"Once you beat their press, you can hurt them" - Micah Richards names players England must start in Euro 2024 Q/F against Switzerland
Football pundit Micah Richards has named the players England will need to stretch Switzerland to succeed in their upcoming Euro 2024 quarterfinal clash. The former Manchester City defender believes the Three Lions need to beat the Swiss press to come out on top.
Speaking on Gary Lineker’s The Rest Is Football podcast, the former England international said (via Daily Mail):
“Tactically, I'm looking at this game. I've been looking at the Switzerland games and there's areas in that team in which you can hurt them. If I'm looking at this England team now and you've got [Fabian] Schar - and Schar's a very good player - but he does not want to be going into wide areas of the pitch.”
Richards concluded:
“The same for [Ricardo] Rodriguez on the other side as well. I think Southgate, if he's looking at this, he has to play wingers. He has to play [Bukayo] Saka or Cole Palmer on the right and he has to start with [Anthony] Gordon. On transition, once you beat their press, you can hurt them. And I've seen videos of it.”
The Three Lions will be keen to secure a positive result against Switzerland and make their way to the semifinals of Euro 2024. Despite failing to impress on the pitch, England have continued to move forward in the tournament.
Former England striker urges caution against Switzerland in Euro 2024 quarterfinal clash
Gary Lineker has urged England to not get on the backfoot against Switzerland in their upcoming Euro 2024 quarterfinal clash. The Three Lions have underwhelmed so far at the tournament.
Speaking with Micah Richards on his The Rest Is Football podcast, the former Leicester and Barcelona striker said:
“I think we need to be careful of how we set up. Because their wing backs are used to playing this formation. So what you don't want is to play 4-3-3 and for Saka and Foden, if they start, to come really deep because then they will box you in. Then you can't get out and they will dominate the game.”
Switzerland come into the game on the back of a resounding 2-0 win over defending Euro champions Italy in the Round of 16. Meanwhile, England laboured to a 2-1 win over Slovakia.