Switzerland put up a courageous fight in Frankfurt, but ultimately crumbled to the relentless waves of German pressure around their box. They won’t mind too much, however, with both teams booking their places in the knockouts thanks to the result.
The final state of the group sees Switzerland face down the runner up of Group B, a spot currently occupied by Italy but open to both Albania and Croatia if other results would go their way.
Germany on the other hand will play the runner up of Group C, a spot which could still feature any of the group’s members, although the favourites for the spot would be one of Denmark or Serbia, provided England can get the three points against Slovenia.
Here are five things we learnt from the well battled stalemate in Frankfurt.
Murat Yakin can counter even the most prolific attacking units
Switzerland impressed tactically as they faced down an imposing Germany team, especially succeeding at isolating Die Mannschaft’s biggest creative threats in İlkay Gündoğan and Jamal Musiala. Switzerland’s front line pressed from inside to out, forcing the opposing centre-backs to play the ball wide. In normal scenarios this is exactly where the Germans want to be, with full-backs positioned high and wide as part of the midfield line, receiving the ball and looking to play it through to their fluid front four, who rotate between and behind the defensive lines of their opponent.
Murat Yakin nullified this stage of German progression through his use of three aggressive centre-backs behind two defensively strong midfielders. Switzerland’s wing-backs applied pressure to their German counterparts, attempting to block off the central ball and keep them pinned to the wing. If Germany did manage to play the ball in, Yakin’s central defenders would aggressively step out to the receiver in order to give them no time to turn, forcing them backwards.
Midfielders Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler would drop into the hole left by the defender stepping out to ensure the space wasn’t exploited by other attackers, becoming an extra centre-back until the pressure had subsided and they could reset. It was a system that stifled the best of what Germany had to offer in possession, no small feat against a side that comfortably lead the competition in terms of goals scored.
Germany need a more convincing plan B
Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany has a very clear setup, and all evidence points to the idea that he will do everything he can to allow that system to play exactly how he likes it. Nagelsmann has sent out three identical starting elevens so far this tournament, even in the face of four starters being suspension risks going into their bout with Switzerland.
Backing his system is admirable – it has been inarguably potent so far – but this rigidity in terms of selection has perhaps hindered Germany’s ability to adapt when faced with a side who are set up to counter their build up. Niclas Füllkrug gives the side some extra dimensions off the bench as a more effective aerial threat in the box, but Germany’s other depth options have been less than convincing in their late game deployments thus far. Leroy Sané would usually be a fantastic option from the bench, but his fast and direct style is hindered by a system which wants its front four making fluid runs and playing deft passes to each other through the lines.
Germany cannot seem to adapt effectively as a unit, with every sub feeling like they are changing out part of a system in exchange for an individual, weakening the side as a whole and likely producing opportunities for exploitation against a side with as much technical ability as Germany have in the knockouts.
Adaptability may be Switzerland’s strongest asset
The polar opposite of Nagelsmann’s rigid dedication to his system, Murat Yakin has rotated players and philosophy throughout the tournament in order to best play through his opponents. After match day one he replaced his striker and goalscorer, Kwadwo Duah, with a slightly deeper Xherdan Shaqiri, the formations of each game mimicking that of the opponents and allowing Switzerland to rely on their technical superiority to get the best of their opponents.
In both games, the Swiss had more possession and made more passes than their opponents, controlling the game and allowing them possession on the edge of the opponent’s box to create chances, especially against Hungary. When faced with a better squad in Germany, they ceded possession, going from a share in the mid 50s in their previous games to just 33 percent against the hosts. Breel Embolo was handed his first start of the tournament to form the lynchpin of the Swiss counter attack thanks to his hold up play and physicality, bringing down long balls from the defence and laying off his runners in the form of Dan Ndoye and Fabian Rieder.
This change allowed Switzerland to bypass the midfield, meaning they could provide a goal threat without the majority of possession and avoid turnovers in dangerous areas under German pressure. The ability to match teams with superior technical ability is an absolute must for any underdog looking to make a deep run into the knockouts, and will doubtless be a huge factor in their upcoming fortunes.
Niclas Füllkrug can bring the squeeze late in the game
Die Mannschaft have brought Füllkrug on in all three of their games thus far, with the imposing striker bagging himself two goals in those appearances. When things aren’t going Germany’s way, he appears to be the only consistent change that can bring an upside – in part because he appears to be the one substitute that Nagelsmann is willing to change his style to accommodate.
Germany have largely held possession on the edge of the opponents final third, sitting relatively deep at times to pull defences towards them and open up space behind the back line. The wingers and aggressive full-backs then look to play a killer through pass into this space for their teammates to run onto, or play out to the wing before crossing low into the danger area, perfect for runners arriving late into the box as the defence scramble towards their own goal line.
As Füllkrug arrives, however, we see a shift away from these patterns of play, with Germany suddenly pushing up and pinning opponents back into their own box. German possession is now passed around the edge of the opponents box, probing for openings before playing it once again to the full backs, who now swing the ball in early and high, looking for Füllkrug at the back post. If it is cleared by the defence then the ball falls to a Germany player more often than not, and the process repeats.
This routine becomes like a vice, crushing teams into a small zone and presenting Germany chance after chance to find their big man in space. They only need to do it once, as Füllkrug seems determined to prove every time he finishes emphatically past stunned goalkeepers.
Enforced changes could provide a target for German opposition
As previously mentioned, Julian Nagelsmann is yet to change his starting eleven at the tournament, but his hand has been forced after a bizarre yellow card earned starting centre back Jonathan Tah a one game suspension. Tah is arguably Germany’s biggest physical presence at the back, standing at six-foot-five, but possesses that touch of class in possession which makes him such a key figure for Bayer Leverkusen and Die Mannschaft both.
Nagelsmann appeared to name his successor during the Switzerland match, bringing on Nico Schlotterbeck in place of Tah following his booking. We were denied the chance to see Schlotterbeck really tested in the latter stages of that game, and one wonders how he will slot into Germany’s system. If he does nearly as well as he has for Borussia Dortmund this season then fans need not fear, but there may be questions regarding the 24 year old’s ability to recreate the domineering effect of Tah when facing opposing attackers.
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