The Swiss national team receives plenty of praise from the Swiss media for its 2:0 victory over Italy. They praise the players, team and coach - and dream of a major coup.
Switzerland
"SonntagsZeitung": "Everything is working out"
For the SonntagsZeitung, Switzerland's 2:0 win against Italy is a sign of "the maturity of a group in which Manuel Akanji and Granit Xhaka have hardly ever performed as convincingly as they did between Cologne and Berlin". They carried their team-mates with remarkable naturalness and conveyed self-confidence. "They have been among the best of the tournament so far."
The big winner, however, can be found on the touchline with national coach Murat Yakin. No more talk of earlier criticism, he is "the coach who makes the right decisions game after game, perfectly assisted by Giorgio Contini and perfectly coordinated with his captain Xhaka". The conclusion: "Everything fits. Everything works. The man has his personal flow."
"NZZ am Sonntag": "Making a statement"
For the "NZZ am Sonntag", Switzerland "made a statement": "Against Italy, a Swiss team is on the pitch that is ready from the very first second. They dominated the action, were stylish and self-confident, confident on the ball and lively, they were superior and stronger in every respect: playfully, combatively, physically." The Swiss were as dominant as Brazil. "But without frippery and trickery." For the newspaper, Remo Freuler in particular stood for "the grown mentality of this team, for the willingness to run and the diligence".
"Blick": "There are no more limits for this national team"
"Blick" online was jubilant after the Swiss team's success: "[...] after the performances against Germany and Italy, we no longer have to fear anyone." Switzerland played Italy to the wall, "it must and may be said that clearly". After this game, the national team no longer needs to fear a team like England. A scenario that would have been unthinkable in the qualifiers in the fall. "Now the national team is keeping the dream of a Swiss summer fairytale alive throughout the country." Switzerland can dream of the "big time": the World Cup final. "Since this 'Serata magica' at the latest, there are no more limits for this national team."
"Le Matin Dimanche": "A memorable epic"
For "Le Matin Dimanche", Switzerland is experiencing an "amour de vacances" with its national football team. "At the very moment when no one really dared to believe in it anymore, if not despair, it has created a memorable epic that is certainly the most successful in its history." Beating the reigning European champions with Italy and qualifying for the quarter-finals is one thing. Doing so by taking control of the game without false modesty is quite another.
Italy
"La Gazzetta dello Sport": "Italy loses face. Switzerland stroll to a 2:0 victory, Italy is out of the European Championship. Italy is eliminated from the tournament in the worst possible way, dominated by Switzerland. After the difficulties in the preliminary round, Spalletti had hoped that the game against Switzerland could be the turning point. It turned out to be the collapse."
"Tuttosport": "Swept away. Disaster for Italy, Switzerland dominated. Spalletti and the Azzurri are eliminated from the European Championship."
"Corriere dello Sport ": "Without legs and without a soul, the national team is wistfully eliminated from the European Championship. Italy were knocked out by Switzerland, an average team that showed desire and courage above all else. Fundamental things for such a tournament that the Azzurri completely lacked. They were passive and apathetic right from the start."
"Corriere della Sera": "A miserable Italy is eliminated from the European Championship. The Azzurri have returned to Berlin, the scene of their 2006 World Cup triumph, but this time they leave the Olympiastadion with a bad defeat and a lot of disappointment."
SDA
