“Spain is wonderful, the ball is always theirs”

Stéphane Chapuisat (born June 28, 1969 in Lausanne) is a living legend of Swiss football. In addition to captaining Nati, for which he played a total of 103 games, the former striker was proclaimed champion of the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund in 1997. In the Bundesliga, which he won twice, he became the first foreign footballer to score more than 100 goals. Before vibrating with his Swiss team again in the quarterfinals against Spain, Chapuisat attends AS and explains why the Swiss strike against France was no coincidence.

Is Switzerland still upside down after eliminating France?
People are very happy, yes. It was a very difficult year and a half for all of us and, now, being in the quarterfinals is a tremendous illusion for our people. Looking forward to six o'clock in the afternoon to face Spain.

How do you see the game?
I think it will be similar to the one in France. A priori, our opponent will once again be the favorite on paper and we will try to focus on our virtues: maintaining solidity and order at the back to try to surprise Spain through changes of pace. Despite the quality of Spain with the ball at their feet, it will be vital that Switzerland achieve long possessions from time to time. He did it against France and will also be key against Spain.

In Spain we expect a withdrawn Switzerland that tries to harm the counter.
It may be a method, but I think we must also want leather. It is clear that we will not be able to advance our lines too much because the Spanish, like France, are lethal in the last meters. However, Spain is a team that likes to circulate the ball more than France. It is a nuance that can cause a change in our approach.

Does it help that Spain is the big favorite and Switzerland has nothing to lose?
We are not one of the great teams in football. Rather a modest combo. But we all know how difficult it can be to face a compact and well-ordered team that does not feel the weight of an entire country to win. Especially when we manage to get close to the Spanish frame and our forwards are inspired as they were against France. Verticality, determination and efficiency. Everything will depend on that.

Xhaka will not be due to accumulation of yellows. Low sensitive?
It's a shame that he can't be in a match of this magnitude, but we have Djibril Sow and Denis Zakaria in that position. Both are capable of supplying him, although it is difficult to exercise the same leadership as him. He is a captain, he plays in the Premier League, he transmits a lot of security with the ball at his feet and he is always well placed to receive. We will miss him very much, but I trust that others will be able to fill the gap.

Switzerland have conceded in all four EURO games, but have also scored in three of them. Does your attack make up for defensive weakness?
Italy's (3-0) was the only match in which we weren't able to get into the game. In the others, we were always able to stand up to the rival and be an uncomfortable team, even with the result against. With 1-3 against France, Petković made fundamental changes. It is key to know that everyone who jumps onto the pitch does so plugged in. Otherwise, I don't think the draw in the last minute would have been possible.

Does Durban sound familiar to you?
Of course not. But it will be a very different match from that victory against Spain in the first of the World Cup. Back then, the outcome was not as decisive as it is now. If you lose in St. Petersburg, you are out. I remember that Spain danced for us that day and we ended up winning by mere luck. But today's Nati is another. Is better. Although, to eliminate Spain, we may need the same bit of luck as eleven years ago. We need everything to be in our favor. And that Spain does not have its best day.

What do you think of Luis Enrique's team?
A marvel. All Spanish players are capable of finding solutions through good handling of the ball. It is its essence and we know it. Against us it will be no different. The ball is from Spain and you have to accept it.

Both teams were criticized at the start of the Eurocup and grew up in the face of adversity. What happened at the beginning of the campaign seems to remain an anecdote in both countries.
It's always the same. What matters is getting through the group stage, surviving and taking advantage of all the duels to grow as a team. Spain and Switzerland are examples of how fundamental it is to give players time to tune in both off and on the pitch. It is clear that the criticism will always be there when the results do not arrive, but in the group stage they are not as transcendental as in a quarter or eighth. Our turning point came after qualifying against Turkey, Spain after the defeat of Slovakia. A tournament like this is a process that should always be evaluated after the last game. Never before the first.

It seems that a Swiss airline will take the Swiss fan who went viral for the suffering and euphoria with which he lived the duel against France to St. Petersburg for free.
I have found out and I love it. It was the mirror of all Switzerland. We all go through the same sentimental bump to see ourselves at the top moments later. It is life embodied in football.

Your prognosis?
Hard. But he would sign another penalty shootout. (laughs)