Kyle Walker will have the task of dealing with one of Euro 2024’s quickest stars in one of many tough battles against Switzerland.
The Three Lions take on Murat Yakin’s side this Saturday, live on talkSPORT, and fans will be hoping to be watch an improved performance from the round of 16 2-1 win over Slovakia.
But aside from brushing off criticism of their campaign so far, England will also need to keep an impressive Switzerland side at bay – and that includes a player with blistering pace.
Right-back Walker will be looking to stop Switzerland forward Dan Ndoye, who has hit a top speed of 35.6 kilometres per hour (22.1 miles per hour) out in Germany.
As a result he is the fourth-fastest player at Euro 2024 – and he’s even been quicker than Walker’s 2022 World Cup quarter-final foe, France’s Kylian Mbappe.
According to Euro 2024’s website, only Slovenia’s Benjamin Sesko (35.9 kph), Germany’s Leroy Sane (35.8 kph), Romania’s Valentin Mihaila (35.8 kph) and France’s Theo Hernandez (35.7 kph) have been faster.
Mbappe – who is known for his incredible speed – has hit 35 kph.
Bologna star Ndoye only cemented his place in Switzerland’s XI at Euro 2024.
He started just once in qualifying, making substitute appearances with an average of 21 minutes a game and still has only 15 caps to his name.
But even before the 23-year-old scored his first Switzerland goal to hold Germany to a 1-1 draw in Group A, he backed himself to feature heavily at the tournament.
“It will come, I’m not worried about that,” he told broadcaster SRF.
“I’m already doing a lot of things right.”
Switzerland finished second in Group A to tournament hosts Germany, before seeing reigning Euro champions Italy off 2-0 in the round of 16.
Now, they’ll face Euro 2020 finalists England, who topped Group C.
But Ndoye isn’t the only danger man in Switzerland’s ranks.
Granit Xhaka
Former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka has been sensational for the Swiss this summer, earning himself two out three Player of the Match awards in the group stages.
After helping Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title this season, Xhaka has continued his fine form in Germany with his country.
He has played every minute for Switzerland at Euro 2024 and has only been dispossessed once in that time. He’s also covered the most distance of all his teammates (46.6km), just short of Declan Rice‘s 49.2km.
The midfielder underwent a scan on an adductor problem this week, but will be fit for the clash with England this weekend as he reunites with ex-Arsenal teammates Aaron Ramsdale and Bukayo Saka.
Manuel Akanji
Another player England fans will be familiar with but should not underestimate is Manchester City‘s Manuel Akanji.
The defender said he wanted to play the Three Lions in the quarter-finals joking that his English City teammates ‘talked a little bit smart sometimes’ before the tournament.
He denied numerous German chances in the countries’ 1-1 draw and has been a rock in the centre of the Swiss’ back three.
Akanji has made the fourth highest ball recoveries at the tournament (29), behind Pepe (30), Antonio Rudiger (33) and England’s Marc Guehi (37), who will miss Saturday’s clash due to suspension.
Yann Sommer
Inter Milan’s glovesman Yann Sommer may be 35 but he’s still a key player for the Swiss.
He’s made six saves, kept one clean sheet and made one punch so far this tournament. He’s also not faced a penalty yet.
However, he is known to be able to produce phenomenal saves – Mbappe would be able to tell you that.
Sommers saved the France superstar’s spot-kick to eliminate Les Bleus from Euro 2020 in a penalty shoot out the Swiss won following a 3-3 draw after extra time. He’ll be a tough nut for England to crack.
Switzerland verdict
talkSPORT’s England correspondent Faye Carruthers has watched every Switzerland game in Germany at Euro 2024.
She said: “They came second in Group A scoring five goals, and conceding just three. They really came into their own in the last 16 win over Italy – they were absolutely brilliant.
“What’s been really interesting about their play in the tournament so far is that they’ve scored seven goals in their four games, but all seven of those goals have been from different goalscorers and actually a lot of the build-up into the tournament was about the fact that they didn’t have a brilliant striker.
“Well, it turns out they don’t really need just the one striker. They’ve got goals across the pitch, which is a really good asset to have. Defensively, the first clean sheet they had was in the last 16, but they were completely dominant against Italy. They were fantastic, attacked, really took charge of the match and limited Italy to very little.
“I picked out a really interesting quote from Murat Yakin, their manager after that win over Italy, which ended up being before England’s game against Slovakia. But it’s quite fortuitous, when you look at it now.
“He said, we’ve achieved these results with blood, sweat and tears and not good luck, which is crucial for our next match.”
How do England beat them?
talkSPORT understands Gareth Southgate has been experimenting with a back-three in training to match Switzerland’s formation.
And Faye believes that could be the way to conquer the Swiss.
She added: “I personally think the way to tackle this Swiss side is to match them up and go three at the back.
“We saw what Bukayo Saka could do at left wing-back in the game against Slovakia. A lot of it is going to depend on personnel, obviously, and whether or not we see Luke Shaw.
“But I’m thinking because Marc Guehi is suspended for this game after picking up two yellow cards in the opening four games, he is going to be replaced by Ezri Konsa.
“If Gareth Southgate decides to stick with the back four, he either puts him in alongside John Stones or if he goes to a back three, puts him alongside Stones and Kyle Walker.
“Then you’d have Trent Alexander-Arnold as a right wing-back, potentially Bukayo Saka as a left wing-back, depending on Luke Shaw and his fitness.
“Then if you’re going to play three at the back, I’d drop Jude Bellingham deeper alongside Declan Rice. But the last time Gareth Southgate and his coaching staff played a back three was against Germany in that 2-0 win in the Euros in the last 16 back in 2021. So who knows whether he’ll do that.
“It’s been a while since they’ve played it.”
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