Euro 2024: Southgate under pressure to twist as England face in-form Swiss

England coach Gareth Southgate (center) issues instructions to his player during a past match.[AFP] Saved by a dramatic late fightback to beat Slovakia, Gareth Southgate will take charge of England for the 100th time in today's Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland under pressure to tear up his tactical plan. The Three Lions have stumbled their way through to the last eight, winning just one of their four games within 90 minutes, and a star-studded squad who thrive when playing for their clubs has so far failed to deliver. Yet history could still beckon for Southgate's men in Germany. England are the highest ranked side left on the 'soft' side of the draw with Turkey or the Netherlands waiting in the semi-finals should they manage to defeat the Swiss in Duesseldorf. Switzerland, who cruised past holders Italy 2-0 in the last 16 and held Germany 1-1 in the group stages, promise to be a step up from anything England have faced at the tournament so far. Failure to change tack is likely to see Southgate bow out as England boss at a century of matches and invite a tidal wave of criticism for failing to make the most of the talent at his disposal. He has already been targeted at this tournament with thrown beer cups after a dull 0-0 draw with Slovenia in the group stages. Southgate has so far stuck to his guns with 10 of the same 11 starting all four matches. There will be one enforced change to face the Swiss as defender Marc Guehi is suspended. But it is further forward that Southgate faces bigger challenges to correct England's imbalance. Any questions over Jude Bellingham's role as a number 10 appear to have been wiped away by his stunning overhead kick deep into stoppage time against Slovakia to keep England alive. However, Bellingham's position as the creative hub of the team does cause Southgate other issues. Meanwhile, Switzerland have never reached the last four of a major international tournament but have shown that they can battle with the big boys ahead of their Euro 2024 clash with England. Murat Yakin's side were ruthless in dumping hapless holders Italy out of the tournament last weekend and went within seconds of beating hosts Germany and topping Group A. The Swiss are also one of two so-called "dark horses" who are left in the tournament alongside Turkey, with the other six either previous champions or, in England's case, heavily tipped to break their Euros duck. "We sent out an important signal tonight with the game we played," said Yakin after beating Italy. "We did not only club together and defend as a unit and sit back, we showed we could attack and dominate proceedings." Switzerland have reached their second straight Euros quarter-final with a squad which contains very few stars, with Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka and Manuel Akanji of Manchester City their biggest names. Instead Switzerland have a team unit which is more than the sum of its parts and has a great chance to reach a historic semi-final by eliminating England, who would already be out of the tournament were it not for the last-gasp heroics of Jude Bellingham against Slovakia.

Euro 2024: Southgate under pressure to twist as England face in-form Swiss

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Euro 2024: Southgate under pressure to twist as England face in-form Swiss

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