Germany go into their final group game of EURO2024 on home soil, having already secured their place in the round-of-16 after an excellent 2-0 win over Hungary on Wednesday. Julian Nagelsmann’s men have shone in their home tournament so far, filling fans with excitement as they progress in the competition. Not only have they been outstanding in front of goal, scoring 7 goals in their opening two matches, but also the confidence and stability of their defence is not to be overlooked.
In their final group stage match, they face Switzerland who currently sit second in the group table. Following their draw to Scotland earlier in the week, their place in the round-of-16 is under pressure and Murat Yakin’s men need at least a draw against Germany in order to progress further in this years championships.
Tomorrow, the two sides will meet in Frankfurt for what promises to be another compelling encounter with that second spot in the next stage of the European Championships up for grabs.
What is the latest team news?
Switzerland’s Fabian Schär is likely to start against Germany after suffering a broken nose last time out. The Newcastle defender played the full 90 minutes against Scotland, despite picking up his injury after 20 minutes.
Breel Embolo has played 45 minutes for his national team at EURO2024, after being substituted on in both of their games so far. The 27-year-old has missed out on playing time this season for his club, Monaco, due to injuries but could now be fit enough to start.
Many fans expect Nagelsmann to rest his key players having already secured their place in the last 16, and the four players just a booking away from facing suspension (Jonathan Tah, Maximilian Mittelstadt, Antonio Rüdiger and Robert Andrich) may need to be replaced so as to not risk their involvement in future matches.
Who are the key players?
21-year-old Jamal Musiala has caught the attention of football fans across Europe due to his performances against Scotland and Hungary, in which he has excelled and been a vital part of Germany’s success so far.
Musiala is a crucial attacking threat as he has the ability to effortlessly glide past the opposition’s defence and create chances, which has been rewarded with him scoring in each of their opening two matches.
He is an exciting player to watch and German fans will be hoping that his positive run of form can continue throughout the latter stages of their home tournament.
Whilst Musiala’s youth is a driving force of Germany’s evergrowing dominance, for Switzerland it is 32-year-old Xherdan Shaqiri’s experience that has been vital to their success.
The former Liverpool midfielder’s goal against Scotland now means that he has scored in the last three EUROs and World Cups, presenting his threat in front of goal which will be important for Switzerland as they look to secure their place in the knockout stages.
What did the managers say?
In his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s game, Switzerland’s Murat Yakin expressed his thoughts on the importance of the clash saying: “It’s a prestigious game and we want to do well. We’ve prepared well. Our focus is on this game, it means a lot to us. We want to make our fans proud.”
A place in the last 16 is still up for grabs however; Yakin has outlined his main objective as he said: “We got positive results in the first two games, and here we are now, in a good situation. We don’t have to win tomorrow. We want to show our qualities and give Germany a tough time. First and foremost, we want to produce a good performance.”
Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann showed great respect for the opposition, and specifically his managerial counterpart, as he said: “I think Murat [Yakin] is a good coach and I like talking about football with him. Switzerland are probably the best opponent we have in this group in terms of individual quality.”
With the die Mannschaft selection being the topic of so many headlines in the lead up to this game, Nagelsmann revealed: “At the moment, there are no plans to change the team. I am not taking the risk of yellow cards into consideration, because I have full faith in the squad. If one player ends up suspended, we’ll just send on someone else.”
What time is kick-off?
Kick-off for Switzerland v Germany is scheduled for 20:00 BST [21:00 CEST] on Sunday 23rd June.
Where can I watch Switzerland v Germany in Group A of EURO2024?
For those watching in the United Kingdom, Switzerland v Germany will be broadcast live by the BBC. You’ll also be able to follow extensive coverage of this Group A clash, and the entirety of EURO2024, right here on FromTheSpot.