ENGLAND boss Gareth Southgate has the perfect motivational words to pin to the dressing room wall at the Düsseldorf Arena this weekend – after Switzerland manager Murat Yakin compared them to Scotland.
England head into the tie after a poor tournament and needed Jude Bellingham’s 95th-minute overhead kick to avoid what would have been one of the worst results in their history against Slovakia last weekend. Bellingham’s brilliance rescued a 1-1 draw before Harry Kane scored the winner in extra-time.
The Swiss, on the other hand, have impressed. They have played some vibrant, attacking football – in contrast to the drab fare from the Three Lions – and deservedly beat holders Italy 2-0 in their last-sixteen tie.
The Scots were even worse than England have been, exiting the tournament after picking up just two points in their group.
Yakin feels England have the better players, but is confident ahead of the fixture.
“If I compare the two teams, the value of the English players is much greater than ours,” former Switzerland captain Yakin said in Le Matin. “But it’s going to be an open game. They’ve struggled against teams that are behind, it’s never easy. We know England’s strengths, but we also know their weaknesses.
“It will be a completely different game, with cultural differences. England have a vertical style of play, but if we push them, we’ll make it difficult for them. It’s a bit reminiscent of what we saw against Scotland, with those long balls and second balls.
“It makes the match a little unpredictable. We can’t train too much for that. We’ll just have to find the right solution to deal with them.”
Meanwhile, Southgate has been urged to start Chelsea’s Cole Palmer against the Swiss.
Palmer, 22, has made two substitute appearances in four games, coming on in the 71st minute of the 0-0 draw against Slovenia in the last group game and in the 66th minute against Slovakia.
That peripheral involvement comes after Palmer scored 22 goals and registered eleven assists in 34 league appearances last season.
England have struggled in attack, with little evidence of a coordinated plan.
Former England captain Alan Shearer said he would “definitely bring Palmer in”.
Another ex-England international and BBC pundit Danny Murphy said Palmer was, “one England player who is taking the most risks”, and added: “He is the bravest on the ball, as if to say, ‘I don’t mind trying things and if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen’.
“Some of the other England players are overthinking things but Cole Palmer isn’t and that is the way he has played all season.
“He has to start the next game. For some of the players coming in, there is no pressure.”
The match kicks off on Saturday (July 5) at 5pm UK time.
