Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have been among England harshest critics (Photo: Getty)
A former Switzerland footballer says he can’t wait to watch Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer react to England crashing out of Euro 2024.
England take on Switzerland in the quarter-finals of the competition on Saturday evening in Dusseldorf.
It’s been far from plain sailing for the Three Lions, who won just one of their three group games before scraping past minnows Slovakia in the last 16.
Their performances have been widely panned, with former England strikers turned BBC pundits Lineker and Shearer among their fiercest critics, with the former calling their performance in the draw with Denmark ‘s**t’.
By contrast, Switzerland have had an impressive tournament so far, beating Hungary, drawing with Scotland, and being minutes away from defeating hosts Germany, before cruising past reigning champions Italy in their last 16 tie.
There is real belief that they can spring another surprise in Dusseldorf, and former Swiss international Ramon Vega certainly believes this will be the case, and wants to join the BBC’s coverage of the match just to rub it in.
‘I would love to be in the studio with those guys, both Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, just to see their faces!’ the ex-Tottenham defender, who played against England at Euro 1996, told the Mirror.
Switzerland beat holders Italy in the last 16 (Photo: Getty)
‘I’ve been following their comments and what they have been saying throughout the tournament and let’s see what happens now.
‘We believe we will win but I’ll bring the best Swiss cheese, the finest raclette cheese, and they can eat that when Switzerland win. I’ll happily eat fish and chips if England win – but, don’t worry, it won’t come to that!’
‘England have big players. They have the best league in the world. Yet we know we can do it. We know we can beat England.
ENGLAND’S ROUTE TO EURO 2024 FINAL
QUARTER FINAL – July 6 at 5pm
England vs Switzerland
SEMI FINAL – July 10 at 8pm
England vs Netherlands or Turkey
FINAL – July 14 at 8pm
England vs Germany, Spain, Portugal or France
‘We beat the holders, Italy, in the last round. We knocked out France in the last Euros. We’ve been consistent for so many years.
‘Everyone talks about Italy being poor that day. Why is that? I’ll tell you why: we made them look bad. We outplayed them. It was down to us. Not them.’
But Vega isn’t the only person hyping up the Swiss’ chances, with Lineker himself predicting a tough clash for Gareth Southgate’s side who remain tournament favourites by virtue of being on the ‘easier’ side of the draw.
‘We are in the quarter-final but it is hard to be that hopeful,’ Lineker said.
‘If you had said at the start of the tournament England would be in the quarter-finals against Switzerland you would have said fantastic, you fancy your chances there. Big favourites.
‘But I don’t think they are big favourites. Far from it.’
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