The day after the last European Championship group game against Germany, national team director Pierluigi Tami answers questions from journalists.
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- After qualifying for the round of 16, national team director Pierluigi Tami draws a thoroughly positive conclusion - even if Niclas Füllkrug's header goal washed away half a million euros in bonuses.
- Whether Murat Yakin will still be coach of the Swiss national team after the European Championship, Tami cannot or does not want to answer.
- Tami also comments on various other personnel matters and his own role.
On the day after qualifying for the round of 16, national team director Pierluigi Tami draws a thoroughly positive conclusion. The performance is good, the mood in the team is good and even the dissatisfied players have behaved in an exemplary manner so far, according to Tami.
Anyone hoping that Tami would reveal something about Murat Yakin's future was disappointed. They will sit down together after the European Championship and then it will have to work out for both sides. However, Tami has let it slip between the lines that the SFA is interested in a contract extension.
Yes, not even the loss of half a million euros hurts Tami. If Switzerland had won against Germany, the association would have received a million. But because Niclas Füllkrug scored the 1:1 in the 92nd minute, this amount was halved.
Read the whole press conference below:
Nati director Pierluigi Tami on ...
... bonuses for the SFV
There is one million for every win and half a million for a draw. This is the same for all associations.
Tami does not give much information about the individual bonuses beforehand. It is clear that they are performance-related and that the national team players only receive bonuses if they reach the round of 16, which is now the case.
... the results of the three games
First of all, I'd like to come back to yesterday's game. Of course we get a goal, but there was only joy about achieving the goal and the performance. For me, the way we played against Germany was even more important than the result. I like the character of the team in difficult moments. They were a unit, a team. But also the quality and the courage, we played very courageously and also pressed offensively. That was a very good performance.
Our first goal was to get through the group stage. The two weeks in St.Gallen were already good and now we've been together for almost a month. I can feel the energy. And I paid a compliment last night, it's been a long time since we've been so harmonious.
We weren't satisfied with the qualification. But I think the analysis with Murat and the staff was important. A lot has changed. We're on the right track and yesterday we celebrated with our families, which everyone enjoyed. We have to get back to serious work tomorrow. We play a round of 16 match on Saturday.
... what part does Contini play?
I think he has a big part to play. The roles are clear, Murat is the head coach, Giorgio is his assistant. But he has been coach in recent years and the relationship with Murat works well. He also gives Giorgio a lot of space and gives him clear tasks. For example, analyzing the opposition. He plays his part in the team's progress.
... the performance of Murat Yakin
We are all together. Murat and his staff have done very well. I remember in March, the first team meeting after a difficult qualifying campaign. We said then that we had to improve defensively. And we made progress in every game. I think Murat has a big influence on the results. The whole staff works meticulously. I looked at how they prepared for the game and almost everything worked.
... the expiring contract of Yakin
We have said from both sides that we want to focus on the tournament. I have always said that plan A remains Murat Yakin. But we'll look after the tournament and both sides have to agree.
... Players who don't get a chance
That's always a challenge. With 26 players, there are four or five players who don't get a minute. But they can also play an important role. And maybe you only need one minute. I remember Mehmedi at the last European Championship, he wasn't so happy. And then he scored a penalty against France. If the team works, then you just have to be ready at the right moment. It's normal to be dissatisfied, but you still have to support the other players. All the players have behaved very well so far.
... Okafor, who hasn't played yet
Okafor is not happy, that's clear. But Murat was clear with him, that's the most important thing. He has been given explanations and he has to accept them. But if he gets the chance, he has to take it and show himself in training.
... Akanji, who is taking on more responsibility
I'm very happy with what I see in our back three. We've also often criticized Fabian Schär in the national team, but he's very active. Ricardo Rodriguez is also doing well. Manuel is a machine. When we see him in the duels, his speed, his body, his teammates can also benefit from that.
... the replacement for Silvan Widmer in the round of 16
Only the coach can answer that question. But I think he already has the answer in his head.
... the possible opponents Croatia and Italy
They are two really different teams. The Italians are the European champions, even if they are a completely different team. But in the end, it doesn't matter who comes. Albania would also be a complicated team. But we really have to concentrate on ourselves. The staff will take a close look at our opponents and I'm sure we'll put in a very good performance. I can feel that we are ready. If our opponents want to progress, they'll have to play a great game.
... Granit Xhaka
Granit has a big influence on the team. He's very happy, positive. Not just in his language, but also in his body language. He's a leader, just like Akanji and others who you see a little less.
... Yann Sommer
We are very happy with his performance. But it's not my job to judge him. The ball bounces in front of him and it wasn't that easy on this pitch. But he was present in the second half and came out safely. I think for Yann, as for the other players, they all played very well.
... satisfaction with Deutsche Bahn?
It's good enough. There are always delays, which I'm not used to in Switzerland. But it's not that bad and the transfers have always gone well.
... the good atmosphere
The mood has been very good since May 27. I think it's also a completely different hotel complex. Yesterday we were in a hotel with a climate like in Qatar, which we're no longer used to. It's fantastic here (at the team camp). We are also very close to the players thanks to a reorganization of nutrition, but also medical control. I can't say that nothing is happening anymore, but we are very, very active. Everything is going well at the moment because everyone is healthy. And the results are certainly helping to keep spirits high.
... the big pressure
I really don't feel any pressure. I know what my job is. It was important for me to find the right path with Murat. We spoke intensively in December and he has a plan. For me, this is also a result of the various discussions he had. I am convinced that we have to continue like this.
