The cock in the pan is going crazy. After an incredible fight, the national team kicks the world champion out of the tournament. An achievement that just makes you proud. And three leaders did a really good job.
It’s the miracle of Bucharest, and the scenes, they’re almost tumultuous. The Swiss players attack each other like there’s no tomorrow.
Victory against world champion France after penalty shootout! Against a team that is four (!) Times as valuable! Against Mbappé, Pogba, Griezmann and Benzema! What an amazing achievement – adieu les Bleus! Now we are a grande nation!
This morale, this mentality, a 1: 3 against the world champion to catch up. Just amazing! As the team believed in itself, just really great. And above all, it’s a game for the history books. It has been 67 years since the Nati last qualified for a quarter-final at a major tournament.
That was at the home World Cup in 1954. And now this team has made it again – after the Nati failed in the round of 16 at major tournaments five times in a row: At the 1994 World Cup against Spain (0: 3), 2006 World Cup against Ukraine (0: 3 after penalty shootout), 2014 World Cup against Argentina (0: 1 after extra time), EM 2016 against Poland (4: 5 after penalty shootout) and World Cup 2018 against Sweden (0: 1).
It is the greatest Nati victory of all time: over the 1-0 win against Spain at the 2010 World Cup or the 4-2 win against Greater Germany at the 1938 World Cup. This coup against France is, on the one hand, a merit for the whole team. But also for three leaders who, despite a lot of criticism, did a lot of things right with their stubborn heads.
Petkovic is doing everything right
For coach Vladimir Petkovic, who kept calm despite the Lamborghini show, the tattoo studio scandal and the Figaro affair. As difficult as his stubbornness in many things is for many people around him, this gnarly has now paid off. Petkovic stood like an oak in the wind – and for him it is a very big victory. And he does everything right with the substitutions yesterday.
Second for Captain Granit Xhaka, who is often scolded and scolded. The determination with which he took the players by the hand internally after the resignation of Captain Stephan Lichtsteiner is impressive. Also that he openly admitted a mistake after getting a tattoo on the last free weekend before the European Championship. He delivered at the end when the tournament was all about.
For the third Pierluigi Tami, the often quiet doer in the background. Like Petkovic, he too kept the strings in hand, skillfully attempting to talk and mediate internally. He moderated the problems that arose around the team to such an extent that it ultimately led to success.
Spain is now waiting
Goodbye, les Bleus! The national team threw the world champion out of the tournament and can now look forward to the quarter-finals against Spain. This takes place on Friday at 6 p.m. in St. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg? Correct. There, the national team lost to Sweden in the round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup (0: 1). It is time to scratch this gap too. And if you beat the world champion, you don’t have to fear anyone – not even Spain!
Because the fact that you didn’t even begin to see a class difference against the world champion is great. And the fruits of years of work by this Nati generation.
Second goal for the Nati star: Seferovic brings us up against France again(00:32)
Wonderful national team goal: Gavranovic saves us in extra time(00:39)
Victory against France: This is how Switzerland celebrates our EM heroes(00:53)