France is on schedule for the EURO 2020 finals. Les Bleus came out of the ’Group of Death“ with one win and two draws, but it was still enough for the knockout stage, with pale Switzerland coming up. The Swiss basically came from the group with the same score, but unlike France, Switzerland played in a much lighter group, with Wales, Turkey and Italy, and barely survirved, as one of the top four third placed teams. Still, a knockout stage has already been full of surprises, as Netherlands and current European champions Portugal found out last night, so Didier Deschamps’ men must be on full alert ahead of this match. Ronaldo’s Portugal gets battered by Belgium for the EURO 2020 exitAnd Les Bleus are preparing seriously. In fact, they have worked out on a new tactics in the last two trainings in Romania, where the match will be held. After a suggestion from one of the main man, Paul Pogba, the team has tried a 3-4-3 formation. It was a suggestion which Deschamps accepted after a consultation with the players and staff.”I discuss with the players, to get their feelings, a little more with the managers, even if I talk to all the players. The objective. is to put them in the best conditions so that they are efficient. Then there is the video work, the observation of the opponent, and I always make the choice in the same direction: to pose them problems. to know who decides, if that should reassure you, it is I who make the decisions ” said Dechamps at the press conference.🚨 À la veille du 8e de finale de l’Euro face à la Suisse, l’équipe de France a travaillé en 3-5-2 à l’entraînement.🇫🇷🇨🇭 Voici la compo probable des Bleus contre la Suisse ce lundi.— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) June 27, 2021 The new tactics is yet to be tested, and nobody knows if it will be used against Switzerland, who are pumped up before the game, as they see a game in which they are total outsiders a great opportunity to surprise the reigning World Cup winners.”We want to go as far as possible, this side is ready to write history. But we can only write history if we give 120%. We need to be careful against France, they have world-class players. We need to be clever. Sitting deeper doesn’t necessarily mean we’re defensive, we want to be dynamic, show our strengths. We need to focus on ourselves and on our football” said captain Granit Xhaka.France have never lost a competitive match against Switzerland, winning two and drawing four, with their most recent meeting a goalless stalemate in the group stage at EURO 2016. The winner of this match will be playing against either Spain or Croatia, who are also playing tonight. Not so easy match as France – Switzerland, as Croatia is much stronger then the Swiss team and are capable of winning anybody, yet alone a not so impressing Spain, who didn’t show anything so far.The Dutch fail too much, crushing in a nervous game to CzechsWhat’s even worse for Spain is that the Spain have won four of the teams’ eight meetings overall, but Croatia have had the upper hand in two of the last three, including a 2-1 victory in the group stage at EURO 2016.”Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic are the most talented players in the Croatia squad. Modric changes his position a little when he plays with Croatia. If he touches the ball less then that’s better. The circumstances of the match might change their approach, as they might go deep if it’s going well for them and they might press high if they’re losing. These are two teams who know each other well. I am confident in my side, the same as I was at the start of the tournament. I think we deserved first place in our group, but this isn’t about what you deserve. It’s about scoring goals. In any case, I have the same confidence” said Spain coach Luis Enrique.Former Barca player and coach was also commenting the death threads received by his starting stiker Alvaro Morata during the EURO games.„The situation has a seriousness about it that means it should be in the police’s hands. What I say about it isn’t important. This is something that needs to be solved unequivocally” said Enrique.Two extra-time goals save Italy from a shocking upsetAnd what a World Cup runner-up thinks? Croatia lost the final game to France, and would love to set up a rematch in the semifinals with Les Bleus, but they know it will be tough, even with Spain’s unimpressive form. “A difficult match awaits us. Spain are a great team that love possession and love to play their game. It will be important for us to try to have the ball as much as possible, to take away what they love the most” said Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovačić.🇪🇸 🇭🇷 Croatia came from behind to defeat Spain 2-1 at EURO 2016 👊 Score prediction for today?#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/csDmdDaJYu— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) June 28, 2021 And 35, Luka Modric is one of the most experienced players on the field, and is a starting midfielder for Real Madrid, which means a lot will be expected of him. And Spanish forward Dani Olmo who used to play for Dinamo Zagreb for five years knows the mentality of the Croats, but also the influence of Modric.„He is their motor, the heartbeat of Croatia who conducts their orchestra. All their play goes through his feet. In every sport they play, Croatians are always very competitive, they are lion-hearted and give everything for their country. There’s no favorite in this fixture, it’s anyone’s game” Olmo said of Modric and Croatia.EURO 2020Round of 16Saturday, 26 JuneWales – Denmark 0-4 (0-1)/Dolberg 27, 48, Maehle 88, Braithwaite 90/Italy – Austria 2-1 after extra time (0-0)/Chiesa 95, Pessina 105 – Kalajdzic 114/Sunday, 27 JuneNetherlands – Czech Republic 0-2 (0-0)/Holes 58, Schick 80/Belgium – Portugal 1-0 (1-0)/T Hazard 42/Monday, 28 June19.00: Croatia – Spain22.00: France – SwitzerlandTuesday, 29 June19.00: England – Germany22.00: Sweden – Ukraine
