Inter Milan Civil War Ignites in Euro Knockout Stages: Switzerland’s Secret Weapon Against Spalletti

As the UEFA Euro 2024 knockout stages loom, Inter Milan finds itself heavily represented, with 13 players potentially advancing (excluding the unconfirmed Zelinski). Of these, 11 have already secured their spots, with Hakan Çalhanoğlu likely to join them. The stage is set for several "Inter Civil Wars," as Inter players face off against each other on national teams.

Inter Milan Players in Euro 2024

• Netherlands: Denzel Dumfries, Stefan de Vrij
• France: Marcus Thuram, Benjamin Pavard
• Austria: Marko Arnautović
• Italy: Alessandro Bastoni, Nicolò Barella, Davide Frattesi, Federico Dimarco, Matteo Darmian
• Switzerland: Yann Sommer

The only player eliminated so far is Kristjan Asllani with Albania. Meanwhile, Çalhanoğlu’s Turkey has a high probability of advancing.

Notable Inter Clashes

Several key matchups have already occurred, such as Asllani facing Italy and Arnautović going up against de Vrij. The knockout stages promise more of these Inter-on-Inter duels, particularly in the clash between Switzerland and Italy. This match will pit Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer against his Inter teammates Bastoni, Barella, Frattesi, Dimarco, and Darmian.

Italy vs. Switzerland: The Rivalry

Italian media have focused heavily on what they call the "Group of Death" in the upper bracket of the knockout stages, which includes Spain, Germany, Portugal, and France. There's also a lot of attention on a potential quarterfinal matchup between Italy and England, almost assuming that Italy will easily overcome Switzerland. This confidence stems from Italy’s historical dominance over Switzerland, having faced them 61 times with a record of 29 wins, 24 draws, and only 8 losses.

Moreover, nearly half of the Swiss team has either played in Serie A or currently plays there, making them very familiar to Italian fans and analysts. Key players include Sommer, Ricardo Rodriguez, Denis Zakaria, Xherdan Shaqiri, and Albian Ajeti.

The Italian Confidence

The confidence in Italy’s chances against Switzerland is based on familiarity and past dominance. Historically, Italy has had the upper hand against Switzerland, and their knowledge of Swiss players and tactics reduces the element of fear often associated with the unknown.

Switzerland's Quiet Confidence

Swiss media, however, are quick to point out that the historical dominance of Italy over Switzerland mainly occurred more than 20 years ago. In the last two decades, Switzerland has significantly improved, and in their last six encounters with Italy, Switzerland has been unbeaten in five. This recent success gives the Swiss team a quiet confidence heading into the knockout match.

Yann Sommer: The Secret Weapon

A critical figure in this matchup is Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer. Not only is his performance vital due to the nature of knockout games, which often hinge on defensive solidity and penalty shootouts, but Sommer has a history of frustrating Italian teams and coaches, particularly Luciano Spalletti.

Sommer’s Record Against Italy

Sommer's record against Italy includes some key moments:

• 2013 Europa League: Sommer, playing for Basel, saved a penalty against Spalletti’s Zenit St. Petersburg, eliminating them from the competition.
• 2022 World Cup Qualifiers: Sommer saved a crucial penalty from Jorginho, helping Switzerland to a draw that ultimately forced Italy into the playoffs, where they failed to qualify for the World Cup.

These instances highlight Sommer’s ability to perform under pressure and his psychological edge against Italian teams, particularly Spalletti’s.

The Italian Perspective

Italian media and fans are focusing on the tougher challenges ahead, such as potential matches against England, rather than the immediate threat posed by Switzerland. This could be a mistake, as Switzerland, led by Sommer, has shown resilience and capability in recent encounters with Italy.

Spalletti’s European Struggles

Luciano Spalletti, the current Italian national team coach, has a mixed record in European competitions. Despite some successes, his overall record is far from stellar, with notable struggles in the knockout stages. This history, combined with Sommer’s previous success against Spalletti-led teams, adds an intriguing subplot to the upcoming match.

Sommer’s Psychological Edge

Sommer’s relatively low success rate in saving penalties (16%) might not seem impressive, but his key saves in critical moments against Italy give him a psychological advantage. His experience and previous successes can instill confidence in his Swiss teammates and create doubt in the minds of Italian players.

Looking Ahead

While Italian media and fans might be looking past Switzerland, focusing on potential matchups against teams like England, they should heed the warning from former Italian defender Giuseppe Bergomi, who has cautioned that Switzerland will not be an easy opponent. Bergomi emphasizes that Italy must first overcome Switzerland before considering future challenges.

Conclusion

As Euro 2024 progresses, the potential "Inter Civil War" matches will be fascinating to watch. The matchup between Italy and Switzerland is particularly compelling, with Yann Sommer poised to play a crucial role against his Inter teammates. Italy’s familiarity with Switzerland and historical dominance might give them confidence, but recent results and Sommer’s psychological edge suggest that Switzerland could pose a significant challenge. For now, Italy must focus on overcoming this immediate hurdle before considering the tougher challenges that lie ahead in the tournament.