Switzerland’s passage into the last eight has been built on a solid three-man defence, with Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji, Newcastle United’s Fabian Schar and Ricardo Rodriguez, who plays in Italy for Torino, playing every minute of every game in Germany.
The experienced trio, who have a combined age of 91, have 268 caps between them and are well organised and settled.
Akanji offers a calm presence in front of Sommer, Switzerland’s number one keeper for the past decade, while Schar is known for his raking passes, with Rodriguez adept on the left-side of the back three.
“Fabian Schar was great against Italy,” former England midfielder Danny Murphy told BBC Sport. “The Switzerland back three were great, dictated play and were really well-organised and well-controlled.”
Both Serbia and Denmark set up with a back three against England in the group stage.
Three Lions captain Harry Kane suggested that had caused England “confusion on the pitch”,, external and the Swiss will hope Akanji, 28, Schar, 32, and Rodriguez, 31, will help propel them to a famous win.