Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin knew his workforce would “destroy” Italy within the final 16 at Euro 2024 when he noticed the Azzurri had made a change of formation.
Switzerland are into the European Championship quarter-finals for simply the second time after beating the defending champions 2-0 in Berlin, having additionally reached the final eight by claiming the scalp of France at Euro 2020.
Yakin’s workforce have been good worth for his or her victory, main Italy for pictures (13 to 11), pictures on the right track (4 to at least one), anticipated targets (1.3 to 0.78 xG) and touches within the penalty space (24 to 12).
Azzurri boss Luciano Spalletti made a number of modifications to his beginning lineup for the match, reverting to his traditional 4-3-3 form after using a 3-5-2 versus Croatia of their final group sport.
After that match – a 1-1 draw which noticed Italy sneak via Group B in second place – Spalletti hit out at experiences that his gamers had pressured the change of system.
Yakin believes Italy’s revised setup performed into the arms of his workforce on Saturday, telling SRF: “It’s unbelievable what’s occurring right here. We’ve loved ourselves in each stadium. Huge reward to the followers.
“I knew if the Italians got here with a again 4, we’d destroy them. Then we’d allow them to run.
“Dan [Ndoye] closed down the midfield. His man, [Stephan] El Shaarawy, hardly noticed the ball.”
Switzerland will now face both England or Slovakia within the final eight subsequent Saturday, as they bid to succeed in the semi-finals of a serious event for the very first time.
Yakin has no choice concerning his workforce’s subsequent opponent, saying: “You’d must ask the followers if they like England or Slovakia.
“We received an essential sport, and that’s essential. As for what occurs tomorrow, and what comes after that, we’ll put together nicely once more for our subsequent opponents.”
England face Slovakia of their last-16 tie on Sunday, with the Three Lions seeking to attain the final eight at back-to-back editions of the Euros for the primary time ever.
