The Swiss national team impresses against Germany and poses major problems for the European Championship co-favorites. While Murat Yakin's team earns plenty of praise, the Germans are criticized. The press at home and abroad.
Switzerland
Tages-Anzeiger
"Seconds are all that's missing for the big coup. The Swiss are 1:0 ahead in their third group game, 1:0 against Germany. And that means they could even finish the preliminary round in first place. But then perhaps the 50th or 51st cross flies into the Swiss penalty area, as Niclas Füllkrug rises high and scores the equalizer. (...) Nevertheless, the Swiss can be proud of themselves, they put up a heroic fight against the favorites. And they also have a nice reward: On Saturday, they will play the round of 16 in Berlin against the runner-up in Group B, their sixth in a row since 2014."
NZZ
"The Swiss footballers surprise at the European Championship. With the 1:1 draw against the favorites and hosts Germany, they showed an impressive performance that could not have been expected before the match. But contrary to expectations, the Swiss put in a strong performance against their big neighbors. It will resonate in Switzerland for a long time to come. And it will increase respect for the Swiss at this Euro. But the real test is still to come: in the round of 16 on Saturday."
Aargauer Zeitung
"A game that we'll still be talking about in 20 years' time, if we win it. Because it would be a triumph over the brother we always look up to. Whom we admire for his successes, for his self-image and sometimes even for his cockiness. But it was only a victory until shortly before the end, because the Germans had not lost all of their former strengths and equalized in stoppage time. Should we be sad about that? Maybe a little. And only very briefly. What remains, however, is pride in a team that is playing its game without limits at this European Championship."
Germany
Time
"After the two German victories against Scotland and Hungary, the match against Switzerland dampened hopes of reaching the final to no small extent. Julian Nagelsmann's eleven should not rely on a big home advantage either, because the many visiting fans provide the better support. In Frankfurt, the Swiss, who drowned out their own cowbells, were louder than the 'Schlandler'. But opponents don't get any easier. And Germany's weaknesses are now well known."
Picture
"Against Switzerland, the DFB boys lacked the scoring luck for a long time, which resulted in seven goals in the first two games against Scotland (5:1) and Hungary (2:0). Germany created solid chances, but lacked the final punch. This could also be due to the pitch in Frankfurt. Many players are slipping, combinations are hardly possible. (...) There were no injuries - but just as few DFB goals for a long time. Until Füllkrug redeems the fans and Nagelsmann!"
Kicker
"With the group win, the first interim goal of this home European Championship has been achieved. However, the performance against the Swiss in particular will not be enough to achieve the ultimate goal, the European Championship title. It became clear just how difficult this team finds it when Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz are effectively shut down. And how dependent they are on Toni Kroos."
Sport 1
"The national team's European Championship matches in Munich, Stuttgart and Frankfurt all had one thing in common: when Fülle came on, it got louder in the stands. He can euphorize the fans, that was already the case at the 2022 World Cup. You could say: Germany needs Füllkrug! (...) There are still a few days to go until the round of 16. Enough time for the national coach to reflect and think about the Füllkrug personnel."
International newspapers
Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy)
"Germany say thank you to Füllkrug. However, Germany showed a certain fragility and inability to create chances against deep defending opponents. (...) Switzerland could challenge Italy."
L'Équipe (France)
"An uninspired Germany fought out a 1-1 draw against Switzerland. The hosts retain first place in the group. It was not until the 90th+2 minute that Niclas Füllkrug scored the equalizer with a header against the strong Swiss. Right from the start of the game, the tone was set by several technical errors from Toni Kroos."
Le Monde (France)
"The Germans believed until the end and were rewarded in the final minutes. Granit Xhaka and his teammates will regret giving away the victory they had in the bag after Dan Ndoye's goal."
The Sun (Great Britain)
"The hosts' late equalizer means England must beat Slovenia to avoid a nightmare last 16 against Germany."
Daily Mirror (Great Britain)
"The favourites were troubled by a hungry, well-organized Swiss side for the first time in the tournament. Switzerland thoroughly deserved their 'dark horse' status. They would even have won the group had it not been for Füllkrug's joker goal."
Marca (Spain)
"Spain, this Germany is not as wild as they made it out to be. (...) The hosts continue to play in the bottom half of the tournament and see Spain on the horizon. Germany are back on their feet after two extremely comfortable matchdays. The duel against a bone like Switzerland has shown that Nagelsmann's team is vulnerable."
Mundo Deportivo (Spain)
"Switzerland were on the verge of doing the impossible and beating Germany. In the first two games, it seemed as if the German team was a perfectly oiled machine, but in the decisive game, in which it was a question of whether it was really capable, it raised doubts."
Kurier (Austria)
"In the third group game, the German national team was shown that it will be a long and rocky road to the European Championship title."
