Fabio Capello feels that Italy’s attitude against Switzerland Federico Chiesa must make the difference, but is worried that the Azzurri ‘overthink’ sometimes.
Italy meet Switzerland in a EURO 2024 Round of 16 tie in Berlin today, Saturday, June 29, 2024.
It kicks off at 18:00 CET at the Olympiastadion, the same venue where the Azzurri won the 2006 World Cup in a Final against France.
Luciano Spalletti’s men qualified for the Round of 16 thanks to a late Mattia Zaccagni equaliser against Croatia, while the Swiss comfortably finished behind Germany and could have even won Group A.
“I’ve seen Switzerland play, and I am convinced that underestimating them would be a huge mistake,” Capello wrote in his column for La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“They have all it takes to create trouble for us, starting with their attitude on the pitch. They are a solid, practical, humble, and simple team, and if there’s one thing we’ve understood in this Euro, it’s that those who make simple things obtain results.”
Capello: Chiesa is the key against Switzerland
Capello is quite impressed by their midfield partnership with Granit Xhaka and Bologna‘s Remo Freuler.
“The way they stay on the pitch is the manifesto of the whole team,” noted the ex-coach.
“Always reactive and ready for sacrifice, they help each other and the team.”
But the Italy team will face more threats with “unpredictable” strikers Dan Nodye and Breel Embolo, the “defensive leader” Manuel Akanji, and Inter‘s keeper Yann Sommer, who is always “focused” and has plenty of “personality and experience.”
So, what will the Azzurri need to qualify for the quarter-finals?
“A concrete team able to create goal-scoring opportunities, as we saw for 70 minutes against Albania. At the same time, they must show the desire that emerged after Modric’s goal in Leipzig,” Capello replied.
The ex-England and Russia boss named an Italian player who will have to play a big role this evening: Federico Chiesa.
The Juventus star must “bite the game from the very beginning with his skill sets: dribbling, pace and courage,” said Capello.
“His introduction against Croatia changed the game. This time, he must make a difference by starting. Switzerland’s left flank is the most vulnerable side and Chiesa has everything to confuse Yakin’s team with his one-v-one.”
Capello fears Italy overthink
However, the Azzurri will also need “Team spirit” because “when the national team is united, there are no rivals impossible to beat.”
Capello admitted that Italy sometimes look “too concerned with following the coach’s tactical instructions, so they are not practical because they overthink.” At the same time, the Azzurri have been able to “bring ideas onto the pitch, and be aggressive and brave.”
“Whenever it happens, it’s hard to stop them. Modric and his teammates know something about it,” concluded Capello.
Mister Capello is correct about the players being concerned with the tactics, Spalletti does an awful lot of shouting on the touch line!
Not sure about this constant chop and change Spalletti is employing but let’s hope he finds the right formula tonight!
They do looked way to confused . Spalletti is a great coach but over analyzes too much .