Switzerland 2-0 Italy

Euro 2024/Round of 16

MOTM: Ruben Vargas

Other standout performances include: Manuel Akanji, Granit Xhaka & Michel Aebischer

Notable Stats:

• Granit Xhaka made 25 line breaking passes against Italy, more than double of any other player in the match. Only Toni Kroos has made more in a game at EURO 2024.

• Each of the last three winners of the EUROs have been eliminated in the round of 16 in the following tournament.

• Granit Xhaka has played every single minute for Switzerland so far at EURO 2024 and been dispossessed once.

Match Stats:

• xG: 1.31 - 0.77

• xThreat: 1.23 - 0.79

• Possession: 49.5% - 50.5%

• Field Tilt: 53.9% - 46.1%

• Penalty Box Shots: 8 - 4

• Deep Completions: 8 - 3

• PPDA: 12 - 14

• High Turnovers: 8 - 2

• 10+ Pass Sequences: 21 - 21

Switzerland Slice Through Italy

Early on it became clear how easily Switzerland were able to attack Italy and win possession. One team looked organized and determined whilst the other was lost only a few minutes into the match.

Switzerland were very comfortable in possession without a press on their back three. Xhaka was able to drop deeper to pick up the ball. The wing backs would come inside to outnumber Italy in midfield and could drift back outside to find space. A rotation that caused a lot of problems.

Out of possession Switzerland was giving Italy a lot of problems with their pressing. 3v3 at the back with favorable match ups. Aggressive front three pushing up on the back line of Italy and wing backs that jumped up on the full backs.

Akanji fizzed this pass into Embolo that took out a number of Italy players in the middle and pushed Switzerland to attack.

They worked the ball down the left side until Vargas finds Freuler making a run into the box, letting the ball fall and finishing with a volley into the bottom left corner.

Italy kicked off the second half with a pre-planned routine that went wrong. Switzerland recovered the ball and broke down the left side. Working the ball inside for Vargas to shoot unchallenged. Incredible finish but he should have been closed down.

Aebischer makes smart rotations with Vargas to come inside as well pressing well down the left side.

Having Manuel Akanji as your composed center central defender in the back three who is confident on the ball to find his teammates and willing to be aggressive out of possession is a great base for Switzerland. Both Schar and Rodriguez have been excellent throughout the tournament.

Granit Xhaka was brilliant in midfield for Switzerland as you’ll see in the graphic included below. Key to their success in the tournament. Calm head in midfield that picks up the tempo and slows it down when the game needs it. Knows when to drop into the back line. Knows when to be aggressive in his pressing. This is the best version of Xhaka and the player we’ve seen do so well for Leverkusen this season.

This was a fantastic performance by Switzerland and it was made to look easy by how poor Italy was. You just cannot afford to give any team in the world this much space between the lines. They were not compact at all. The quality of players can be questioned, for sure, but you have to wonder why the team looked confused all game long. Never found their best team and structure that they were searching for in the tournament.

Next up for Switzerland will be England or Slovakia in the Quarter Finals, which will take place 6th July, 17:00 GMT.

Germany 2-0 Denmark

Euro 2024/Round of 16

MOTM: Nico Schlotterbeck

Other standout performances include: Antonio Rudiger, Kasper Schmeichel & Jamal Musiala

Notable Stats:

• Julian Nagelsmann became a Bundesliga coach in 2016 at 28 years old. Germany had failed to reach the quarter-final of a major tournament since 2016. Now Nagelsmann has led them through.

• The last time Toni Kroos lost a game of international football was 3 years ago.

• No player has scored more goals (3) than Jamal Musiala at Euro 2024.

Match Stats:

• xG: 2.53 - 1.2

• xThreat: 1.7 - 1.24

• Possession: 54.9% - 45.1%

• Field Tilt: 56.8% - 43.2%

• Penalty Box Shots: 9 - 8

• Deep Completions: 8 - 8

• PPDA: 12 - 12.1

• High Turnovers: 4 - 2

• 10+ Pass Sequences: 21 - 15

Germany Grind Down Denmark

A tie that was filled with controversy from the VAR calls through to the lightning forcing a delay in play. That aside, Germany played brilliantly at times and Denmark caused them plenty of problems in-behind Kimmich.

Schmeichel is not quite the outstanding keeper he was in his prime but last night he was excellent for Denmark and kept them in the game for the first half.

As you can see in the graphic below, Denmark did a great job of always having a defensive midfielder to back up the team on one side. Kimmich, Sane and Rudiger all picked up and if Sane managed to get around Christensen then he’s supported by Delaney. Hojbjerg doing the same on the other side.

Here is just a couple examples of how Denmark were able to exploit the areas in-behind Kimmich. Whether it was a long ball over the top for players to run onto or playing short combinations with the wing back.

The passing map of Denmark reflects this on their left side. For Germany you’ll notice how much they struggled to find players centrally. Either balls out to Kimmich or into Musiala wide which Denmark could deal with quite easily.

Schlotterbeck had the opening goal disallowed for a foul in the buildup, Kimmich preventing a marker following his run. He had another headed chance not long after. Havertz had a couple good chances in the first half as well.

I’ve mentioned the space in transition against Germany as a weakness, provided you can force mistakes and have enough players to make the quick passes in transition to. Denmark jump on a mistake by Andrich which leads to Hojlund missing from this angle below, huge chance for them. Great work by Neuer to get off his line so quickly.

Denmark then have a goal by Andersen disallowed for offside and when the play goes down the other end he gives up a penalty from a handball. Huge moment in the match that swung momentum back into the favor of Germany.

The second goal is simple. Incredible pass from Schlotterbeck over the top to Musiala.

Musiala then chases it down, let’s it run in front of him and finishes into the far corner around Schmeichel.

Just like we saw against Switzerland with their pressing, Germany can be stifled and exposed. Denmark used the space in-behind Kimmich to get at Germany. Two areas I’ve highlighted throughout the tournament but neither side managed to get the job done. If it’s Spain in the next round then we’ll see this Germany team pushed to the limit defensively.

Tah was suspended but the timely challenges and passing range of Schlotterbeck may have just earned himself the starting spot in the Quarter Final.

One final point is to credit Nagelsmann for his changes prior to the match in Sane and Raum. Neither had an outstanding performance but their willingness to make vertical runs in behind made it difficult for Denmark’s back line to ever get comfortable. In the second half introducing Emre Can to settle down control in midfield next to Kroos and Fulkrug to give the team target up top stretched Denmark.

Next up for Germany in the Quarter Finals is the winner of Spain vs Georgia, which will take place on the 5th July 17:00 GMT.

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