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In what is the so-called ‘easier’ side of the draw, the runners’ up of UEFA EURO 2020 are back into the quarter-finals and take on an impressive Switzerland side in Dusseldorf as the two sides inch closer to what could be a very famous tournament.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 6th July, 2024 - UK – 5:00pm / US ET – 12:00pm / US PT – 9:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – BBC / US – FOX
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – BBC iPlayer / US – ViX
ENGLAND PREVIEW: NEVER WRITE OFF THE GER… ENGLISH?
What if Gordon Banks was available for the quarter-final in 1970? What if there was no ‘Hand of God’ in 1986? What if Chris Waddle didn’t blaze over the bar in 1990? What if Paul Gascoigne was an inch taller in 1996? What if David Beckham hadn’t been sent off in 1998? What if David Seaman had jumped in 2002? What if Wayne Rooney hadn’t got injured in 2004 and then wasn’t sent off in 2006? What if Frank Lampard’s goal was given in 2010? What if Harry Kane had scored his penalty in 2022?
The story of England at international tournaments is dominated by ‘what ifs’. This England team have been bad at UEFA EURO 2024 – and yet there was no room for ‘what if’ against Slovakia because they had the moment and they had the player in Jude Bellingham to ‘come up clutch’ in American parlance and take the game to extra-time and then win it. There is quality there but performances, simply, have to improve if they are to go any further.
SWITZERLAND PREVIEW: NO HOLES IN THE SWISS SIDE
Switzerland, on the other hand, for a second successive UEFA European Championships, knocked out a finalist from the previous tournament in the Round of 16. After beating France on penalties in 2021, Murat Yakin’s side comfortably defeated the defending European champions Italy by two goals to nil in Berlin last week.
They came into the tournament after finishing behind Romania in qualifying with a public disagreement between captain Granit Xhaka and manager Murat Yakin. However, an unbeaten group stage and comfortable, impressive win over Italy later and they can now dream of reaching their first ever major tournament semi-final.
ENGLAND TEAM NEWS: A RESHAPING OF THE TEAM
According to leaks in the English press in the build-up to the game, Ezri Konsa will come in for the suspended Marc Guehi but the Three Lions will also re-jig the entire system with a back three being preferred. Questions remain over the personnel for that system, though. The expectation is that Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham will feature as duel number tens with Bukayo Saka moving wide to left wing-back.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Konsa; Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Mainoo, Saka; Foden, Bellingham; Kane
UNAVAILABLE: Guehi (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE: Trippier (Injured), Shaw (Injured), Rice (Injured)
SWITZERLAND TEAM NEWS: DOUBTS OVER XHAKA
Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka has a potential adductor issue that means he is a doubt for this clash but given the enormity of the fixture, it would take something major for him to miss out. Aside from that, there are no fresh concerns for the Swiss. Xhaka does look set to be available, though, so the major talking point will be whether Murat Yakin sticks with the adventurous but in-form wing-backs of Bologna duo Michel Aebischer and Dan Ndoye.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Sommer; Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez; Ndoye, Freuler, Xhaka, Aebischer; Rieder; Vargas, Embolo
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Xhaka (Injured)
KEY STATS
ENGLAND VS SWITZERLAND PREDICTION
As mentioned, whilst England got the job done in very un-England fashion against Switzerland, the Three Lions have been underwhelming to say the least throughout their four matches and the lack of cohesion or remote attacking plan would be a major concern ahead of the latter stages. In contrast, the Swiss have an excellent chance of knocking out both of the UEFA EURO 2020 finalists and it is difficult to see, based on performances thus far, a way in which Switzerland do not create and score more goals than their opposition on Saturday.
ENGLAND VS SWITZERLAND TIP: DOUBLE CHANCE – SWITZERLAND TO WIN OR DRAW