Voice of the coaches | England 1 Switzerland 1: Tactical analysis for the European Championship 2024

England will play a European Championship semi-final on foreign soil for the first time since 1968 after beating a combative Switzerland on penalties in Dusseldorf. Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the decisive penalty to complete a perfect five-goal run for Gareth Southgate’s side, while Jordan Pickford’s save from Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji was the difference between the two sides.

It was another great breakout from England. Despite an improved performance compared to their dismal showing against Slovakia in the round of 16, they again struggled to create real chances. Breel Embolo put the Swiss in a position to claim a famous win after 75 minutes, but the impressive Bukayo Saka scored a superb equaliser five minutes later. The Arsenal striker then put memories of his penalty miss against Italy in the Euro 2020 final to rest and, along with Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Ivan Toney and Alexander-Arnold, sent England into the semi-finals against the Netherlands, who beat Turkey to complete the semi-finals.

Below, our UEFA-licensed coaches highlight the key tactical points from a thrilling quarter-final match…

This is how the managers saw it

“That was our best game,” said Southgate afterwards. “We caused them a lot of problems with the ball. They’re a really good team. They’re hard to put under pressure, hard to defend, they move well. To come back from a deficit and show the character and resilience that we showed – and that’s what we’ve spoken to the players about. To win tournaments, you don’t just have to play well. I think we played well today, but that alone isn’t enough. You have to show all those other qualities as well.”

“We’ve refined the (penalty) process a little bit, but it’s the players who have to be calm out there. There were so many stories: Cole taking the first penalty at his age; Bukayo; us almost dropping Jude because we expect it now; Ivan knowing that’s why we brought him in; and Trent staying on task. He could have easily thought his tournament was over, but I kept talking to him and told him he was going to get his moment.”

Swiss coach Murat Yakin immediately praised the devastated Akanji. “You give your players responsibility and you can’t be angry with them afterwards – players who played a fantastic tournament, especially Manu,” he said. “What can you say to him? Well, there aren’t many words of consolation. I thanked him for his performance and also for the way he led the team, for his performance. That was really at the highest level.”

“It hurts a lot when you put in so much effort and see what chances we had. I am very sad for the boys and also for the nation that we have to leave the tournament after such a performance.”

Starting lineups

EnglandSwitzerland

1145212426710911122513198th102026717

England3-4-2-1

Switzerland3-4-2-1

1Jordan Pickford

1Yann Sommer

14Ezri Konsa

22Fabian Schär

5John Stones

5Manuel Akanji

2Kyle Walker

13Ricardo Rodriguez

12Kieran Trippier

19Daniel Ndoye

4Declan Rice

8thRemo Freuler

26Kobbie Mainoo

10Granit Xhaka

7Bukayo Saka

20Michel Aebischer

10Jude Bellingham

26Fabian Rieder

11Phil Foden

17Ruben Vargas

Overloading one side in attack

England operated in a 3-4-2-1 formation in possession, with Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham both operating as number 10s behind Harry Kane. The pair switched sides, however, with Foden starting on the right and Bellingham on the left. Both therefore looked to dribble inside on their stronger sides to combine with the advancing Kobbie Mainoo or Kane. Kieran Trippier and Bukayo Saka held the width, but both naturally looked to get inside into Swiss traffic. England were limited in their attacks outwards as a result, although Saka was by far the team’s best and most direct attacking threat. He constantly got past Swiss left wing-back Michel Aebischer (below) as England looked to overload that side of the pitch in support.

Switzerland also used a back three when in possession, looking to create a numerical advantage on one side of their attack. Aebischer narrowed down from the full-back position to support combinations on the left within the fluid forward three of Breel Embolo, Ruben Vargas and Fabian Rieder (below). This created space for left centre-back Ricardo Rodríguez to overlap and cross, while Granit Xhaka dropped out to provide cover on that side. On the opposite flank, Dan Ndoye maintained width.

England’s pressure against Switzerland

England pressed very high from the start, with centre-forward Embolo looking to break away from John Stones and make short runs to the ball. In these situations, Remo Freuler ran in the opposite direction to Xhaka from the double six, drawing Declan Rice out of the area where Embolo received the ball (below). Vargas moved quickly inside to draw Kyle Walker with him, creating space for Aebischer. Subsequent switches from right to left proved effective in overcoming English pressure, particularly as their strikers went man-for-man on the Swiss backline.

However, when Stones chose to stay close to Embolo and contest tackles, the Swiss struggled to make any headway. Rice and Mainoo provided zone screening in front of Embolo and counter-pressed very well to win the ball back. From here they were able to play England’s front four higher and earlier, looking for immediate, penetrative runs between and behind Switzerland’s expansive back three (below).

Changes change the dynamics

Swiss coach Yakin was the first to make changes that immediately shifted the momentum in his team’s favour. Ndoye moved into a number 10 position alongside new signing Steven Zuber (below), but they continued to rely on a numerical advantage on the left. Aebischer and Rodríguez rotated more on that flank and played better crosses, while right centre-back Fabian Schär also began to move higher. Ndoye’s movements became a real problem for England between the lines; his cross escaped Embolo Walker and put Switzerland ahead.

Southgate reacted immediately, with substitutes Cole Palmer and Foden playing in the inner lanes while Bellingham moved further forward to support Kane. Rice became the sole pivot while Saka and Eberechi Eze now provided width on the flanks. With Luke Shaw finally introduced on the left side of a back three, Stones was effectively England’s only recognised centre-back.

In contrast, the Swiss immediately went on the defensive after taking the lead. This allowed Shaw in particular to advance from the back line when England (above) continued to have possession, just as Rodríguez and Schär had done for their opponents. However, an excellent individual effort from Saka equalised, and the teams could not be separated in extra time. Fortunately for England and Southgate, they converted all five penalties with a quality and confidence that they have lacked for most of the tournament. The Netherlands await in the semi-finals.

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Author: The Coaches’ Voice