Scotland vs Switzerland Preview & Prediction | UEFA EURO 2024 | Group Stage

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Scotland have never made it out of the group stages of a major tournament and the fact their goal difference took such a hammering in their opening game means four points is likely required to progress even as a third place team so a defeat here could once again be curtains for the Scots.

KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Wednesday 19^th June, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US EST – 3:00pm / US PST – 1:00pm

HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – BBC / US – FOX

HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – BBC iPlayer / US – VIX

SCOTLAND PREVIEW: AVOIDING ANOTHER HUMILIATION

Scotland came into UEFA EURO 2024 on the back of just one win in eight matches and that one victory coming by two goals to nil against a Gibraltar side who recently lost 14-0 to France. The Scots, if it wasn’t for an overrating of their side by most British media outlets, came into the competition as one of the weakest sides on paper and in terms of form.

That was shown throughout their opening clash with Germany at the Allianz Arena in Munich as they were thrashed 5-1 by Die Mannschaft and that score-line very much flattering the Scots. They didn’t have a single shot in the entire game with their goal being a fortunate own goal from Antonio Rudiger. It was truly embarrassing.

SWITZERLAND PREVIEW: SWISS ON A ROLL

With an ageing squad full of familiar faces, there was an expectation perhaps that Switzerland may not be able to turn it on as well as they did at UEFA EURO 2020, for example, when they reached the quarter-finals, especially with in-fighting between captain Granit Xhaka and manager Murat Yakin during qualification for UEFA EURO 2024.

However, from the off, they were excellent in the first-half against Hungary with the likes of Ruben Vargas, Michel Aebischer and Kwadwo Duah causing the Hungarians lots of issues. They remained tight at the back until a wobble in the second-half. The 3-1 victory in the end probably flattered the Swiss but it was an unexpectedly impressive start nonetheless.

SCOTLAND TEAM NEWS: MCKENNA & GILMOUR TO RETURN

There are couple of issues for Steve Clarke to sort. Grant Hanley came on ahead of Scott McKenna on Friday but the latter was always expected to be ahead of the Norwich man in the pecking order so has a good chance of starting in place of the suspended Ryan Porteous. Billy Gilmour will also surely come back into the eleven, whilst there will be a debate between Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland.

PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Gunn; Hendry, McKenna, Tierney; Ralston, McGregor, Gilmour, Robertson; McTominay, McGinn; Adams

UNAVAILABLE: Porteous (Suspended)

QUESTIONABLE:

SWITZERLAND TEAM NEWS: THE GAMBLE OF DUAH

Kwadwo Duah’s surprise inclusion against Hungary ahead of the likes of Zeki Amdouni, Breel Embolo and Noah Okafor paid off for Murat Yakin and the English-born striker will surely keep his place after opening the scoring. Embolo did come off the bench and produce a deft finish of his own and it wouldn’t be a major surprise to see a potential strike partnership formed for this one.

PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Sommer; Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez; Widmer, Freuler, Xhaka, Ndoye; Aebischer; Embolo, Duah

UNAVAILABLE: Zuber (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE:

KEY STATS

• Scotland have won only two of their previous ten EURO matches (D2 L6). Their last victory was a 1-0 win against Switzerland in their final group fixture at EURO 1996.
• Scotland have won only one of their last ten matches (D3 L6).
• Scotland have scored more than one goal in only one of their previous ten EURO matches.
• Scotland lead the head-to-head record in the previous 16 matches between these two teams with eights wins to five, three matches finished level
• Excluding penalty shoot-outs, Switzerland have lost only one of their last 11 EURO matches (W4 D6).
• Switzerland have lost only one of their last eight EURO group stage matches (W4 D3).
• Switzerland have lost only one of their last 15 matches (W7 D7).
• Switzerland are aiming to start a EURO final tournament with successive wins for the first time.
• Switzerland are aiming to score in five successive EURO matches for the first time.
• Switzerland have been winning at half-time in three of their last four EURO matches.
• Against Hungary, Yann Sommer, Breel Embolo and Ricardo Rodríguez became the first players to reach ten EURO final tournament appearances for Switzerland. Xherdan Shaqiri, Fabian Schär and Granit Xhaka could all reach the landmark in this match.
• Switzerland have scored three goals in three of their last four EURO final tournament matches.
• The 3-1 victory against Hungary equalled Switzerland’s biggest margin of victory in a EURO final tournament match. They had previously won 2-0 against Portugal (2004 GS) and 3-1 against Türkiye (2024 GS).

SCOTLAND VS SWITZERLAND PREDICTION

A lot of the media and a lot of Scotland supporters saw teams such as Hungary and Switzerland drawn alongside them and believed, due to the fact they are not heavyweight names, that the Scots should be getting out of the group. There is an uncomfortable truth, though, that the actual personnel within both Hungary and Switzerland’s squads are just better than Scotland. Scotland started qualification well and Steve Clarke has done a good job to get them to back-to-back UEFA European Championships but, surely, the Swiss will come out on top against a disorganised back-line needing to make changes already, especially with Switzerland’s experience and nous.

SCOTLAND VS SWITZERLAND TIP: SWITZERLAND TO WIN