Manuel Akanji should put aside the penalty miss that dashed Switzerland's hopes of reaching the Euro semifinals and concentrate on his outstanding contributions that were key to their remarkable journey, according to coach Murat Yakin on Saturday.
With Switzerland and England tied at 1-1 after extra time, Akanji failed to convert his team's initial penalty while England successfully executed all five of theirs, securing a spot in the upcoming semifinal in Dortmund. Yakin praised Akanji's courage for stepping up to take the first penalty.
"You entrust responsibility to your players, and you cannot be upset with them afterward - players who delivered an exceptional tournament, particularly Manu," Yakin stated at a press conference. "What can you say to him? There are few words of comfort. It doesn't matter. I thanked him for his performance and his leadership on the field. He was truly at his best."
Yakin expressed pride in the team's performance at Euro 2024, which included denying Germany a flawless start, eliminating Italy, and playing engaging football. He believed his team played well and merited advancement after steadfastly defending against England's star players.
Breel Embolo gave Switzerland the lead after 75 minutes, igniting celebrations among the traveling fans, but Bukayo Saka's stunning equalizer dampened the mood. Switzerland had a chance to win late in extra time when Xherdan Shaqiri struck the woodwork with a remarkable attempt from a corner, followed by Zeki Amdouni's late save from Jordan Pickford.
"It's painful when you put in so much effort and see the chances we had. I'm deeply saddened for the players and the nation after such a performance, we must exit the tournament," Yakin lamented. He emphasized that Akanji's missed penalty was a minor detail overshadowed by his overall performance.
"The beauty of it is, it's just a football game. Football gives us so much in life, it's impossible to repay. These moments are part of the game. It's a missed penalty. Now, he doesn't need to dwell on it anymore when considering how he played and the responsibility he bore," Yakin concluded.
