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I remember watching Switzerland's dramatic penalty shootout victory over France in the 2020 European Championship and thinking—this team has finally arrived. Yet here we are, four years later, still wondering if the Swiss can actually win something substantial. As someone who's followed international football for over two decades, I've seen promising Swiss generations come and go without lifting major silverware. The 2024 European Championship presents what might be their best opportunity yet, but I'm not entirely convinced they have that championship mentality yet.
When I look at Switzerland's current squad, I see remarkable depth and quality that previous generations lacked. They've consistently performed well in recent tournaments—reaching the quarter-finals in the 2020 Euros and making the Round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup. Their FIFA ranking has hovered around the top 15 for years now, currently sitting at 12th globally. But rankings don't win tournaments—mental strength and that final push do. I've always felt the Swiss play beautiful football but lack that killer instinct when it truly matters. They remind me of what weightlifter Delos Santos recently said about his own journey: "There's plenty more improvement in me, and I know I need to find 15 kilos more in snatch." That's exactly how I see the Swiss team—plenty of potential, but needing to find that extra push to transform from contenders to champions.
The core of this Swiss team has been playing together for years now, which gives them a significant advantage over other national sides. Granit Xhaka, coming off a nearly perfect season with Bayer Leverkusen, provides leadership and stability that few midfielders in the tournament can match. Then there's Manuel Akanji, who's developed into one of the most reliable center-backs in the Premier League. What impresses me most about this generation is their resilience—they never seem overwhelmed by big occasions anymore. I watched them dismantle Belgium 2-0 in the 2022 World Cup with such tactical discipline that it reminded me of peak Italian sides. Yet for all their progress, they still haven't broken through that psychological barrier that separates good teams from trophy-winning ones.
Looking at their recent tournament performances, there's a pattern emerging—they compete well against top teams but struggle to maintain that level throughout the entire competition. In the 2020 Euros, they knocked out world champions France but then fell to Spain in the quarter-finals. In Qatar 2022, they battled bravely against Brazil but ultimately couldn't find that extra gear. This reminds me again of Delos Santos' comment about preparing for the Southeast Asia Games: "Now I have to go straight into preparing for the next big competition." That's the mentality Switzerland needs—not resting on past achievements but continuously pushing forward.
What gives me hope for 2024 is their emerging young talent. Players like Zeki Amdouni and Dan Ndoye have brought fresh energy and fearlessness that was sometimes missing in previous squads. Amdouni's technical ability and composure in front of goal particularly excites me—he's exactly the type of player who can make the difference in tight knockout games. The Swiss development system has been producing technically gifted players consistently for years now, and we're seeing the benefits of that long-term approach.
Still, I have my doubts about whether they can overcome traditional powerhouses like France, England, or Germany in a final. The mental aspect of tournament football cannot be overstated—winning requires not just skill but that championship DNA that comes from believing you belong at the top. Switzerland's historical record in knockout matches against elite teams remains concerning. They've only won 3 of their last 12 knockout matches against top-10 ranked nations, a statistic that highlights the challenge they face.
The draw for the group stage will be crucial—Switzerland tends to perform better when they face strong opposition early, which builds their confidence and rhythm. If they can navigate the group stage while maintaining their physical peak, they have the squad depth to make a deep run. Manager Murat Yakin has shown he can set up the team effectively against top sides, though I sometimes question his in-game adjustments when matches aren't going their way.
When I compare this Swiss team to Portugal's 2016 winning squad or Greece's miraculous 2004 campaign, I see similarities in terms of organization and team spirit. What those champion teams had that Switzerland still needs to prove is the ability to win ugly—to grind out results when their best football isn't working. That's the final piece of the puzzle, the equivalent of finding those "15 kilos more in snatch" that Delos Santos mentioned.
As we approach the tournament, my heart wants to believe this could be Switzerland's moment, but my head tells me they might fall just short again. They have the quality to reach the semi-finals—maybe even the final—but winning it all requires overcoming decades of psychological baggage. The good news is that international tournaments often produce unexpected champions, and Switzerland's blend of experience and emerging talent makes them perhaps the most likely of the "underdog" nations to break through.
Ultimately, I believe Switzerland's best chance lies in their defensive organization and the leadership of their experienced players. If Xhaka can transmit his championship mentality from Leverkusen to the national team, and if their young attackers play without fear, they could surprise everyone. But they need to find that extra level—those metaphorical 15 kilos—that transforms potential into glory. The 2024 European Championship will tell us if this Swiss generation has finally learned how to win when it matters most.