The European Championship enters the next phase with the round of 16, with Switzerland facing current title holders Italy. On the day before the clash in Berlin, coach Murat Yakin assesses the starting position.
28.06.2024, 21:21
28.06.2024, 21:44
SDA
No time? blue News summarizes for you
- At the press conference before the match against Italy, Murat Yakin leaves it open as to who will replace the suspended Silvan Widmer.
- Italy coach Luciano Spalletti is pleased that there is no longer any need to calculate: "It's all about winning or losing."
- Spalletti has great respect for the national team: "The Swiss bring a lot of quality to the pitch, we can't afford to make any mistakes."
It has been a long preparation, said Yakin at the press conference. The Swiss played their final group game on Sunday, and the day after the round of 16 opponents were announced. "We have our plan and are going into the game with confidence."
The big question is who will be deployed at right-back on Saturday in place of the suspended Silvan Widmer. After initially putting Stuttgart international Leonidas Stergiou in position, Yakin has now rowed back a little and mentioned a second option that has been rehearsed. The coach left it open as to which player he would use. It is possible that Yakin will rely on more experience with Steven Zuber, who is a good ten years older.
Of course, Yakin was also asked about a possible penalty shoot-out. This was practised in training and everyone was allowed to have a go. "We've also made our notes in this area. But I hope that the game will be decided before then."
Italy coach Luciano Spalletti praises the Swiss
The Italians were also confident on the evening before the round of 16: "Many people wrote us off after the game against Spain (0:1), but we fought back and got through this difficult group," said coach Luciano Spalletti. He is now looking forward to the fact that there is no longer any need to calculate. "It's all about winning or losing."
The 65-year-old coach warned against a Swiss national team that had shown very good positional play against Germany and played very physically. "The Swiss bring a lot of quality to the pitch, we can't afford to make any mistakes."
Unlike Yakin, the Italian coach has already given an insight into his line-up. Gianluca Mancini will replace the suspended Riccardo Calafiori in defense. A replacement is also needed for left-back Federico Dimarco, who is injured. However, Alessandro Bastoni, who has been ill recently, is on the right track.
The round of 16 will take place on Saturday (18:00) in Berlin's Olympiastadion. A venue that has great significance for the Italians: in 2006 they won the world championship title in this stadium.
The possible line-ups
Switzerland - Italy
Saturday, 18.00 hrs. - Berlin. - SR Marciniak (POL).
Switzerland: 1 Sommer; 22 Schär, 5 Akanji, 13 Rodriguez; 2 Stergiou, 8 Freuler, 10 Xhaka, 20 Aebischer; 19 Ndoye, 17 Vargas; 7 Embolo.
Italy: 1 Donnarumma; 17 Mancini, 4 Buongiorno, 23 Bastoni; 2 Di Lorenzo, 8 Jorginho, 18 Barella, 24 Cambiaso; 7 Frattesi, 14 Chiesa; 9 Scamacca.
Remarks: Switzerland without Widmer (suspended). Italy without Calafiori (suspended) and Dimarco (injured).
