Switzerland: Key players including from Manchester City, Bayer Leverkusen via Arsenal, Bologna and AS Monaco in England's Euro 2024 quarter final opponents

Last night, Jude Bellingham dragged England from the depths of despair as they staged a late fightback to defeat Slovakia by a score of 2-1. They will take on Switzerland in the quarter-final’s - today, we’ll be taking a closer look at the Rossocrociati.

We’ll examine their best players in each third of the pitch, their head coach and the approach they generally take. Can England defy the critics and reach the semi-finals?

Switzerland key players

Switzerland’s most high-profile player at Euro 2024 is most likely Manuel Akanji - the Manchester City defender enjoyed a wonderful campaign in 2023/24, helping the Sky Blues win the Premier League title. He has replicated his strong performances at club level on the international stage, being a cornerstone in his country’s backline.

In midfield, the Swiss are led by former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka. He was part of the Bayer Leverkusen team that achieved an unbeaten Bundesliga season in 2023/24 - he is currently performing better than he ever has before.

Switzerland are no slouches going forward, either. The Bologna forward Dan Ndoye has looked like a real handful so far, using his energy and physicality to put constant pressure on defences - something that England may find problematic, given their low-tempo build-up play. AS Monaco’s 67-cap Breel Embolo will also need to be watched - his ability on the ball, coupled with his pace, make him a real threat.

Who is Switzerland’s manager?

The Swiss are managed by Murat Yakin, who has coached his native country since 2021. His time at the helm has been positive so far - he guided them to the round of 16 in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where they were defeated by Portugal.

He likes to line up his team in a 3-5-2 formation - despite this, it is a deceptively attacking setup. The wingbacks often find themselves bursting into the box, leaving the three centre-halves to cover them. This can leave them exposed when going forwards, but their dogged midfield is generally on hand to snuff out any counter attacks.