Yakin’s stock has never been higher nor Southgate’s lower going into the quarter-final, in which defeat for the latter will almost certainly spell the end of his eight-year reign after a succession of dreadful displays that put his side within seconds of being dumped out of the tournament.
The same fate could easily have befallen Yakin when the death of his mother in November coincided with a near-collapse in qualifying by Switzerland that triggered similar calls for him to be sacked.
So, while the 49-year-old was riding high after masterminding his country’s stunning round-of-16 victory over defending champions Italy – having already almost beat hosts Germany in the group stage – he was perfectly able to empathise on Tuesday with Southgate’s current plight.
“In all the conversations we’ve had over the last few years, I’ve had a good discussion with Gareth,” Yakin said. “I think we are on the same level. We understand each other, too.
“Of course, when you have great players and you can choose from a lot of players, when you have good players and you see the results, of course there are problems in England. That’s why you have to concentrate on the football game, not on what you read in the news. That’s the only thing we can do as coaches. I have experienced this personally over the past year too.
“It is not my role to explain England’s situation or the coach’s situation. But I expect England to be strong against us in this game.”
Southgate’s men have been anything but that in three dire group stage performances and a get-out-of-jail display against Slovakia in the last 16, with many making Switzerland big favourites to win Saturday’s showdown.
But Yakin said: “Who are the favourites? When you see the squad from England and the squad from my team. The value from England is much bigger than our team.”
Warning his side to be ready for their opponents to spring another “big surprise”, he added: “In the group stage, it’s not that easy to play. We saw that against small teams, against teams where you have to make the game. The expectation is great. You have big players in the market.
“It’s my job how we play in this game. We played against Germany. We were good. We also played against Italy. Also, a big team. So why can’t we beat England? It’s a good challenge. My team is ready to play and fight against England.”
In what could be seen as a compliment or an insult depending on your point of view, Yakin compared England’s style of play to that of Scotland, who finished bottom of Switzerland’s group but were the only team they have struggled to unlock.
“England have vertical play,” he said. “They have an intensity if we allow them, of course. If we increase our pressing, we don’t let them come into play. That is our task, that is our requirement. Of course, they also have full-backs who tend to go higher, offensively, and that also makes them dangerous. Long balls, second balls, that’s the style of play, which we also saw against Scotland.”
Saturday’s game will be Switzerland’s first against England at a major tournament since Euro 2004, at which an 18-year-old Wayne Rooney inspired the latter to a 3-0 win.
Yakin played in that game but has clearly done his best to forget it judging by the fact he named Paul Gascoigne – rather than Rooney – as having played in it when asked to recall it on Tuesday.
Apologising after being alerted to his mistake, he joked: “I’m not a historian.”
What are the odds?
Match odds:
- England to win: 5/4
- Switzerland to win: 29/10
Tournament odds:
- England to win the Euros: 4/1
- Switzerland to win the Euros: 16/1
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