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Little EM knowledge to have a say: The most important thing about the game Wales against Switzerland

2021-06-13T15:36:27.228Z


You don't know about football, but you want to have a say? No problem: In Group A, Wales relies on youth and mentality. Switzerland suddenly even plays: exciting. The teams in a quick check.


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The Swiss national players during training: The most reliable forecast in Group A is that it will be worth watching

Photo:

Jean-Christophe Bott / dpa

Wales: Ex-football dwarf, can make life difficult for the opponent

Who would have thought that Wales (at 3 p.m. against Switzerland, stream: MagentaTV) would one day make it to 18th place in the world rankings?

The second smallest British football nation has managed to get rid of its sporty dwarfism.

At the last European Championship, that was enough to make a sensational advance to the semi-finals - this year at least to make life difficult for every opponent in the hotly contested Group A.

The team today is completely different than it was five years ago, only eight players from back then are still on the team.

There are important pillars such as Aaron Ramsey and superstar Gareth Bale.

Others, like defense chief Ashley Williams, have passed the baton on - to a new generation of Welsh talent.

The lightning-fast Harry Wilson and Daniel James can play important roles in the team's counter-attack, while David Brooks can set accents from the wing with his playmaker qualities.

The Welsh team has a similarly great depth of talent in defense, where it is also needed in the 5-3-2 basic order: The only 20-year-old Ethan Ampadu is considered a top talent, Neco Williams is on the right defensive side just as old - and will probably go into the tournament as a regular player.

As his legitimate successor, ex-captain Ashley Williams praised Tottenham youngster Joe Rodon, because he throws himself into every ball just as resolutely.

"It's almost as good as a goal," enthused Williams in a guest post on the BBC.

With this mentality, Wales will again be a tricky opponent.

Switzerland: The days of sleeping car football are over

Rock solid football and the end in the round of 16: Hardly any team seems to play football as little changeable as the Swiss national team, for better or for worse.

But: Is that enough in such an uncomfortable group as Group A for the knockout round?

The chances are not bad at all.

Because despite all the continuity, it is a bit lost that Swiss football has constantly developed.

As national coach, Vladimir Petkovic has been working on how he can best get the qualities of his team onto the pitch since 2014 - and now seems to have found the solution in the three-man chain.

Ironically, the protection provided by an additional central defender seems to allow Switzerland to become a bit more spectacular. You have the quality in defense anyway, the consequences allow a whole range of key players to become more effective: Ball distributor Granit Xhaka has to defend smaller spaces on the defensive, right-back Kevin Mbabu can support the offensive with his dynamic runs as the mood takes . And individual talent Xherdan Shaqiri has been allowed to work in the offensive center since Mbabu has owned the wing.

In pressing, too, you dare to do more. The days of Swiss sleeping car football are over. Switzerland should be able to beat everyone in the group - but on bad days it can also be undermined by any group opponent. The most reliable forecast in Group A is: It will be worth watching.

Source: spiegel

All sports articles on 2021-06-13

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