The Nati want to steal the group win from the Germans on Sunday. Sforza would bring on Elvedi for Schär. Embolo is about to make his starting eleven debut. And what influence do the yellow cards actually have?
No time? blue Sport summarizes for you
- So far at this European Championship, national team coach Murat Yakin has surprised even the experts with his line-ups.
- The big question now: Which eleven players and which tactics will he use to upset the Germans in Frankfurt on Sunday?
- Will Schär, Embolo and Sierro come in for Schär, Shaqiri and Freuler? The blue Sport experts Ciriaco Sforza and Pascal Zuberbühler tell us what they think.
Ever since the 3:1 win against Hungary in the European Championship opener, it has been clear that national team coach Murat Yakin likes to play poker. Even the greatest football experts would not have expected Kwadwo Duah and Michel Aebischer in the starting line-up.
But Yakin goes "all in" - and scores. Duah joins the list of goalscorers. Aebischer even shone with a goal and an assist. The fact that Yakin's joker Breel Embolo then also scores is a gift.
For the Scotland game, he rotated only superstar Xherdan Shaqiri into the team for Duah. It is fitting that it is Shaqiri of all people who flicks the ball beautifully into the corner. Yakin has played his cards perfectly so far.
So the big question ahead of the group-winning clash against Germany: Which players will Yakin use to beat the hosts on Sunday? It's quite possible that Yakin will shuffle the cards.
Shaqiri out - Embolo in?
There is Xherdan Shaqiri. He came up trumps against Scotland with his dream goal, but it is unlikely that he will start on Sunday. "Against Germany, you have to be fully prepared mentally and be strong in terms of running and fighting. Then the national team has a chance," says Sforza. In other words, the national team will probably have less possession of the ball and will have to do more defensive work - not exactly Shaq's best discipline.
Will Breel Embolo make his comeback against Germany? The strongest Swiss attacker in terms of body and power. A duel between Embolo and the German defensive rock Rüdiger would be attractive. Sforza says: "If Breel is one hundred percent fit, that makes sense. If not, you could also start with Amdouni or Duah and then bring Breel off the bench again." Steven Zuber would be the slightly more defensive option. Milan striker Noah Okafor would also be available to Yakin. So far, however, he has always left him out. Okafor has yet to play a second in the European Championship.
Schär out - Elvedi in?
There is Fabian Schär. The first two games in the three-man defense on the right. But the Newcastle defender did not cut a happy figure in the 1-1 draw against the Scots. Not only with his fatal attempt to clear the ball, which he bent into his own net. Schär is also maltreated after the final whistle. "My nose is broken," he tells blue Sport.
Another reason to leave Schär on the bench against Germany: his replacement on the bench is not just anyone. Gladbach defender Nico Elvedi (27) is a 53-time international and was still a starter at the last finals. "The squad is wide, Schär is injured. Personally, I would start Elvedi," says former international star and blue Sport expert Ciriaco Sforza.
Freuler out - Sierro in?
There would be Remo Freuler. Under Yakin, he has so far played alongside Granit Xhaka in the center. It cannot be ruled out that this will be different against Germany. The thinking behind it: When Xhaka was completely sidelined with man-to-man marking against Scotland, Freuler was unable to step in as a playmaker. The calm and strong Vincent Sierro would not be a bad choice as Xhaka's substitute if the Germans try to shut down the Leverkusen star in the same way. Blue Sport expert Stéphane Henchoz agrees: "Sierro has been substituted twice so far, so Muri has shown that he has confidence in him. Sierro plays great passes and is very calm on the ball."
The more powerful alternative alongside Xhaka would be the quick and combative Denis Zakaria. But he has only just returned after recovering from injury. "I think Zakaria will come off the bench against Germany," says Henchoz, "he needs a few minutes first."
Freuler also has a yellow card. One more caution and he is suspended for the round of 16. Yakin is certainly thinking about this too - especially as qualification is already more or less assured. Silvan Widmer, Ricardo Rodriguez and Vincent Sierro have also already received yellow cards.
