Nagelsmann praises the national team and Akanji "If you want, you're one of the secret favorites"
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has warm words for Switzerland. What national team coach Murat Yakin and captain Granit Xhaka have to say.
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- Switzerland play to a 1-1 draw against Germany. Switzerland were "very gallant, very aggressive. Akanji did a great job holding the team together," said Julian Nagelsmann after the game.
- Murat Yakin also expressed his praise. The performances of Xhaka and Akanji were "top class".
- Croatia or Italy will most likely be waiting for the national team in the round of 16. Xhaka: "We'll watch the games calmly. The team is hungry (...). We want to show that in the round of 16."
Germany equalize against the Nati in stoppage time to make it 1-1 and steal the group win. Murat Yakin says: "I have to pay a big compliment to the team, who did everything very well. It was a tactical game. The way we played makes me very happy. I'm sorry for the team that we didn't get the reward. When you lead until the 92nd minute, it's a shame." However, he said he was pleased and happy that they had made it through the group stage without defeat. "The system works for us, as does the strategy."
The national team coach surprisingly brought on Fabian Rieder from the start. "In a normal situation, Ruben Vargas would have played, but he wasn't able to train fully the day before the game," said Yakin. "Fabian Rieder then put in a great performance." Yakin also praised Xhaka and Akanji: "What they did was top class. They lead the way as role models."
Granit Xhaka, who was voted man of the match, said: "The cheers from the Germans after the 1-1 shows everything. Respect to the whole team for what we did defensively. I'm very proud."
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said: "The players really wanted a draw, you could see that. In the end, it's a well-deserved point, we took a lot of risks. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. It was a very good test for knockout matches, Switzerland were a very good opponent."
When asked whether Switzerland were now among the secret favorites, he said with a laugh: "I don't know if I want to put this rucksack on your players and Murat, but if you want, you're also one of the secret favorites ..." Switzerland are "very gallant, very aggressive. Akanji did a great job of holding the team together. A good mix of experienced players and young, hungry players."
Praise from Nagelsmann that will be taken into the knockout games. "We're very flattered when Julian sees it that way," says Yakin. "But we're in the underdog role, that suits us better ..."
Italy or Croatia in the round of 16?
Italy or Croatia now await in the round of 16 next Saturday in Berlin (6 p.m.). Albania is also still a possibility - although not likely. Silvan Widmer will be suspended after picking up his second yellow card - Leonidas Stergiou will replace him. "We can now prepare him for a week," said Yakin.
Xhaka on the next opponent: "Of course we know Italy, we haven't played against Croatia for a while. We'll take our time to watch the games. The team is hungry, has a new mentality, we are further ahead than we were six months ago. We want to show that in the round of 16."
Xhaka then takes up the cudgels for Ricardo Rodriguez: "Nobody understands that he can move on a free transfer anyway. So look at clubs, he must have a long-term contract ..."
