What an evening in Berlin! The Swiss national team defeated defending champions Italy 2-0 in the European Championship round of 16, reaching the Euro quarter-finals for the second time in a row. They will face England in Düsseldorf on Saturday.
A convincing group stage
The group phase was already encouraging. To kick things off, the Nati won 3-1 against Hungary in Cologne. Against Scotland, they managed a 1-1 draw, with Xherdan Shaqiri scoring a spectacular first-time finish into the top corner. In their final match, Switzerland led hosts Germany for a long time in Frankfurt before the Germans equalised in stoppage time to make it 1-1. The Nati finished the group unbeaten in second place.
The round of 16 against Italy
In Berlin's Olympic Stadium, Switzerland was the better team from the very start. Remo Freuler put the Nati in the lead in the first half. Right after the break, Ruben Vargas doubled the lead to 2-0 with a wonderful curling shot into the far corner. Italy struggled to find a response thereafter, and the Swiss defence, led by Manuel Akanji and Fabian Schär, kept things completely under control.
The art of the first touch
What is striking about these goals is that both Shaqiri's strike against Scotland and Vargas's goal against Italy were scored without long preparation. Shaqiri took the ball first-time, and Vargas only needed a brief moment to set himself up. At this level, the first touch often determines whether a chance is created or not.
Now England awaits
On Saturday 6 July, Switzerland will face England in Düsseldorf. The English have a strong squad with players like Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Bukayo Saka, but have often struggled throughout the tournament so far. The Nati is heading into this game with a lot of self-confidence. A semi-final would be the greatest success in Swiss football history at a European Championship.
The Nati's Euro record
A look back shows how special this achievement is. At the 1996, 2004, and 2008 European Championships, Switzerland was eliminated in the group stage each time, even as co-hosts in 2008. In 2016, they were knocked out in the round of 16 by Poland on penalties. 2021 saw the historic victory against France and the first Euro quarter-final, in which the Nati only lost to Spain on penalties. The fact that Switzerland is now in the final eight for the second consecutive time shows how consistently the team has established itself at a high level.
What we as fans can take away
This team shows what is possible with team spirit, courage, and a clear plan. And it shows that technique makes the difference. A cleanly struck ball at the right moment is often worth more than minutes of possession.
Try it out yourself
Fancy following in the Nati players' footsteps? With the VOLLEYCHAMP®, you can practise first-time finishes and volleys alone or with friends, in the garden or on the pitch. Also ideal for a little volley tournament before the big-screen screening of the quarter-final.
A tip for coaches: harness the excitement surrounding the Euros. Children and teenagers who watch the Nati in the evening will want to shoot like Vargas or Shaqiri the next day. A short competition at the end of training where everyone attempts ten first-time finishes captures that energy perfectly.
We are keeping our fingers crossed for the Nati on Saturday. Go Switzerland!
