Switzerland finds the Blues on Monday in Bucharest in the round of 16 of the Euro (9 p.m.: TF1, BeIN Sports 1).
For Alexander Frei, former scorer and captain of the "Nati" (84 caps, 82 goals) passed through Rennes and Dortmund, the French team is the favorite, but it will have to be wary of its neighbor who will have assets to shake up the hierarchy .
What is the Swiss selection worth?
ALEXANDER FREI.
He lacks a victory against a great nation, in a great competition.
We beat Belgium in the Nations League, that's good, but it's not the same if you do it at the Euro.
It's a very good team.
On a perfect day, she can beat anyone.
What are its main strengths and weaknesses?
His main weakness is his mentality in bad days.
If they take the game seriously, they are formidable.
On the other hand, when they are afraid, they are arrogant… They really have to be in the game.
This also applies to France.
If they arrive saying to themselves "these are the little Swiss, we will pass without problem", they will be surprised.
What do you think of the Seferovic, Embolo and Shaqiri attack line?
Embolo is very precious to keep the ball, to do the counter-pressing.
He is physically strong.
Seferovic is a great fighter, he runs a lot, scores goals.
In Portugal, it's very strong
(Editor's note: 54 goals in 110 games with Benfica)
.
Finally, Shaqiri is the stroke of genius.
If he happens to have a good day, that's great.
He is the team's playmaker and yet he plays little at Liverpool.
Did you doubt his ability to be there?
We all know what Shaqiri is worth.
With him it's a question of injuries, of professionalism, he must stay focused on the essentials.
He had a little trouble with Klopp because he was injured several times but in a match he can make the decision, that's clear.
1/8 final we are coming!
✊🏼🇨🇭💪🏼🚀🔥 #hoppschwiiz # XS23 @nati_sfv_asf @ EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/hAaRfMRXaW
- Xherdan Shaqiri (@ XS_11official) June 21, 2021
Do you find France stronger than at the 2018 World Cup?
For me in 2018 it was really perfect.
Now it's different.
In a Euro, the teams are a little stronger.
It depends who you face in your group, then in the final phase, but at the Euro you chain the good opponents.
In Switzerland, do we believe in the feat?
We believe in it all the time.
For 10-15 years, that has changed.
We give the maximum.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but I think the day will come when we will beat a great.
Read also France-Switzerland: the Deschamps method, 2021 edition
What game can we expect on Monday?
I don't like the predictions.
I will let myself be surprised.
Favorite France will not have the right to fail.
What will be the key to hurt the midst of the Blues?
They have more speed and physical strength, in my opinion.
On the other hand at the technical level, it is the same thing.
Xhaka does that very well, he's a very good game organizer. There are possibilities.
As a former scorer, are you impressed by the trio Griezmann, Benzema, Mbappé?
Okay, that's very, very strong
(smile)
.
Deschamps has taken over Benzema and he is hungry it shows.
He's doing the team a lot of good, but in my opinion something is still missing.
It is not decisive enough, not powerful enough.
This is not yet the level expected of the three.
Do you understand that it takes time for them to find the automatisms?
Good players always find the automatisms, that is not the question.
I don't know if it was the opponents who played well against them, or if they preserved themselves for the rest, but, in the matches that I have seen, it's not perfect.
There is talent, incredible strength, superb attack, but it's not the attack I expected so far.
Do we need an anti-Mbappé plan?
I don't know if it's possible.
He's so strong.
You can try by closing the space, it will be the work of the whole team.
Is this the biggest danger for the Nati?
The France team has so many good players.
They can select three teams with players who all have the level for one Euro.
It's not just the front three.
In the middle there is Pogba, Kanté too.