Switzerland dreams of the “miracle of Bucharest”

Despite the very close failure to Italy in the EURO round of 16, Austria’s football team will have fond memories of the Bucharest Arena Nationala. There the two victories get over North Macedonia (3: 1) and Ukraine (1: 0). The Swiss, of course, also know this and feel ready to follow in the red-white-red footsteps. However, it turns out today (9 p.m., ORF 1 and nachrichten.at) in the round of 16 with France the supposed “giant” of the tournament in the way. The Equipe Tricolore is the reigning world champion, but was not untouchable in the group stage. Hungary achieved a remarkable 1-1, Portugal a 2-2.

This gives the Confederates courage for the duel with their western neighbors, who have not yet been beaten in this millennium. “Every series comes to an end once. We have a chance,” emphasizes Liverpool star Xherdan Shaqiri, who shot Switzerland into the knockout phase with two goals in a 3-1 win against Turkey.

French defense concerns

Now the 29-year-old is dreaming of his first victory over the French since May 1992. Back then – in this 2-1 win in Lausanne on a friendly basis – Shaqiri was just seven months old. In the meantime, France has become world champion twice (1998, 2018) and European champion in 2000. So there does not seem to be any question of being the favorite. But “Les Bleus” have problems – especially on the defensive. With Lucas Digne and Lucas Hernandez two seasoned defenders should be out.

So Switzerland would do well – with all due respect for the French offensive power with the trio Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema and Antoine Griezmann – to dare to do something. That was not the case in the group game against the Italians, the defeat was 3-0 (highly) deserved.

“Lower class team”

Perhaps that is why France’s former team player Willy Sagnol is spitting big tones: “Switzerland is not one of the top five nations in Europe, they are not Belgium, Holland, England. I hope that we will break bad habits and not join a lower-class team lapse into the wrong rhythm. “

Most recently, France and Switzerland parted goalless in the group stage at the 2016 European Championship. There won’t be a “zero number” today, a winner has to be found, even if it’s only after a penalty shoot-out.

France has only lost three times since the World Cup trophy won in Russia in 2018 – in the Netherlands (0-2), in Turkey (0-2) and against Finland (0-2). Switzerland would like to extend this list and reach the quarter-finals of a major tournament for the first time since 1954. For that you need the “Miracle of Bucharest”. (Alex)