Switzerland lost just one game on their route to qualifying for Euro 2024, but expectations among fans feel low after a barren run of results of late.
Despite wins against Estonia and Ireland, as well as a draw against Denmark, in their last three games, the three before those saw them lose against Romania as well as drawing against Kosovo, Israel and Belarus – not a run to be proud of.
This mixed form has seen expectations for this summer tempered, and a lot of pressure piled on manager Murat Yakin.
Ahead of what looks to be a difficult tournament for the Swiss Nati to navigate, here is VAVEL’s preview of their upcoming campaign.
Yakin has managed in the Swiss Super League his whole career, barring a 2014-15 stint at Spartak Moscow, before heading back to Switzerland, and he took the national team job in 2021.
The 49-year-old Swiss is taking his side into his second major tournament as manager, following a disappointing 6-1 defeat in the round of 16 to Portugal, which ended their 2022 Qatar World Cup run. However, he is under pressure to keep his job following a run of disappointing results, including draws to Belarus, Israel and Kosovo and a 1-0 loss to Romania.
Yakin’s team have played a 3-4-3 system of late, with the tactic relying on the strength of the two central midfielders (Granit Xhaka and a partner), to ensure success. The system fits the Swiss Nati’s strongest players, in their preferred positions, making it hugely beneficial for them to play this way.
Switzerland had a somewhat disappointing qualifying campaign, finishing second in Group I when many had tipped them to top the group comfortably. Four wins, five draws, and a loss led the Rossocrociati to finish with 17 points, behind Group I winners Romania.
The Swiss Nati did not record a win in their final four qualifying matches, leaving the gap to Israel in third being only two points. Earlier success in their qualifiers meant that Switzerland did enough to book their place in Germany this summer.
A run of three disappointing draws to Belarus, Israel, and Kosovo led to intense pressure on the manager, Yakin. He has been given the Euro 2024 tournament to save his job, and his team has been placed in Group A, alongside hosts Germany, a dark-horse Hungary team, and Scotland, who are in strong form heading into the tournament.
Zeki Amdouni was the Swiss Nati’s top-scorer in qualifying, racking up 6 goals in the 10 qualifying matches. The Burnley striker will be the main man up front this summer, and there will be immense pressure on the young striker’s shoulders to continue this goalscoring form into the tournament in Germany.
Amdouni scored in a pre-tournament friendly against Estonia and looked in fine form, injecting much-needed energy into the game after coming on at half-time.
Going into the tournament, Denis Zakaria and Breel Embolo are in a race against time to be fit to play a part in the group stage in Germany. The AS Monaco pair picked up injuries late into their league season, and both missed the pre-tournament friendlies as a result. They should both be fit to play in the tournament, so have been included in Yakin’s squad.
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Captain, Leader, Legend – what can Granit Xhaka provide at Euro 2024?
Coming off the back of an incredible season with Bayer Leverkusen, Xhaka has a major job on his hands to ensure his national teams’ success in Germany this summer.
The Swiss captain scored vital goals in Leverkusen’s double-winning season, including the winning goal in the DFB Pokal final, as well as a goal in the 5-0 win against Werder Bremen that clinched the Bundesliga title for Leverkusen. Swiss Nati fans will be hoping to see more of the same from their leader.
As previously mentioned, Yakin’s tactics rely heavily on the performances of the central midfielders, one of which will always be Xhaka, should he be available for selection. The Rossocrociati play a similar system to Leverkusen, so the Swiss number ten should be more than comfortable in his role.
Xhaka will be asked to do a lot of the running for the Swiss team, covering every blade of grass to contribute at both ends of the pitch. This is not dissimilar to roles that Xhaka has played before at Leverkusen and Arsenal.
A natural leader, the 31-year-old will also be tasked with ensuring a young Swiss side keep their heads in tough moments, something that Xhaka has massively improved with personally in recent years. This leadership will prove crucial for Yakin’s team, and he has rewarded Xhaka with the armband as a result.
The Swiss captain is the perfect defensive midfielder, but his attacking contribution must not be understated. His trademark ‘Xhakaboom’ led him to become a fan favourite in his first season with Leverkusen, as he scored three goals from outside the box, all proving crucial in saving the German side’s unbeaten record in the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal.
Xhaka has produced quality on the big stage for Switzerland for years now, being their best player at Euro 2020, as the Swiss Nati recorded a quarter-final finish, their best-ever result at a major tournament. Swiss fans will be hoping for much of the same from their captain, and ‘Mr Consistent’ should be able to live up to this expectation at this summer’s tournament.
Formation: 3-4-3
Sommer; Elvedi, Akanji, Schar; Mbabu, Xhaka, Freuler, Ndoye; Shaqiri, Amdouni, Okafor (or Embolo)
Switzerland have been placed in Group A with the hosts, Germany, Hungary and Scotland. Many have tipped Switzerland to get through, either in second or as one of the best third-placed teams.
Game 1: Hungary v Switzerland; Saturday 15 June; 14:00 BST; ITV1
Game 2: Scotland v Switzerland; Wednesday 19 June; 20:00 BST; BBC One
Game 3: Switzerland v Germany; Sunday 23 June; 20:00 BST; BBC One
Switzerland have a fairly tough run if they make it out of the group, which they should, but they may not make it much further than that.
However, Switzerland are many people’s dark horses for the tournament and I can see them having a deep run. A semi-final exit for the Swiss Nati feels likely, which will be enough to keep Yakin in the job.
If Granit Xhaka plays to the level everybody has seen of him, and he could comfortably be in the running for the Player of The Tournament award if the Swiss make a deep run, as predicted.
Zeki Amdouni will need to be on form for The Rossocrociati to have any hope of a strong showing in Germany this summer. If his qualifying form is anything to go off, then the Burnley man could well be in the running for the tournament’s Golden Boot award if this tournament goes well for the Swiss National Team.