behind the two mainstays, a luxury joker like Xherdan Shaqiri and others who, like the rabbit out of the magician’s hat, can help the team win. These include Kwadwo Duah and Michel Aebischer against Hungary, Fabian Rieder against Germany and Ruben Vargas against Italy.
A goal like a symbol
With seven goals since the start of the tournament from seven different strikers, Switzerland’s collective strength is remarkable. On Saturday, the magnificent opening goal came at the end of a sequence of 31 passes. It was a symbolic goal. Switzerland may never have an individual who can make all the difference, a Kylian Mbappé, a Jude Bellingham or a Jamal Musiala, but they can, under the guidance of the extraordinary Xhaka, create dream moves for a polished style of football that can also pay off.
More
More
Euro 2024: Shaqiri scores stunning goal in Switzerland’s 1-1 draw with Scotland
This content was published on
Xherdan Shaqiri scored a stunning goal in a 1-1 draw with Scotland at Euro 2024.
After an autumn that was as bleak as an endless winter, Yakin and Xhaka made peace with each other, with a result that was undoubtedly beyond all their expectations. The coach has understood the need to play with a three-man defence, an option he so strongly rejected in 2022. As for the captain, he has realised that Yakin could be the right man for the job, despite all their differences. He also knows that Yakin, much more than his predecessor, could be capable of uniting an entire country behind its national team once again.
A rich man’s problem
The next match is scheduled for next Saturday in Düsseldorf for the quarter-finals.
More
More
Switzerland to host Women’s Euro 2025
This content was published on
The Alpine Nation has beaten out three rival bids to become the next host of the quadrennial football championship.
Eliminated three years ago by Spain at this stage of the competition in a match they lost on penalties without the suspended Xhaka, Switzerland now face a problem of the rich. With Silvan Wdimer back from suspension, Yakin is faced with an agonising choice. If he really wants to line up the man from Aargau on the right flank, who should come out of the starting 11? Vargas, the man of the match against Italy with his goal and his assist, Rieder, so precious in the recovery and so inspired with his left foot or Dan Ndoye, the man who can play everywhere?
Translated from French by DeepL/gw
This news story has been written and carefully fact-checked by an external editorial team. At SWI swissinfo.ch we select the most relevant news for an international audience and use automatic translation tools such as DeepL to translate it into English. Providing you with automatically translated news gives us the time to write more in-depth articles.
If you want to know more about how we work, have a look here. If you want to learn more about how we use technology, click here. To offer feedback on this news story, please write to english@swissinfo.ch.
More
Norway holds Swiss investments worth over CHF35 billion
This content was published on
The Norwegian sovereign wealth fund holds investments in Switzerland worth CHF 35.5 billion ($39 billion), says Norges Bank CEO Nicolai Tangen.
Flooding of Rhone River causes severe road and rail traffic disruptions
This content was published on
Due to flooding in canton Valais, southern Switzerland, the A9 motorway between Sierre and Sion is closed. Traffic was also severely disrupted on the Simplon railway line.
Switzerland must urgently improve electricity distribution, says new sector boss
This content was published on
Switzerland needs to develop its electricity transmission and distribution network, says the new president of the Association of Swiss Electricity Companies, Martin Schwab.