World Cup: Uruguay stumbles against Saudi Arabia

Three video analysts are on Murat Yakin’s staff at the World Cup. Their mission is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of all the Swiss team’s opponents.

Which direction does Canadian Tajon Buchanan like to go when his team launches an attack? What placement mistake does Bosnian Tarik Muharemovic most often make? What technical gesture does Qatari Yusuf Abdurisag particularly like? These are the kinds of questions that Kevin Ehmes, Adnan Alicajic and Julian Lauer have devoted themselves to intensively in recent months.

They pored over data, carried out background research and watched countless videos to prepare the Swiss team for their World Cup opponents.

For each of the 26 players in the squads of Qatar, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Canada, they produced video montages highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. Even when a player should hardly ever set foot on the pitch, the three analysts collect information about him and synthesize it.

Videos generally last one to two minutes for substitutes and three to four minutes for executives. “Whether the players then look at it all in detail is another story,” smiles Kevin Ehmes. For example, some people take their tablet on their stationary bike to watch the sequences.

The importance of being informed

Kevin Ehmes has worked for the ASF since 2016. Under the orders of Murat Yakin, the thirty-year-old became chief analyst with his own cell within the staff. His two deputies are named Adnan Alicajic and Julian Lauer.

The first, a citizen of Sainte-Croix, was notably responsible for video analyzes during the women’s Euro 2025 for Switzerland. Lauer previously worked with Ehmes and most recently served as assistant coach at FC Augsburg.

For the World Cup, the tasks were distributed: Ehmes took care of Qatar, Lauer focused on Canada and Alicajic on Bosnia-Herzegovina, particularly because of his origins. The latter also carefully reads the Bosnian press to keep informed of the latest news surrounding this selection.

Most of the work is now done in the office. Thanks to the considerable quantity of data and video images available today, it is no longer necessary to increase the number of trips. In his early days, Kevin Ehmes, for example, went to the Faroe Islands twice to analyze a future opponent. For a more mysterious selection like Qatar, certain friendly matches were however observed on site.

The three analysts also collect data on possible opponents for the round of 16. With the expansion of the tournament and the new format, no less than 28 teams can still find themselves on the road to Switzerland. A gigantic task which forced them to seek help from ASF collaborators who remained in the country.

Aware of their limits

Murat Yakin greatly appreciates the work of analysts. Unlike the days of Vladimir Petkovic, Kevin Ehmes even takes a place on the bench during matches alongside the technical staff.

He remains in permanent contact with Alicajic and Lauer, installed in the stands, who transmit their observations to him live. Sometimes he gets so absorbed in analyzing a game situation that he even forgets to celebrate a goal.

But this type of in-depth analysis is not unanimous everywhere. Critics readily point out that in football, chance – or this famous “momentum” specific to sport – remains of major importance. A deflected shot, an early expulsion or a flash of individual genius can destroy even the most meticulous preparation in a matter of seconds.

Ehmes, Alicajic and Lauer also regularly question their real influence on the results. “We are aware of the limits of our work,” acknowledges Ehmes. “We try to prepare things as best as possible in order to increase the chances of success. But in the end, everything depends on the feet of the players on the pitch.”

This article has been automatically published. Source: ats