Capello: Chiesa Could Be the Key for Italy vs. Switzerland, Azzurri Must Be Fearless

At midnight on June 30, Italy will face Switzerland in a crucial Euro 2024 Round of 16 clash. Ahead of the match, former Juventus, Real Madrid, England, and Jiangsu team coach, legendary manager Fabio Capello, highlighted Federico Chiesa’s potential as a decisive player and urged Italy not to “overthink” the encounter.

In his column for Gazzetta dello Sport, Capello wrote, “From Switzerland’s performances, I am convinced that underestimating them would be a huge mistake. They have all the ingredients to cause Italy problems, starting with their attitude – solid, pragmatic, humble, and down-to-earth. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from this Euros, it’s that teams that execute simple plans effectively achieve results. Players like Xhaka and Freuler embody the team’s spirit, with their positivity, willingness to sacrifice, and teamwork, always ready to help the squad.”

Capello emphasized the importance of Italy displaying courage and a thirst for goals: “Italy is strong defensively and can create chances, as we saw against Albania. However, we must show the same desire we did in Leipzig when Modric scored (trailing 0-1 to Croatia in the group stage).”

He predicted Chiesa’s potential impact: “From the start, he must control the game with his skills – dribbling, pace, and bravery. He changed the game when he came on against Croatia, and now he needs to do so from the beginning. Switzerland’s left flank is their weaker point, and Chiesa has the ability to trouble them with his one-on-one play.”

Capello also cautioned against over-reliance on tactical instructions: “Sometimes Italy focuses too much on the coach’s tactics, thinking too much. I hope the Azzurri can be more proactive and fearless on the pitch. When they do that, they become very difficult to stop – something Modric and his teammates are aware of.”