On paper, it seems like a seismic shock. The might of Italy sent packing by Europe’s chocolatiers Switzerland, a first victory over the European Championship holders in 21 years achieved in as comprehensive a success as it gets in knockout tournament football.
In reality, what took to the field in Euro 2024’s opening knockout match in Berlin was not the Azzurri as we know it. There’s still talent in there, but confined to only a handful of players. Let’s remember: if it wasn’t for Mattia Zaccagni’s 98th minute equaliser against Croatia, Italy wouldn’t have even made it out of the group.
Italy’s conquerors in Berlin’s stunning Olympiastadion, however, ensured Zaccagni’s goal only granted a short stay of execution. From start to finish, Murat Yakin’s team controlled the ebb and flow of the encounter – something England have only managed sporadically all tournament.
And in their manager, Switzerland have a weapon to dampen English spirits, buoyed by a supposed “comfortable” route back to Berlin for next week’s final.
Yakin cuts an interesting figure on the touchline. His attire has made him something of an TikTok sensation, with his thick-rimmed glasses similar to Brains from Thunderbirds and slick-back hair contrasting his uber-casual dress sense. Think Mads Mikkelsen, but on a Sunday afternoon watching Netflix on his sofa.
On the pitch, his approach is very much the antithesis of “Mr Handbrake” Gareth Southgate. Coming into the tournament there were calls back home for Yakin, who had a mediocre managerial career before succeeding Swiss coaching legend Vladimir Petkovic in 2021, to be sacked following an underwhelming qualification campaign.
Such calls were ignored, but what they did create was a coach not afraid to roll the dice. While Southgate deliberates long into the night over making one like-for-like swap in his lineup, Yakin has made changes to his forwardline in each of his four games in Germany so far.
Three out of those four encounters saw Yakin deploy a different central striker. Meanwhile, Harry Kane will lead the line for England, even if he is on one leg.
Hungary coach Marco Rossi admitted after his side’s defeat to Switzerland in the group stage that he had been caught out by Yakin shuffling the deck, with Italian supremo Luciano Spalletti similarly having no answers in Berlin.
Yakin’s system is built on six immovable and experienced international footballing forces who provide the soundest of foundations for those rotating options further forward to roam free.
Veteran goalkeeper Yann Sommer – very adept in a penalty shootout – has Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji, Newcastle’s Fabian Schar and the evergreen Ricardo Rodriguez ahead of him. Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler then sit in front to provide that additional protection. Italy did hit the woodwork, Schar almost heading comically into his own net, but otherwise, the super six could not be moved.
Xhaka is the orchestrator extraordinaire. The madcap former Arsenal midfielder made 25-line breaking passes against Italy, more than double that of any other player in the match, while only Toni Kroos has made more such passes in a game at Euro 2024.
His control allowed Freuler the opportunity to venture forward for the opening goal, safe in the knowledge even the brilliance of Nicolo Barella was no match for Xhaka after the mother of all seasons he has had over the other side of Germany.
Yakin knows he is not blessed with superstar talent in attack, hence why he is more willing to mix things up and give his attackers freedom to do as they please. Through the middle he has gone for Xherdan Shaqiri as a false 9 against Scotland, when he scored, Kwadwo Duah as a central option in a match he also scored in and the familiarity of Breel Embolo pulling defenders to one side with his clever runs.
The latter helped hammer the final nail in the coffin of Catenaccio Italian defending in Berlin. Yakin has taken more risks than most this summer, but so far in Germany, he can do no wrong.
“We’ll be able to watch tomorrow’s game live and something will come up in terms of the game plan,” Yakin said. “Everyone accepts their role in the team.
“We’ve shown we can control a game. If it’s England, one step at a time but we’ll have a chance against England.
The scenes of celebration on the final whistle all centred around a coach who is clearly popular with his players. With no superstar in the ranks, there is no preferential treatment afforded to anyone and it shows.
Quite what he has up his sleeve for a potential England quarter-final only Yakin knows. But expect something different to give a vibrant, together group every chance of another scalp.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/d07kIwM
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