Before the start of EURO 2020, Swiss manager Vladimir Petkovic spoke about his side’s ambitions for the tournament.
Switzerland has often fought in major tournaments and has most recently reached the quarterfinals of all competitions at the 1954 World Cup. They have never reached the same stage in the history of the European Championship.
This year they have reached the age of 16, where they face the strongly favored France.
Asked if there are any discussions about reaching the quarter-finals, Petkovic told UEFA before the tournament: “Well no, that is not a goal, because it is not good to have the quarter-finals as a goal and to know in advance that you will end up there.
“It’s good to plan the next step, to plan what you can definitely plan. Talking about the last 16, the last eight, at this stage without knowing who the opposition may be, also shows a lack of respect.
“We want to respect the opposition, but we also want to respect and trust the work we do. The next opponent, the next match, is always more important, and that’s how we behave, without setting any boundaries.”
Asked about a realistic goal, he added: “Realistic … yes, one thing that is real is definitely the fact that we have to give 120%, to try to play our game without fear of opposition, and that every match gives us a springboard to the next, because we always want to get better, to get 100% from our team.
“And that, as I said, it’s not about giving 100% against Italy or 100% against other teams, because against Italy, Germany, [etc.], we may need 120% to reach the same level as them. “
