Nati-Ticker "Simply respect and pride for this team" ++ Nati reception on Sunday in Zurich

The Swiss national team dramatically lost the European Championship quarter-final against England on penalties. Here's everything you need to know about the match of the year.

• Liveticker

  New posts
• Liveticker closed
The analysis by blue Sport editor-in-chief Andreas Böni

"A very bitter evening," Böni sums up the Swiss quarter-final exit against England and adds: "Manuel Akanji, of all people, fails in the end. The man who played an incredible tournament and, along with Granit Xhaka, was the best player in this team." It hurts a lot, but if you let it sink in a little, you have to say: "Respect and pride."

The team showed an idea of the game and team unity and was more than able to keep up against this 1.5 billion England team. The team will pick itself up, but there are a few groundbreaking decisions to be made: "Some players are over 30, so you have to think about whether you want to continue with this squad until the 2026 World Cup?"

Of course, national team coach Murat Yakin, whose contract is coming to an end, is also on the agenda: "After seeing how this team lives, how it is put together, how it develops, you can only hope that Murat Yakin will extend his contract."

The emotions at the public viewing

Swiss national team fans experience a rollercoaster of emotions at the public viewing in Zurich's Frau Gerolds Garten - without a happy ending.

National team at Zurich main station on Sunday

The Swiss national team returns to Switzerland on Sunday after a bitter European Championship exit in a penalty shoot-out against England and will be officially welcomed near Zurich's main railway station.

A public reception will be held on Europaplatz, on the south side of Zurich's main railway station, from around 5 p.m., the Swiss Football Association announced after the 3:5 penalty shoot-out loss to England.

Rainer Maria Salzgeber will host the event. Players and staff will appear on stage after the arrival of the team buses.

The Nati fans' cabin speech: "Manuel, put Kane in your trouser bag"

The Nati fans in Düsseldorf are really fired up ahead of the quarter-final clash against England. At blue Sport, they inspire coach Murat Yakin for his dressing room speech before the match of the year. Hopp Schwiiz!

Euphoria among Nati fans in Zurich: "We'll make it to the semi-finals!"

The Swiss national team fans are very confident ahead of the quarter-final clash against England. blue News asks before kick-off at the public viewing in Zurich's Gerolds Garten. The answers are unanimous: "Switzerland will win!"

Swiss fans create a great atmosphere in Düsseldorf

A sea of red flows towards the stadium in Düsseldorf. The Nati fans are getting into the spirit.

Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an

Ein Beitrag geteilt von blue Sport (@bluesport.ch)

One of the Nati is missing: presenter Rainer Maria Salzgeber

Anyone watching the quarter-final hammering against England on SRF today might be surprised: Where is Rainer Maria Salzgeber? The national team presenter has left the team on site and returned to Switzerland for another show. Here you can find all the information about Salzgeber's departure.

"Huge opportunity to experience Swiss football history"

blue Sport presenter Manu Rothmund reports from Düsseldorf, where the national team fans have gathered. Let the fan march begin.

Uefa issues weather warning for Düsseldorf

This is not good news for the Swiss national team fans in Düsseldorf. Uefa has issued a weather warning: "Heavy rain and wind are forecast for this afternoon in the Düsseldorf Arena. Don't forget your poncho!"

England fans come to blows with Germany fans

In Düsseldorf's old town, England fans clash with supporters of the German national team - and the sparks fly. Let's hope there are no major riots.

+++ Aktuell +++
📍Düsseldorf, Altstadt
Auseinandersetzung zwischen deutschen und englischen Fans.
📹@footbalIfights #düsseldorf #euro2004 #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/DXIG5K9E4Y

— BlaulichtRheinlandNRW (@nrw_blaulicht) July 6, 2024

King Roger is better than King Charles

The one or other Englishman is sure to be fuming with rage.

Peter Knäbel raves about the Nati defense

Football expert Peter Knäbel has already analyzed the English for blue Sport. He praises Jude Bellingham and says: "As long as Bellingham is still twitching, England is not dead". And he criticizes the static system of play: "England play in a solid 4:2:3:1 system, so far without any tactical surprises."

The former SFA technical director, on the other hand, raves about Switzerland's performances so far. He is particularly impressed by our defense. He already knew Rodriguez when he and Xhaka became U17 world champions in 2009. Knäbel is still impressed by Rodriguez today. "Rici is like a Swiss army knife. He has a solution for everything with the ball at his feet," says Knäbel. He is calm and cool.

However, this also applies to Akanji and Schär. "I've never seen a team that plays as calm and collected at the back as these three." He is particularly optimistic that the Nati have not yet had to play a major trump card. "We still have a phenomenal Yann Sommer in goal, we haven't even needed him yet," he told blue Sport.

For the perfect small talk

There's still time before the national team go all out. You can also chat about the excitement of the previous evening. The video serves as an inspiration.

Swiss fan with 70-year-old lucky shirt in the stadium

Swiss fan Markus Voegelin (76) is in the Düsseldorf stadium today with a 70-year-old lucky shirt. "My father wore it when I went to the 1954 World Cup in Wankdorf with him as a six-year-old," he says. Now he has unpacked it again. After years in mothballs, he wore it again for the first time in the test match against Austria.

"Since then, we haven't lost against Austria, Hungary, Scotland, Germany and Italy. That's a good omen for today," says the Basel native. In 1954, the Germans experienced the "Miracle of Bern". Today, 70 years later, Voegelin and the whole of Switzerland are hoping for the "Miracle of Düsseldorf" and a Swiss victory in the quarter-final clash against England. The lucky shirt should help.

Hakan Yakin on the future of his brother Murat

"I don't know if I'd want to be in Murat's place in the fall when the critics come back again after the first setback. Sometimes it's smart to leave at the peak," says Hakan Yakin when asked about the future of his brother Murat. However, Hakan also emphasizes that this is his own opinion and not that of national team coach Murat. Read the whole story here.

"Southgate has a huge headache because of Murat Yakin"

Ramon Vega lived and played in England for a long time. The ex-National Team defender analyzes Switzerland's quarter-final clash against the Three Lions for blue Sport.

Viola Amherd keeps her fingers crossed for the Nati

Ich wünsche dem Schweizer Fussballnationalteam der Männer @nati_sfv_asf am morgigen Spiel gegen England viel Erfolg. Mit der bisher gezeigten Teamleistung, Leidenschaft und Qualität und ein wenig Wettkampfglück ist alles möglich. Hopp Schwiiz! 🇨🇭⚽️#EURO2024 #ENGSUI pic.twitter.com/EZfl0vuknw

— Viola Amherd (@Violapamherd) July 5, 2024

That's encouraging: Switzerland beat England 5:2 in the direct comparison

England against Switzerland is also Yakin against Southgate, Xhaka against Rice and Sommer against Pickford. The comparison of the key positions and the overall structure confirms the conclusion: Switzerland have nothing to hide.

Is Shaqiri better than Bellingham? And what about Akanji and Harry Kane? Watch the duel here.

"Why not make the game against the great England?"

Nati coach Murat Yakin and defender Fabian Schär are confident the day before the big clash. At the press conference in Düsseldorf on Friday, the two spoke of wanting to focus on their own strengths. "Why not make the game against the big England?" Yakin asks the group confidently.

You can find all the statements from Yakin and Schär's press conference here.

Where a free night awaits - and where not

If Switzerland wins its quarter-final match on Saturday, Zurich, Basel and other cities will grant a free night. In Bern, on the other hand, this is only possible if the Swiss win the semi-final.

In Zurich and Winterthur, a free night applies on Sunday night for indoor areas of restaurants, not for outdoor areas. In the event of a Swiss victory, pub owners can keep their indoor areas open for as long as they wish. The normal opening hours apply to outdoor areas.

The city of Schlieren ZH is also granting a free night in the "Pischte 52" public viewing zone.

Zubi is already looking forward to the semi-final

Brave, brave! Former national team goalie Pascal Zuberbühler is already looking forward to the semi-final against Turkey. May he be right, although we would of course also play the Netherlands ...

Nati stars have to take a saliva test every morning

In the football talk show "Heimspiel bei der Nati" on blue Sport, Nati director Pierluigi Tami reveals why the Nati stars have to go for a saliva test every morning.

Saliva test every morningWhy the kebab was a very special reward for the Nati stars

"It's great that we can discuss something like this"

Who will start for Switzerland against England? Zubi is already happy about the fact that there are several options. Read more here.

Fringer: "The best national team I've ever seen"

After the 2-0 win against Italy in the round of 16 of the European Championship, former national team coach Rolf Fringer is delighted with the Swiss team's performance.

Tami: "Fortunately, money doesn't score goals"

Nati boss Pierluigi Tami has great respect for the English. But he is not afraid of the billion-dollar team, as he explains in the "Home game with the Nati". Read more here.

Timm Klose: "The Nati have the pride and a bit of arrogance to go far"

Former international Timm Klose believes Switzerland can also overcome the England hurdle. But listen for yourself ...

Zubi on England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford

"If England lose, Southgate will be shredded"

Zubi believes Switzerland can win against England. What that would mean for England coach Gareth Southgate, that's pretty intense.

Klose: "England need a change of system"

Timm Klose criticizes England for not deploying players in the right place. A damning verdict for the coach.

Böni: "Simply brilliant, the team knows no boundaries"

Andreas Böni, editor-in-chief of blue Sport, is delighted with the Swiss national team's performance after their 2:0 victory over Italy in the round of 16.

Show more