Germany thriller on the horizon Ricardo Rodriguez on his goal at the European Championships: "Final - everyone should think like that"

Switzerland will play Germany in the European Championship on Sunday to win their group. How is the national team preparing for the game? Ricardo Rodriguez answered questions from the media.

The Swiss national team faces the all-important group game at the European Championship. Ricardo Rodriguez and Co. have one foot in the round of 16 after the win against Hungary and the draw against Scotland. Their next opponent: Germany.

At the media conference, Rodriguez did not want to talk about a "quasi-fixed" qualification for the round of 16. "We haven't qualified for the round of 16 yet." In other words: give everything against Germany.

Rodriguez says about the ranking in the group stage: "Of course, everyone wants first place." Ultimately, however, the ranking in the group doesn't matter. The main thing is to play a good game against Germany.

"... then that will be good"

Rodriguez is thinking big at the European Championships. "The final is my goal. Every player should think like that." On the way to the final, however, the first hurdle to tackle is Germany. "They are outstanding," says Rodriguez ahead of the battle for first place in the group stage. You have to be focused for 90 minutes, otherwise things will go quickly.

Rodriguez has a yellow card following a caution in the Scotland game. Does it make sense to rest Rodriguez against the hosts in order to have him available for the round of 16? "There's still something at stake against Germany. Murat Yakin should just let the eleven best players play, then it'll be fine."

What Rodriguez said at the media conference - read the ticker here

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Rodriguez says goodbye
The Q&A session is over, as is the media conference. Today, the national team will complete a closed training session. As already mentioned in the ticker: Fabian Schär is taking part, Ruben Vargas is training individually due to a precautionary measure - but a start against Germany is not at risk.
Team Uno, chess or Playstation?
"I used to play more with the boys. Now I play less. Once the boys are in, they don't stop and I have to do other things."
Program from the free Wednesday afternoon
"We went out for a bite to eat in town with a few of the other players." Did he have to sign autographs? "Also, but it still worked out."
Ricardo Rodriguez, are you nervous ahead of the Germany game?
"I'm not necessarily nervous, but tense, that's for sure. I've played so many games and now I approach games like this differently."
Ndoye in preparation, Aebschier in the tournament - how does the player in front of Rodriguez change his style of play?
"It's not easy. They both do it well. I adapt to them. I try to help them. I'm the older one. If things don't go my way, I might do things I don't like doing so much, but I do it for them."
How does Rodriguez see Granit Xhaka?
"Very good - as always. Good player, intelligent, good friend. He's achieved something nice with Leverkusen and I hope he can achieve more things like that."
Rodriguez jokes about ranking in the group stage and thinks big
"I like group three, so third place in the group stage. No, no. The place doesn't really matter. The main thing is to play a good game against Germany. Of course, everyone wants first place. The final is my goal. Every player should think like that."
Rodriguez on his role as captain at Torino
"That's what I've been missing until now. I've never had this role before. It has developed me as a person. But I remain the same as captain, I don't change much."
Rodriguez's contract expires at the end of June - where will the journey take him?
"It's certainly not easy when you play on a free transfer - also for your head. I'm open to anything. It has to be a good fit and it has to make sense."
Rodriguez again about the German national team
"Germany is outstanding. All the players are good. You have to be focused for 90 minutes. If you're not, it goes very quickly."
In top shape thanks to hard work
"I look at everything a bit. I feel good. The Torino coach has trained me very well, so I'm very grateful. He taught me a lot. That you can achieve a lot with hard work and that you have to give it your all every training session and not hang your head when things aren't going so well."
The secret of veteran Rodriguez's success
"I don't have one. I try to play every tournament and stay fit. Hard work and playing a lot."
Widmer, Freuler and Rodriguez have yellow cards - should they rest them against Germany?
"We haven't yet qualified for the round of 16. So there's still something at stake. In the end, Murat (Yakin, ed.) will decide. He should just let the eleven best players play, then it'll be fine."
"I hope that many Swiss will come"
"Against Germany is always something special. It will be a good atmosphere and I hope a lot of Swiss will come."
Rodriguez's memories of Magath
"The training sessions were very strenuous. But they were good for me. I learned a lot from him and I'm grateful that he brought me to Wolfsburg."
Rodriguez on his time in the Bundesliga
"There are many things. I liked it very much in Germany. The first time with Felix Magath was really good. He was exhausting, but it was really good."
Switzerland with one foot in the round of 16
"I think pressure should always be there. But it would certainly have been nicer if we had already booked our place in the round of 16. We'll give our all against Germany so that we can make you (journalists, ed.) and the fans happy."
How good is Switzerland?
"In my eyes, Switzerland are good. We're a good team. Sure, Scotland did well. We played a better game against Hungary. Now against Germany it's about first place and we'll try to do a good job."
The anticipation of Germany
Rodriguez: "The Germany game is the talk of the team. We are ready. We are happy that we can play this game. It will be a good and difficult game against a good team."
General information in advance
Before Rodriguez takes the floor, SFA media spokesman Sergio Affuso talks about general information about the national team: Fabian Schär is training with the squad as normal, Ruben Vargas is training individually after a knock on his ankle in the Scotland game. This is a precautionary measure and, as things stand, there is no risk of Vargas playing against Germany.
Ricardo Rodriguez is here
The media conference begins.
The media conference will begin shortly
We are still waiting for Ricardo Rodriguez. But we are confident that he will enter the media room soon.
Hello ...
and welcome to the Swiss national team's media conference ahead of their third group match at the European Championships against hosts Germany. Ricardo Rodriguez answers the journalists' questions. It starts at 10.30 am.
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