England vs Switzerland (Düsseldorf, 18:00)
England fans, you can't wait for this quarter-final clash, right? Those who are in the know will understand that there is a sarcastic tone to my question. The players might take great offence to this, but we can't help but feel disappointed by their underwhelming performances.
The only reason they are still in the tournament is Jude Bellingham's bicycle kick in the dying moments of their game against Slovakia. They don't deserve to be here but possess the quality to go all the way. That is undoubtedly true.
They came into this tournament with high expectations. They have come close to lifting the trophy in previous years, and it's on them to take that one final step and lift it in Germany.
Switzerland has always played the role of the plucky underdog quite well; however, this year, their team has a little bit of extra quality. As is the common theme throughout our recent reviews, England is the favourite on paper, but considering how both teams have played in this tournament up to this point, it's difficult to back this English side to get the job done.
Round of 16 Performance
England went into the Slovakia game as a significant favourite. We know the attacking players in their squad, and despite their poor showings, we simply believed the knockout stages would be when they finally kick into life. They had to wait until the 95th minute before they recorded their first shot on target. Luckily for them, it was a piece of individual brilliance by Jude Bellingham.
They then scored immediately in extra time. Surely victory was confirmed then, right? Well, it was, but only after sitting back for the entirety of the second half of extra time. The whole performance was, to be quite frank, odd. How can a team with so much talent not have a shot on target until the dying minutes?
For Switzerland, there was no such drama. They played the Italians and were the better team, winning 2-0. Traditionally, the Swiss beating the Italians would be considered quite a shock. However, it was clear to everyone that they are the better side at this moment in time.
Match Analysis
If Gareth Southgate is unsure how to set up his side, how should we know?
Instead of providing an in-depth match analysis, we will simply state something that should be clear to this England team and its coaching staff by now: If they go into this game without making any changes to their style of play, they will not be reaching the semi-finals. Phil Foden has played four games on the left wing so far in this tournament and looks to be a fraction of the player we all know he is.
Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon, and Ollie Watkins are some players to call upon if the manager wants to change things up.
Switzerlands' game plan will be simple. More of the same, please. They should feel encouraged by England's poor form and should look to attack, knowing England's side is currently looking so blunt. We know they have some fantastic players in this competition, but we have been surprised by their attacking plays down the wing.
Players to look out for
As mentioned, England's campaign has been shocking. We have highlighted one player who can turn things around and one player who needs to step up and perform at his very best.
- Cole Palmer: When he came on as a substitute the other day, it was evident to most people why he should be in the side. Always looking to play the ball forward, it was a shame that his teammates were all fighting to be in the same space he was.
- Harry Kane: Let's get one thing right: this man is fantastic. His goalscoring record, along with his overall play for years, has been truly outstanding. He has, however, been on the wrong side of a few terrible performances and needs to step up for his country.
Many people are surprised by this Swiss side's performance on the attack. This man below is a big reason for this.
- Ruben Vargas: This man was awarded the Player of the Match for his impactful performance in Switzerland's 2-0 victory over Italy. His speed and creativity on the wing have added a new dimension to Switzerland's attack. With the other areas of the pitch already covered with quality, this has proven to be a big plus for his team.
Match Prediction
Before the beginning of this tournament, we would have declared England as favourites to win this game. They might still be, but the truth is they have played four times so far, and if they faced stronger opponents, they would no longer be at the tournament. This is why we are backing Switzerland to pull off one of the greatest results in their history. They have a decent starting eleven, and there is certainly an opportunity.